Modern Worker Empowerment Act

119 HR 1319 RH: Modern Worker Empowerment Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-20 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB Union Calendar No. 431 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1319 [Report No. 119–505] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2025 Mr. Kiley of California (for himself, Mr. Rutherford , Mr. Moolenaar , Mr. Messmer , and Mr. Ogles ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce February 20, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. Kean , Mr. Grothman , Ms. Stefanik , Mr. Burlison , Mr. Allen , Mr. Owens , Mr. Onder , Mr. Baumgartner , Mr. Burchett , Mrs. Miller of Illinois , Ms. Letlow , Mr. Carter of Georgia , Mr. Arrington , Mr. Steube , Mr. Gill of Texas , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Donalds , Mr. Babin , and Ms. Foxx February 20, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 13, 2025 A BILL To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the standard for determining whether an individual is an employee, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Modern Worker Empowerment Act . 2. Criteria for determining employee status Section 3(e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(e) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; (2) in paragraph (1), by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) and inserting paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) (A) An individual shall be determined to be an independent contractor rather than an employee of another person if— (i) such other person does not exercise significant control over the details of the way the work is performed by the individual, without regard to any control the other person may exercise over the final result of the work performed; and (ii) while performing such work, the individual has the opportunities and risks inherent with entrepreneurship, such as the discretion to exercise managerial skill, business acumen, or professional judgment. (B) The following factors may not be used in determining that an individual is an employee of another person: (i) Whether such other person requires the individual to comply with legal, statutory, or regulatory requirements. (ii) Whether such other person requires the individual to comply with health and safety standards that are more stringent than otherwise applicable health and safety standards. (iii) Whether such other person requires the individual to carry insurance of any kind. (iv) Whether such other person requires the individual to meet contractually agreed-upon performance standards, such as deadlines. . 3. Employee classification under the National Labor Relations Act Section 2(3) of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 152(3) ) is amended— (1) by striking (3) The term employee shall and inserting the following: (3) (A) The term employee shall ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Section 3(e)(2) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(e)(2) ) shall be used in determining whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee of another person. . 4. Application The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to a determination of whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee of a person that is made on or after the date of enactment of this Act. February 20, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed