The PRO-WORK Act would prohibit employers from receiving federal funds during any period they lock out their employees, as well as for an additional period equal in length to the lockout or one year if a prior lockout occurred. Additionally, the bill denies tax credits to corporations that engage in employee lockouts, with the penalty becoming more severe if the company has locked out workers before within the same tax year. These restrictions would take effect on January 1, 2026, and require employers who violate the funding ban to reimburse the federal government for any improperly used money.
HR 10250, known as the No Preference Act, prohibits federal executive agencies and the Department of Defense from requiring or giving preference to contractors based on their use of union labor. The bill amends existing laws to ensure that government contract awards cannot be influenced by whether a company's workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements. This change directly affects federal procurement processes by mandating that offers be evaluated without regard to the labor status of the bidding firms.
The GREEN Hospitals Act authorizes $100 billion in Hill-Burton grants for hospitals and other medical facilities to upgrade their infrastructure for climate resilience and emissions reduction. It also establishes a separate $5 billion Planning and Evaluation Grant Program that provides up to $500,000 per project to help states, tribes, and nonprofits develop sustainability plans before construction begins. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate labor protections, including collective bargaining agreements or non-interference policies, and certify they do not impose training repayment debts on employees. The bill prioritizes projects in environmental justice communities and those serving high numbers of Medicare and Medicaid patients, requiring that at least half of the planning grant funds be directed to these areas.
Michigan Senate Bill 1136 amends state law to cap the amount public employers can spend on employee health insurance, introducing new fixed dollar limits for single, couple, and family coverage starting in 2027. The bill also reverses a previous provision that allowed employers to pay no more than 80% of total medical costs, instead mandating that they pay at least 80% of those expenses beginning in the same year. These new financial caps are adjusted annually based on changes in Michigan health insurance rates or a minimum 3% increase, whichever is higher. Existing collective bargaining agreements that conflict with these limits are exempt until their current terms expire or are renegotiated.
HB 6234 allows certain law enforcement officers who were first hired after a specific date to purchase service credit for time previously worked under the state employees' retirement system. This provision applies to members covered by sections 4(1)(b), (d), and (f) of the State Police Retirement Act, enabling them to count their prior civilian service toward their law enforcement retirement benefits. To qualify, officers must pay an amount equal to the actuarial value of that service, with payments made through tax-deferred or additional payment methods established by the retirement system. The bill sets a deadline of October 17, 2027, for initiating these purchases and requires completion within four years, while also stipulating that this act overrides any conflicting provisions in collective bargaining agreements.
Michigan House Bill 6237 amends the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act to modify how public employers pay for employee medical benefits. The bill retains existing options that cap employer contributions at specific dollar amounts or limit them to 80% of total plan costs, with annual adjustments based on healthcare inflation. Starting in 2027, the legislation introduces new requirements mandating that public employers pay a minimum amount toward these plans, effectively establishing a floor for employer contributions rather than just a ceiling. These changes apply to state and local government employees and elected officials, while existing collective bargaining agreements are generally exempt until they expire or are renegotiated.
The AI Tax and Work Protection Act imposes a new excise tax on companies that develop or sell artificial intelligence foundation models, with rates that increase based on the national unemployment level. The revenue generated from this tax is placed into a dedicated trust fund to finance a new federal jobs program administered by a newly created Office of Job Creation within the Department of Labor. This program awards grants to state, local, and tribal governments to hire permanent, full-time workers for specific public service roles, such as in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and community safety. To ensure the jobs created do not replace existing workers, the bill includes strict nondisplacement rules and mandates that grant recipients provide employees with strong labor protections, including collective bargaining rights, competitive wages, and paid leave. Additionally, the legislation directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics to study the impact of AI on the workforce and establishes an advisory committee to guide the implementation of the job creation initiatives.
This bill, signed into law as Act 233, establishes a framework for automatic annual salary increases and longevity steps for public school teachers in Hawaii who complete satisfactory years of service. The legislation requires that these pay raises be negotiated into collective bargaining agreements and explicitly conditions their implementation on the legislature appropriating specific funds to cover the costs. By linking compensation adjustments to future budget approvals, the bill aims to address teacher retention while maintaining legislative control over public spending.
The Improving Clarity and Transparency for Unions Act of 2026 requires labor organizations to make their financial audit results available to members. Specifically, unions must publish these audit findings on their websites or provide copies upon request if a website is not available. These changes apply to financial reports submitted six months after the law takes effect, aiming to increase transparency within union finances.