“Employee Microchip Protection and Bodily Autonomy Act”
 
In the near future, the line between human autonomy and workplace compliance will be tested not by theory, but by technology already at our doorstep.

Across the country and around the world, employers are beginning to experiment with subdermal microchip implants—devices inserted beneath the skin to facilitate building access, track productivity, store credentials, or monitor behavior. While often framed as voluntary conveniences, the reality is clear: in an employment setting, “voluntary” can quickly become coercive.

Pennsylvania currently has no statute explicitly prohibiting an employer from requiring such implantation as a condition of employment. As this technology becomes more accessible and normalized, the absence of clear protections leaves our workforce exposed to unprecedented intrusions into bodily autonomy.

I will be introducing the “Employee Microchip Protection and Bodily Autonomy Act” to ensure that no Pennsylvanian is forced to choose between their livelihood and their physical integrity.

This legislation will:
 

• Prohibit employers from requiring or coercing an employee or prospective employee to undergo subdermal microchip implantation;
• Prohibit discrimination or retaliation against individuals who refuse such procedures;
• Establish civil penalties and a private right of action for violations;
• Clarify that consent obtained under threat of adverse employment action is not valid consent.

This is a forward-looking measure grounded in a simple principle: an individual’s body is not a condition of employment.

13 other states (Arkansas, California, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Washington) have already acted to address this emerging issue.

Pennsylvania should not wait until after abuses occur to respond.

I invite you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important legislation to safeguard the dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy of our citizens in the evolving workplace.

Please contact my Chief of Staff, Donald Beishl, at (717) 787-4651 or dbeishl@pasen.gov for additional information.