A Democratic bill with 13 Democratic cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Tipped Worker Protection Act aims to eliminate the separate, lower minimum wage for tipped employees. It establishes a transition period where the cash wage increases annually by $1.50 until it reaches the standard minimum wage. The bill also expands the definition of tips to include certain mandatory customer charges. Additionally, it sets rules for tip pooling, prohibits employers from keeping tips or using them for transaction fees, and requires transparency regarding service charges.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay?
Eliminates the lower tipped minimum wage and gradually increases the cash wage to the standard minimum wage.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Directly increases the guaranteed earnings for low-wage tipped workers.
- Scored +6
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
Increases base income for tipped workers, who are often in lower-income brackets.
The opposite
- Scored -6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases operational costs for hospitality and service industry owners.
- Scored -5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Increases labor costs for businesses that rely on tipped employees during the transition period.
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Reduces state flexibility by setting a higher federal floor for tipped wages.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Higher Base Wages: Tipped employees will eventually be paid the full minimum wage set in section 6(a)(1) rather than a lower tipped rate (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Protection of Tips: Employers are prohibited from keeping employee tips for any purpose, including using them to cover credit card transaction fees (Section 3(c)).
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Democratic Tip Pooling: Non-supervisory employees can vote to establish or modify a tip pooling system if 30 percent request a vote and 51 percent approve (Section 3(d)(i)).
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Transparency in Service Charges: Employers must disclose the reason for mandatory charges and exactly how much of that charge will be paid to employees (Section 3(e)(i)).
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Expanded Tip Definition: Mandatory charges that lead a customer to believe the amount will be paid to the employee are now legally considered tips (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Employer Costs: Employers will be required to pay a higher cash wage during the transition period, starting at $3.60 an hour and increasing annually (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Stricter Tipped Employee Criteria: An employee will no longer be considered a "tipped employee" if they spend more than 20 percent of their hours performing non-tipped duties (Section 2(b)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Directly increases the guaranteed earnings for low-wage tipped workers. Would students be better off under this? — Students often hold tipped jobs and would see an increase in guaranteed pay. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Many young adults work tipped positions and would benefit from higher base wages. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases operational costs for hospitality and service industry owners.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay? — Eliminates the lower tipped minimum wage and gradually increases the cash wage to the standard minimum wage. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Requires transparency and disclosure for mandatory service charges imposed on customers. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Increases labor costs for businesses that rely on tipped employees during the transition period.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increases base income for tipped workers, who are often in lower-income brackets.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to impose federal standards on tipped wages and tip pooling. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Reduces state flexibility by setting a higher federal floor for tipped wages.
- 8/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Ted LieuDemocrat · California
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Mark TakanoDemocrat · California
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan