Flexibility for Workers Education Act (H.R. 2262)

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently passed_chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Last action

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.Jan 13, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

If passed, this bill would change whether employers are legally required to pay employees for time spent in voluntary training or educational programs, potentially reducing labor costs for businesses and changing compensation for workers participating in such activities.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Employees

Workers may no longer be entitled to wages for time spent in voluntary training or educational programs outside of their regular work hours.

Employers

Businesses may be exempt from paying wages for voluntary training activities that occur outside of an employee's regular schedule.

What changed

Current stage: passed_chamber.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill proposes changes to federal labor law to clarify which activities do not count as '' for the purpose of calculating minimum wage and overtime pay. It specifically excludes time spent on voluntary education or training programs that occur outside of regular working hours, provided no productive work is performed.

Key Facts

The bill amends Section 3(o) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Time spent in lectures, education, or training programs is excluded from 'hours worked' if it occurs outside regular working hours.
Participation in such training must be voluntary, and non-participation cannot negatively affect an employee's job status or working conditions.
Employees must not perform any productive work for the employer during the training or educational activity to be excluded from 'hours worked'.
The bill maintains existing exclusions for time spent changing clothes or washing if governed by a collective-bargaining agreement.
The changes apply to all hours worked on or after the date of the Act's enactment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be paid for training if my employer requires me to attend?

The bill only excludes time from '' if the attendance or participation is voluntary.

Can my employer fire me for not attending voluntary training?

No, the bill explicitly states that the continuation of employment and working conditions cannot be adversely affected by non-attendance.

Does this change how I am paid for changing clothes at work?

No, the bill preserves existing rules regarding time spent changing clothes or washing if those are already covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Why It Matters

If passed, this bill would change whether employers are legally required to pay employees for time spent in voluntary training or educational programs, potentially reducing labor costs for businesses and changing compensation for workers participating in such activities.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Outcome not reportedhouse1/13/2026voteview

Total

421

Yes

208

No

213

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

How they voted (421)

+ 397 more

Full roll-call analysis →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion of Unpaid Training Exclusions

The bill seeks to codify a broader exclusion for voluntary training, potentially reducing employer liability for wages during professional development activities.

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

Connected Entities

personMr. Messmer“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Education and Workforce“The House committee to which the bill was referred.”Map →

personMrs. Hinson“Primary sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personMs. Letlow“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

otherFair Labor Standards Act of 1938“The existing federal law being amended by this bill.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level