Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to add a federal preemption limiting states from imposing a maximum workweek for agricultural employees that is less than 60 hours. It inserts an exception into the FLSA preemption clause and explicitly prevents state laws that would require a shorter maximum agricultural workweek than 60 hours.
Progressives emphasize worker protections and safety concerns
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused statutory amendment that clearly and specifically adds federal preemption for state laws establishing a maximum workweek for agricultural employees of less than 60 hours.
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to add a federal preemption limiting states from imposing a maximum workweek for agricultural employees that is less than 60 hours.
It inserts an exception into the FLSA preemption clause and explicitly prevents state laws that would require a shorter maximum agricultural workweek than 60 hours.
Narrow but ideologically charged preemption of state labor rules reduces bipartisan appeal and faces strong interest-group opposition.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused statutory amendment that clearly and specifically adds federal preemption for state laws establishing a maximum workweek for agricultural employees of less than 60 hours. The operative language is concise and precise in changing the statutory text.
Progressives emphasize worker protections and safety concerns
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize worker protections and safety concerns
Likely opposed.
The federal preemption would block stronger state-level overtime or maximum-hours protections for farmworkers, potentially reducing pay and increasing hours.
Progressive advocates would view this as a rollback of worker protections, especially for low-wage agricultural and migrant workers.
Mixed view.
Appreciates regulatory uniformity and reduced burdens on interstate farming, but worries about worker welfare and states' rights to set higher protections.
Would seek empirical evidence and possible guardrails before endorsing.
Likely supportive.
Prefers a uniform federal standard easing burdens on farmers and preventing a patchwork of state regulations.
Emphasizes competitiveness and reduced regulation for agriculture.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow but ideologically charged preemption of state labor rules reduces bipartisan appeal and faces strong interest-group opposition.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize worker protections and safety concerns
Narrow but ideologically charged preemption of state labor rules reduces bipartisan appeal and faces strong interest-group opposition.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused statutory amendment that clearly and specifically adds federal preemption for state laws establishing a maximum workweek for agricultural employees of le…
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