The bill, known as HB 2103, which narrowly passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, aims to close legal loopholes that allowed an extremist group, Return to the Land, to establish a roughly 160-acre whites-only community in Arkansas. Lawmakers say the measure would prevent similar efforts in Pennsylvania.
State Representative Ben Waxman, a Philadelphia Democrat, said the legislation is meant to send a clear message that such developments are not welcome in the commonwealth. The proposal faced sharp debate, particularly after one amendment merged it with the Fairness Act, which added sexual orientation and gender identity to Pennsylvania’s list of protected classes. All House Republicans and one Democrat voted against the bill.
Representative Jamie Walsh, a Luzerne County Republican, said, “This would be one more way in which protections could be eroded when it comes to girls’ athletics.” However, Democrats rejected those claims, saying the bill strictly strengthens civil rights protections. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.
