Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Summary

This bill specifies a legal standard for determining whether an individual is considered an independent contractor rather than an employee for the purposes of federal labor laws that address issues such as the federal minimum wage, overtime compensation, and collective bargaining. The rights and protections provided by these laws exclusively apply to employees. Under the bill, an individual is considered an independent contractor if (1) another individual or entity does not exercise significant control over the details of how the individual's work is performed, without regard to any control the other individual or entity may exercise over the final result of the work performed; and (2) while performing such work, the individual has opportunities and risks inherent with entrepreneurship (for example, the discretion to exercise professional judgment). The bill also sets forth factors that may not be used to determine whether an individual is an employee. Specifically, factors such as whether another individual or entity requires the individual to meet certain legal, health and safety, insurance, or performance requirements may not be used to make such a determination.

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Timeline

1. 13 February 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 13 February 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 13 February 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 23 July 2025

   Vote

   Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.

   Source: Committee

5. 23 July 2025

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

6. 20 February 2026

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.

   Source: Calendars

7. 20 February 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.

   Source: Committee

8. 20 February 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Reported in House

  Reported in House · EN · 20 February 2026

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 13 February 2025

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 13 February 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Kevin Kiley · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] · R · Sponsor
• John Moolenaar · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Messmer, Mark [R-IN-8] · R · Sponsor
• Andrew Ogles · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] · R · Cosponsor
• Elise Stefanik · R · Cosponsor
• Eric Burlison · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] · R · Cosponsor
• Burgess Owens · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3] · R · Cosponsor
• Michael Baumgartner · R · Cosponsor
• Tim Burchett · R · Cosponsor
• Mary Miller · R · Cosponsor
• Julia Letlow · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] · R · Cosponsor
• W. Steube · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] · R · Cosponsor
• Gregory Murphy · R · Cosponsor
• Byron Donalds · R · Cosponsor
• Brian Babin · R · Cosponsor
• Virginia Foxx · R · Cosponsor
• · hsed00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Employee Rights Act