What This Bill Does
This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to pay two times an employee’s regular rate for overtime hours instead of the current time-and-a-half standard. It would affect workers who qualify for overtime and the employers who schedule or authorize those extra hours. The core change is a higher premium for hours worked beyond the standard overtime threshold, increasing pay for covered employees and labor costs for businesses.
- Raises overtime pay from 1.5 times to 2 times the regular rate.
- Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
- Applies to employees who qualify for overtime under federal wage law.
- Would increase payroll costs for employers that rely on overtime hours.
Who This Bill Affects
If you work overtime and are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, this bill would raise the premium on those hours from 1.5x to 2x your regular pay. That means every overtime hour would pay substantially more, which could increase your weekly earnings if your employer continues to offer the same amount of extra work. If you are an employer or manager, it would increase the cost of overtime and could lead to changes in staffing or scheduling.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Hourly workers who regularly work overtime They would earn substantially more for extra hours, making long shifts and weekend work better compensated. The higher premium also gives workers more leverage to push back against excessive scheduling.
- Labor unions and worker advocates A double-time standard is seen as a stronger deterrent to overwork and understaffing. Supporters argue it encourages employers to hire more people instead of relying too heavily on existing staff.
- Families trying to offset rising living costs For households that depend on overtime to make ends meet, a higher premium can translate into a meaningful boost in weekly income. That extra pay can help with rent, groceries, childcare, and debt payments.
- Small business owners Higher overtime costs can strain tight margins, especially in businesses that cannot easily add staff or automate work. They may have to cut hours, reduce services, or limit overtime opportunities.
- Industries with unpredictable staffing needs Hospitals, warehouses, restaurants, and similar employers often use overtime to cover sudden demand or absences. Doubling the premium could make it harder and more expensive to maintain coverage.
- Employers concerned about wage inflation A higher overtime multiplier could raise overall labor costs and push businesses to adjust base pay, staffing levels, or prices. Opponents argue those costs may be passed on to consumers.
Key Implications
-
““adjust the rate employers pay for overtime hours from one and one-half to two times””
This is the central policy change: overtime hours would be paid at double the regular rate rather than the current federal premium. For workers, that raises earnings on extra hours; for employers, it raises the cost of scheduling overtime.
-
““amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938””
The bill would change the federal wage-and-hour law that sets overtime rules nationwide. That means the effect would be broad for covered workers and employers, not limited to one industry or one state.
-
““overtime hours””
The higher pay applies only to hours that count as overtime under existing law. Workers who do not qualify for overtime, or who rarely work beyond the threshold, would see little or no direct effect.
-
““regular rate””
The premium is tied to each worker’s regular pay rate, so the dollar impact would be larger for higher-paid overtime-eligible employees. The same rule would produce different dollar gains depending on base wages.
Latest Status
June 9, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Take Action
Get more from BillBoard
Free tools to understand, respond to, and track this bill.
Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.