Krajewski co-op bill passes PA House 194-9
Rep. Rick Krajewski December 16, 2025 | 4:24 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – Legislation (H.B. 135) introduced by state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., passed the Pennsylvania House today (194-9) and will now head to the state Senate.
“This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation which will make it easier to start a worker cooperative,” Krajewski said. “Co-ops create safer and happier workplaces that build wealth for the workers and communities who utilize them. We should do what we can to support them.”
H.B. 135 would lower the number of workers required to form a cooperative from five to three, opening the door to more potential cooperatives to form. Under existing law, would-be cooperative entrepreneurs often choose instead to start LLCs. If they wish to become a worker cooperative later, it requires a burdensome refiling process.
“This is a small change which will have a huge impact for start-up and conversion worker-owned and democratically run cooperative businesses,” wrote Corey Reidy, Cooperative Development Director at the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance.
“More worker-cooperatives will be able to choose the entity which was created for them and will give them the most benefits -- all of which will support the strength of their business and foster further workplace democracy in Pennsylvania.”
“I appreciate all of my colleague’s support, especially across the aisle,” said Krajewski. “When we so often feel stuck in a political stalemate, it’s a pleasure to get things done together for workers.”