5 Major Laws Hitting the City of Pittsburgh on January 1st

Here are the five most significant local changes hitting Pittsburgh and Allegheny County this New Year.

1. Massive Expansion of Paid Sick Leave

In a major win for the local labor force, amendments to Pittsburgh’s Paid Sick Days Act officially take effect on January 1st. This isn't just a minor update; it significantly increases both the amount of leave and the speed at which you earn it.

The New Caps: For employers with 15 or more workers, the minimum paid sick leave requirement jumps from 40 hours to 72 hours per year. Smaller businesses (fewer than 15 employees) must now provide 48 hours, up from 24.

Faster Accrual: You will now earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, a faster rate than the previous 35-hour requirement.

Coverage: This applies to anyone working within city limits for at least 35 hours a year, regardless of where the company is headquartered.

2. The First Property Tax Hike in a Decade

For the first time in over ten years, Pittsburgh property owners will see a significant increase in their city tax bills. City Council approved a 20% property tax hike to bridge a $20 million budget deficit and fund essential services.

• The Cost: The city’s millage rate is increasing from 8.06 to 9.67. For homeowners, this means roughly an additional $1.61 in tax for every $1,000 of your property’s assessed value.
• Where the Money Goes: The revenue is earmarked for upgrading the city's aging fleet of snowplows and emergency vehicles, as well as covering public safety overtime and rising utility costs.

3. Broadened Anti-Discrimination Protections

Pittsburgh is strengthening its legal shield against bias. New amendments to the city’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance go into effect, modernizing how the city handles civil rights complaints.

• "Perceived" Characteristics: Discrimination is now legally defined to include "perceived" protected classes. This means it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on a characteristic the harasser thinks they have, even if they don’t.
• Disparate Impact: The city has codified "disparate impact," allowing residents to challenge policies that seem neutral on the surface but unfairly disadvantage specific groups in practice.

4. Allegheny County's New Mental Health Tool (AOT)

Allegheny County is becoming the first in Pennsylvania to fully implement Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) starting January 1st.

• The Goal: AOT is a civil court procedure that allows a judge to order individuals with severe mental illness to participate in community-based treatment.
• The Shift: Unlike traditional "302" involuntary commitments, AOT focuses on keeping patients in their homes and communities with wraparound services like therapy and medication, rather than in a hospital setting.

5. New Rules for Electronics and Hazardous Waste

Disposing of old TVs, computers, and household chemicals is changing for city residents. Pittsburgh has contracted a new vendor, Noble Environmental, to overhaul the city’s E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program.

• The Options: Residents now have three ways to dispose of these items: weekly drop-offs, curbside pickups, or special community events.
• Mandatory Registration: You can no longer just show up; all disposals now require pre-registration online or by phone. Additionally, cash and checks are no longer accepted for disposal fees—you’ll need a card or digital payment.

Don’t Forget: The State-Wide "CROWN Act" (Jan 24)

While it starts a few weeks into the month, Pittsburghers should note that Pennsylvania’s CROWN Act officially becomes law on January 24th, banning discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles like braids, locs, and twists in workplaces and schools.