House Judiciary Committee advances bills to strengthen civil rights and protect LGBTQ+ communities

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta    March 10, 2026 | 2:12 PM

HARRISBURG, March 10 – Today, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted to advance legislation aimed at strengthening civil rights protections, modernizing state law, and improving the fairness of Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system.

“As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure our laws reflect both our shared values and the realities of today,” said House Judiciary Committee Chair Tim Briggs. “These bills address longstanding gaps in our statutes, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure our justice system treats people fairly while keeping Pennsylvanians safe.”

House Bill 300 (Sponsored by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta) — Also known as the Fairness Act, this legislation would update Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in areas such as housing, education and public accommodations.

“Pennsylvania is better when it’s fairer. That’s not a slogan, that’s who we are at our best. And right now, with hundreds of bills across this country targeting LGBTQ+ Americans just for being who they are, we have a chance to prove it by again passing the Fairness Act with bipartisan support,” Kenyatta said. “In Pennsylvania, every single person deserves to be safe — no matter who you love or who you are.”

House Bill 632 (Sponsored by Rep. Ben Waxman) — This bill would modernize Pennsylvania law related to HIV by ensuring criminal penalties reflect current scientific understanding of HIV transmission, prevention and treatment, and by eliminating provisions that unfairly criminalize people solely because of their HIV status.

House Bill 1311 (Sponsored by Rep. Ben Sanchez) — This legislation would prohibit the use of the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense in Pennsylvania courts, preventing perpetrators of violent crimes from attempting to reduce or avoid criminal responsibility by blaming a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Justice should never hinge on prejudice,” Sanchez said. “This legislation ensures that bias against LGBTQ+ individuals cannot be used as a legal strategy to excuse or justify acts of violence.”

House Bill 1315 (Sponsored by Sanchez) — This bill would eliminate the outdated requirement that individuals publish notice of their legal name change and would automatically seal name change records for people seeking the change to affirm their gender identity.

“The current publication requirement is an unnecessary and costly barrier that can also put vulnerable people at risk,” Sanchez said. “This bill modernizes the process while protecting the safety and privacy of those who need it most.”

House Bill 1800 (Sponsored by Kenyatta) — This legislation would repeal outdated language in Pennsylvania law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, aligning state statute with Constitutional protections for marriage equality established by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“When families are strong, Pennsylvania is strong. Right now, tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families are sitting with real uncertainty, wondering if the right to marry the person they love could be taken away,” Kenyatta said. “No family should have to live with that fear. This legislation gives them certainty. It says clearly: in Pennsylvania, your marriage is protected, your family is protected, and that will not change.”

House Bill 1902 (Sponsored by Dan Frankel) — This bill would provide enhanced training for law enforcement to better identify, investigate, and prevent hate-based intimidation crimes, helping ensure communities are protected from acts of violence motivated by bias.

House Bill 1905 (Sponsored by Frankel) — This legislation would strengthen Pennsylvania’s ethnic intimidation statutes and expand civil penalties against individuals who target others based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or national origin.

House Resolution 393 (Sponsored by Waxman) — This resolution would designate February 28, 2026, as “HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania to help raise awareness, combat stigma surrounding HIV, and promote public health education.

“These bills demonstrate that protecting civil rights and strengthening public safety can and should be priorities,” Briggs said. “By moving these measures forward, we are taking meaningful steps toward a more just and inclusive Commonwealth.”

All of the measures now advance for further consideration in the full Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

###rjb/2026/agh
l:\print\releases\

Recent News

Grant Memo: School Bus Safety, Recreation Facilities, Recycling, and Additional Grant Opportunities (Mar 04, 2026)

Transportation, Public Schools, Public Safety, and Additional Grant Opportunities (Feb 02, 2026)

Khan and colleagues introduce resolution demanding accountability in DHS and ICE enforcement (Jan 25, 2026)

Community Parks, Public Schools, Public Safety, and Additional Grant Opportunities (Jan 21, 2026)

Kenyatta bill would prohibit public officials and employees from lobbying (Jan 20, 2026)

Kenyatta bill would prohibit public officials and employees from lobbying (Jan 20, 2026)