Bill Sponsor
House Bill 1319
119th Congress(2025-2026)
Modern Worker Empowerment Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Feb 13, 2025
Overview
Text
Introduced
Feb 13, 2025
Latest Action
Feb 20, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1319
Congress
119
Policy Area
Labor and Employment
Labor and Employment
Primary focus of measure is matters affecting hiring and composition of the workforce, wages and benefits, labor-management relations; occupational safety, personnel management, unemployment compensation. Measures concerning public-sector employment may fall under Government Operations and Politics policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
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.

Text (2)
February 20, 2026
February 13, 2025
Actions (6)
02/20/2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
02/20/2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-505.
07/23/2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
07/23/2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
02/13/2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
02/13/2025
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Feb 21, 2026 9:05:55 AM