Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House L&I Committee approves Kosierowski bill to expand SWIF’s equity investment authority

House L&I Committee approves Kosierowski bill to expand SWIF’s equity investment authority

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    June 9, 2026 | 4:19 PM

HARRISBURG, June 9 — Legislation to expand the State Workers’ Insurance Fund’s investment authority to enable it to adjust its investment portfolio to changing market conditions was approved by the House Labor & Industry Committee today.

The State Workers’ Insurance Fund, or SWIF, was established by statute in 1915 to ensure a stable workers' compensation market in the commonwealth by providing coverage to entities that may otherwise struggle to obtain it in the private market.

This legislation, introduced by state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, H.B. 2499 would make a change to the Workers’ Compensation Act to give SWIF the flexibility to invest up to 20% of its assets in equities from its current limit of 7.5%.

According to Kosierowski, SWIF’s investment authority in equities is currently limited to 7.5% of the book value of SWIF’s assets due to a combination of provisions in the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Banking Code and the Fiscal Code. As a result, over 93% of SWIF’s assets locked in fixed-income securities are earning historically low rates and are failing to keep up with inflation.

“Under current law, SWIF is sacrificing growth for the sake of stability,” Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, said. “By consolidating SWIF’s investment authority into a single statutory provision in the Workers’ Compensation Act, my legislation would enable the fund to manage risks and grow, achieving the desired end result—a secure and growing compensation benefit fund for Pennsylvania’s workers.”

House Bill 2499 moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.