Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 16, 2026

S 4792: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act of 2026

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act of 2026 prevents lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products for injuries caused by silica dust during the cutting or shaping of those products by third-party fabricators. The bill defines these lawsuits as "qualified civil actions" and mandates that any such pending cases be dismissed, arguing that producers should not be held liable for safety failures by independent workers who alter the materials. By shielding companies from these specific claims, the legislation aims to protect the stone industry from economic instability while maintaining that workplace safety remains the responsibility of the fabricators themselves.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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 ✗ Environment ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7682: Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026, modifies the H-2B temporary worker visa program by adjusting numerical limits, strengthening enforcement measures, and adding new requirements for employers. It directly affects employers seeking to hire foreign workers under the H-2B program and the workers themselves. The legislation caps the number of H-2B visas at half the number of certified positions from the previous year, while exempting rural and seasonal locations from this limit. It also increases penalties for employers who misrepresent information or fail to meet program requirements, establishes a formal complaint process for workers, and requires employers to maintain workplace safety plans and report certain employment issues to authorities. Additionally, the bill restricts H-2B petitions to nationals from countries designated as participating based on factors like visa fraud rates and overstay statistics, and prohibits workers from paying fees for recruitment or petition processing.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 5437: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act

HR 5437, the *Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act*, prohibits lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products (like countertops) for injuries caused by silica dust exposure during third-party fabrication (e.g., cutting or grinding by fabricators). It directly affects stone slab manufacturers and sellers by shielding them from civil liability when injuries result from fabricators violating workplace safety laws. The bill’s key provision bans such lawsuits in federal or state courts and requires dismissal of pending cases. It aims to protect this industry, which employs thousands, from claims they cannot control, emphasizing that safety regulations apply to fabricators - not the original sellers.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House May 21, 2025

HR 3548: Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2025

HR 3548, the Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2025, changes liability rules for injuries on federally funded infrastructure projects. It prohibits "absolute liability" (where a party is automatically responsible regardless of fault) for elevation or gravity-related risks, requiring states to use "comparative negligence" instead (where fault is shared based on circumstances). This applies to projects receiving federal funding like construction, bridges, or transit systems, directly affecting contractors, property owners, and workers filing injury claims. The bill preempts state laws imposing absolute liability and directs federal courts to handle related cases, while leaving workers’ compensation laws unchanged. It takes effect for projects accepting federal funds on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1193: Future in Logging Careers Act

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to create child labor exemptions for specific logging work. It allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work in mechanized timber harvesting operations (like felling, processing, and transporting timber using machinery) that the Secretary of Labor deems particularly hazardous, provided the employer is not owned or operated by a parent or guardian. The exemption applies to jobs involving equipment such as feller-bunchers, forwarders, and whole tree processors, but excludes children working for non-family-owned logging businesses. It does not create new career programs but modifies existing child labor restrictions for certain logging occupations.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 86: NOSHA Act

HR 86, the NOSHA Act, would repeal the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act and abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This bill directly affects all employers and workers currently covered by OSHA regulations, eliminating federal workplace safety standards. The key mechanism is the complete repeal of the foundational law and the termination of the agency responsible for enforcing safety rules. If passed, this would remove federal oversight of workplace safety requirements across all industries.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2026

HR 6213: Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025

HR 6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the U.S. Department of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing OSHA's proposed "Heat Injury and Illness Prevention" standard (published August 30, 2024). This bill directly blocks the specific regulatory proposal targeting heat safety in both outdoor and indoor work settings. It does not create new requirements or affect workers; it solely prevents the implementation of the existing OSHA proposal. The bill is procedural, focusing on halting a regulatory action rather than establishing new policy.

Topics ✗ Environment ✗ Healthcare ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 10, 2025

S 1417: Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act

This bill establishes the Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program (VEPP) under the Department of Labor, allowing employers to voluntarily participate in a safety recognition program. Employers must demonstrate comprehensive safety systems - including hazard assessments, prevention programs, worker management participation, and training - to join. Once approved, participating workplaces are exempt from routine safety inspections but must conduct annual self-evaluations, undergo periodic onsite reviews (without enforcement citations), and correct any identified hazards within 90 days. The program requires no fees for participation and mandates that at least 5% of OSHA’s annual funding support its administration, including modernizing application and reporting technology within two years.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

All labor & employment bills