Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2026

HR 8624: WAGES Act of 2026

The WAGES Act of 2026 creates a new tax credit to encourage employers to hire and train workers through registered apprenticeship programs. Eligible businesses can claim a credit equal to 50% of qualified wages and program expenses for each apprentice, with specific caps on the amount that can be claimed per quarter. The bill also clarifies that certain awards given to apprentices, such as those for completing training milestones, are treated as non-taxable employee achievement awards rather than taxable income. These changes are designed to provide financial incentives for companies to invest in on-the-job training while expanding career pathways for workers without four-year degrees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new tax credit to encourage apprenticeship programs, providing fiscal relief to businesses and promoting workforce development.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates tax credits to encourage hiring and training workers via apprenticeships, directly strengthening employment standards and workforce development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8980: Holiday Pay Act

The Holiday Pay Act requires employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act to pay at least one and a half times an employee's regular hourly rate for any work performed on a legal public holiday. This new requirement applies specifically to workers engaged in commerce or employed in enterprises involved in commerce, ensuring they receive overtime pay when working on recognized federal holidays. The bill also updates enforcement and legal definitions within the Fair Labor Standards Act to include "legal public holiday compensation" alongside existing minimum wage and overtime protections. Additionally, the law clarifies that this federal standard does not prevent states or localities from mandating higher pay rates for holiday work.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates overtime pay for holiday work, directly expanding worker benefits and protecting labor rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8949: Capitol Police Retirement Reform Act of 2026

The Capitol Police Retirement Reform Act of 2026 changes how overtime pay earned by Capitol Police officers counts toward their retirement benefits. Specifically, it allows overtime pay received under the Fair Labor Standards Act to be treated as basic salary for calculating future pensions, but only if the officer has at least 15 years of service before retiring. This provision applies to overtime earned after the bill becomes law and ensures that such pay can contribute to both the officer's own annuity and a survivor annuity for their family. Additionally, the bill requires the Capitol Police to report relevant financial data annually to the Office of Personnel Management to help manage these retirement calculations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases retirement benefits for Capitol Police by counting overtime as salary, expanding worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8917: No Tax on Border Patrol Agent Overtime Act

The No Tax on Border Patrol Agent Overtime Act modifies federal tax laws to exclude specific overtime earnings from border patrol agents from taxation. This change directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers by allowing them to keep more of their extra pay without paying income tax on those amounts. The bill defines "qualified overtime compensation" to include various forms of extra pay, such as premiums for working on holidays or weekends, but explicitly excludes hazardous duty pay. These tax benefits will only become effective for work performed in taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief to border patrol agents by excluding overtime earnings from taxation, directly advancing the topic of tax policy.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases net wages for border patrol agents by exempting overtime from taxation, directly advancing worker financial benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8736: Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act

This bill modifies federal rules to allow adults with disabilities aged 18 and older to work for employers at wages below the standard minimum rate, whereas the previous law restricted this option to individuals under 24. It requires these employers to make documented efforts to find suitable jobs for their employees at regular intervals and permits the use of subminimum wages only if state agencies fail to provide necessary job counseling and referrals. Additionally, the bill mandates that employers must provide copies of these job search records to the individuals they employ. These changes aim to expand employment opportunities for adults with disabilities while maintaining specific oversight to ensure they are not denied access to regular competitive employment.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill allows subminimum wages for adults with disabilities, reducing their earnings and weakening wage protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 4427: Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2026

The Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2026 prevents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from finalizing or enforcing a specific proposed rule regarding heat injury prevention in workplaces. This legislation directly affects the Department of Labor and businesses by blocking the implementation of detailed requirements such as mandatory rest breaks and written safety plans. The bill argues that these specific rules are too burdensome and fail to account for unique industry and geographic conditions. By stopping this rule, the act leaves the proposed heat safety standards in a suspended state without changing existing regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks OSHA heat safety rules, weakening protections against heat-related environmental hazards in workplaces.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill blocks OSHA heat safety rules, weakening workplace safety protections and limiting worker rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 21, 2026

S 4366: Know Your Labor Rights Act

The Know Your Labor Rights Act amends the National Labor Relations Act to require employers to post and electronically display notices explaining employees' labor rights in conspicuous locations. Under this bill, employers must also inform each new hire about the information contained in these notices, with the National Labor Relations Board providing the notice text to the public at no cost. The legislation establishes a penalty system where the Board can issue compliance orders and impose civil fines of up to $500 for each violation of the new posting requirements. These changes directly affect employers by mandating specific transparency measures and creating financial consequences for failing to meet them.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates employers to post labor rights notices and inform new hires, directly advancing worker awareness and protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 15, 2026

S 4310: No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act

The No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act aims to exclude specific types of overtime pay from federal income taxation. It directly affects workers who receive compensation for hours worked beyond a standard 40-hour week under certain collective bargaining agreements. The bill defines this tax-free overtime as pay exceeding the regular rate for work that is either required by the Fair Labor Standards Act or agreed upon in advance for periods of at least 40 hours per week. Additionally, it includes special provisions for employees covered by the Railway Labor Act, allowing tax-free treatment for overtime beyond scheduled or maximum duty hours as defined by their agreements. These tax benefits would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief for workers by excluding overtime pay from federal income taxation.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill excludes overtime pay from federal taxation, effectively increasing net wages and protecting worker compensation under collective bargaining agreements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Mar 19, 2026

HR 8002: Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act of 2026

This bill expands federal labor protections to incarcerated workers by explicitly including them under the Fair Labor Standards Act, regardless of whether they work in publicly or privately operated correctional facilities. It defines these workers as individuals performing labor within prison programs, work release initiatives, or facility operations, and clarifies that they are employed by either the public agency or the private contractor running the facility. A key provision allows employers to deduct the cost of board, lodging, and certain court-imposed fees from an incarcerated worker's wages without counting these deductions against minimum wage requirements. The legislation also specifies which fees qualify for deduction, such as court surcharges and filing costs, while explicitly excluding payments for child support, victim compensation, civil judgments, and criminal fines.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands labor protections and civil rights for incarcerated workers, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands federal labor protections to incarcerated workers by including them under the Fair Labor Standards Act, strengthening worker rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 23, 2026

S 4382: Workforce Data Enhancement Act

The Workforce Data Enhancement Act creates a new grant program to help states improve their workforce data systems by integrating information from education, labor markets, and other sources. Eligible entities, such as state agencies or groups of states, can apply for funding to build or upgrade statewide longitudinal data systems that track individual employment and earnings outcomes over time. The bill prioritizes grants for multi-state collaborations and projects that enhance data accuracy, privacy, and the ability to identify emerging job skills, including those related to artificial intelligence. Funds awarded for up to three years must be used to supplement existing state efforts rather than replace them, and recipients are required to report on how the data improvements help workers and employers make better decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates grants to improve workforce data systems by integrating education information, enhancing data accuracy and tracking outcomes.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds state workforce data systems to better track employment outcomes, enhancing labor market information and worker support.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds the creation and improvement of workforce data systems, directly advancing technology infrastructure for data tracking and analysis.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Student Financial Aid Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development Artificial Intelligence

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