Legis Daily

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

USA119th CongressHR-1319| House 
| Updated: 2/20/2026
Kevin Kiley

Kevin Kiley

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (23)
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Gregory F. Murphy (Republican)Robert F. Onder (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Michael Baumgartner (Republican)Andrew Ogles (Republican)Brandon Gill (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Byron Donalds (Republican)Julia Letlow (Republican)Mary E. Miller (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)Virginia Foxx (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Eric Burlison (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill proposes to amend both the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to establish a clearer and more consistent standard for determining an individual's employment status. The primary goal is to define when an individual should be classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee. Under the proposed changes to the FLSA, an individual would be considered an independent contractor if the other person does not exercise significant control over the details of how the work is performed, and if the individual possesses entrepreneurial opportunities and risks , such as discretion in managerial skill or business judgment. This new standard would also be applied to determinations made under the NLRA. Furthermore, the bill explicitly prohibits certain factors from being used to determine that an individual is an employee. These include requirements for the individual to comply with legal or health and safety standards, carry insurance, or meet contractually agreed-upon performance standards like deadlines.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-4069
Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1523
Modern Worker Empowerment Act
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Jul 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2228
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
Jul 23, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 20, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
Feb 20, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-4069
    Modern Worker Empowerment Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1523
    Modern Worker Empowerment Act


  • February 13, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 13, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.


  • July 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2228
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.


  • July 23, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 20, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.


  • February 20, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4154: Employee Rights Act
Labor standardsSelf-employed

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

USA119th CongressHR-1319| House 
| Updated: 2/20/2026
This bill proposes to amend both the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to establish a clearer and more consistent standard for determining an individual's employment status. The primary goal is to define when an individual should be classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee. Under the proposed changes to the FLSA, an individual would be considered an independent contractor if the other person does not exercise significant control over the details of how the work is performed, and if the individual possesses entrepreneurial opportunities and risks , such as discretion in managerial skill or business judgment. This new standard would also be applied to determinations made under the NLRA. Furthermore, the bill explicitly prohibits certain factors from being used to determine that an individual is an employee. These include requirements for the individual to comply with legal or health and safety standards, carry insurance, or meet contractually agreed-upon performance standards like deadlines.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-4069
Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1523
Modern Worker Empowerment Act
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Jul 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2228
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
Jul 23, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 20, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
Feb 20, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-4069
    Modern Worker Empowerment Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1523
    Modern Worker Empowerment Act


  • February 13, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 13, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.


  • July 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2228
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.


  • July 23, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 20, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.


  • February 20, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.
Kevin Kiley

Kevin Kiley

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (23)
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Gregory F. Murphy (Republican)Robert F. Onder (Republican)Rick W. Allen (Republican)Michael Baumgartner (Republican)Andrew Ogles (Republican)Brandon Gill (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Byron Donalds (Republican)Julia Letlow (Republican)Mary E. Miller (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)Virginia Foxx (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Eric Burlison (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4154: Employee Rights Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Labor standardsSelf-employed