WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 2262 · 119th Congress

Flexibility for Workers Education Act

Reported by committeeLabor and Employment
IntroducedMar 21, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Reported by committee. Latest step, Jan 13, 2026: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. The House voted it down 209–215. From Iowa: Ashley Hinson sponsors it. All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. It would change 1 section of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 2262 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as reported by a House committee (Dec 30, 2025).

29 U.S.C. 203 Definitions

  • (o) Hours Worked.—In determining for the purposes of sections 206 and 207 of this… rewritten · Sec. 2(a) · see the words
What the words would change: every change, in place (1)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 29 U.S.C. 203(o)rewrittenby H.R. 2262 Sec. 2(a)

    (o) Hours worked.— In determining for the purposes of sections 6 and 7 the hours for which an employee is employed, there shall be excluded—(1) any time spent in changing clothes or washing at the beginning or end of each workday which was excluded from measured working time during the week involved by the express terms of or by custom or practice under a bona fide collective-bargaining agreement applicable to the particular employee; and(2) any time spent attending or participating in an education or training program or a similar activity (such as a lecture), regardless of whether the program or activity is offered or facilitated by the employer, provided that—(A) such attendance or participation occurs outside of the employee’s regular working hours;(B) such attendance or participation is voluntary, and the employer does not take adverse action against the employee on the basis that such employee does not so attend or participate; and(C) the employee does not perform any work for the employer during such attendance or participation.

    The bill says: Section 3(o) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(o)) is amended to read as follows:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Flexibility for Workers Education Act

This bill modifies the definition of hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude certain voluntary training that occurs outside an employee's regular working hours. Such training does not count as hours worked even if it is offered by the employer, provided that an employee's working conditions are not adversely affected by choosing not to participate and the employee does not perform any work for the employer during the training.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Reported to House, Dec 30, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. Jan 13, 2026Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 19). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  2. Dec 30, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-423.Library of Congress
  3. Mar 21, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 21 recorded actions

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. Jan 13, 2026 · HouseFailed 209–215
    On Passage · needed a majority
    R 209 yes, 6 noD 0 yes, 209 noEach member · Record
1 other recorded vote (procedure and amendments)
  1. Jan 13, 2026 · HouseFailed 209–213
    On Motion to Recommit · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 213 noD 209 yes, 0 noEach member · Record

Cosponsors

  • Julia Letlow R-LA-5
  • Mark B. Messmer R-IN-8