Labor & Employment (Gig Economy) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 4010: 21st Century Worker Act

This bill, titled the 21st Century Worker Act, establishes a new federal framework for classifying service providers as either employees or independent contractors. It creates specific criteria for mandatory employee classification, such as substantial economic relationships where workers are required to work full-time, and mandatory independent contractor status for licensed professionals, business entities, and those with limited economic relationships. For situations that do not fit these categories, the bill allows service providers to elect their own classification through a written agreement signed by both parties. The legislation also updates definitions of employee and employer in major federal laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act, National Labor Relations Act, and Internal Revenue Code, and requires annual reviews of worker classifications to ensure they remain accurate.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2025

HR 1882: Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act

This bill modifies tax reporting rules for gig economy platforms (like Uber or DoorDash) by reinstating a pre-American Rescue Plan threshold. It requires third-party payment platforms to report income to the IRS only if a gig worker earns over $20,000 in a year or completes more than 200 transactions. This directly affects low-earning gig workers who would no longer receive tax forms for smaller earnings. The change simplifies reporting for platforms and reduces administrative burden on workers with minimal income from these platforms.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy

in committee · United States · House Nov 25, 2025

HR 6295: The Working for Tips Tax Relief Act of 2025

This bill creates a tax deduction for certain reported cash tips received by workers in occupations that traditionally rely on tips, such as servers and bartenders. It allows a deduction of up to $35,000 per year for tips reported to employers (e.g., via Form 4137), but phases out for individuals earning over $50,000 annually (single) or $100,000 (joint). The deduction requires a Social Security number and applies only to taxable years starting in 2026 through 2028, with a Treasury pilot program to evaluate extending it permanently. It excludes tips from occupations not traditionally tip-based and mandates annual reviews of living wage thresholds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Sep 18, 2025

HR 5423: Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act of 2025

HR 5423, the Predatory Truck Leasing Prevention Act of 2025, would ban truck companies from using lease-purchase agreements that trap drivers in debt without building equity. It requires the federal government to create new rules within one year to prohibit "predatory" programs where carriers control drivers' work, pay, and debt while denying drivers ownership of the truck. Drivers who signed such agreements after the new rules take effect could seek relief if the terms violated the regulations. This directly affects truck drivers in lease-purchase programs and the trucking companies that use them.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Freight

in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7686: Rural and Underserved Health Care Staffing Act

This bill clarifies that temporary medical staff (locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners) working in rural or underserved areas are treated as independent contractors - not employees - by federal programs for key purposes. It specifically affects how these temporary workers are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Civil Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health programs, ensuring they aren’t deemed employees of the healthcare facility they temporarily serve. The bill requires a written agreement between the temporary staff and the facility, with an exception for cases where an explicit employer-employee contract is signed. It explicitly does not change tax treatment, state licensing rules, or eligibility for Medicare/Medicaid benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medical Licensing Medicare Gig Economy Labor Standards

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3525: American Franchise Act

This bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

in committee · United States · House Jan 20, 2025

HR 560: Second Job Tax Relief Act of 2025

This bill allows qualifying workers to exclude income from a secondary job from their taxable income and payroll taxes. To qualify, workers must designate a primary employer (based on hourly work ≥2,080 hours) and earn secondary income below phase-out thresholds ($100,000 individual/$150,000 married joint filers). The exclusion phases out for income above these thresholds and expires after five years. It directly affects workers with a second job who meet the primary employer requirement, changing how secondary job earnings are taxed under the Internal Revenue Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Gig Economy Labor Standards

in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 100: Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2025

This bill amends federal court rules to prevent class action lawsuits claiming gig workers were wrongly classified as independent contractors. It adds a new requirement to Rule 23(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, blocking such cases from proceeding if they allege misclassification. The change directly affects gig economy companies (like ride-share or food-delivery apps) facing worker classification lawsuits and limits workers' ability to pursue these claims collectively. This is a procedural change to the legal process, not a new classification standard for workers.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 85: Small Business Flexibility Act

The Small Business Flexibility Act (HR 85) amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to change tip pooling rules. It allows tip pools to include two types of employees: (1) those who customarily and regularly receive tips, and (2) a new category defined as employees who both customarily and regularly receive tips (while being paid at least the minimum wage) and do not customarily and regularly receive tips. This change aims to give small businesses more flexibility in managing tip distributions. The bill specifically targets how tips can be shared among staff, affecting restaurants and similar businesses where tipping is common.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Small Business

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2025

HR 2304: Ensuring Access to Affordable and Quality Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act

This bill clarifies and preserves existing labor law exemptions for home care workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It specifically defines "companionship services" to include non-medical in-home care (like bathing, meal prep, and medication reminders) and ensures these services remain exempt from overtime pay requirements, even when provided through third-party agencies. The bill directly affects home care aides, agencies employing them, and the seniors/disabled individuals receiving care. It does not create new benefits or funding but maintains current labor exemptions for this workforce.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Gig Economy Labor Standards

All labor & employment bills