Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)· Introduced March 12, 2026

Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act

H.R. 7917 · House bill Labor and Employment

A Democratic bill with 85 Democratic cosponsors · See all 85 cosponsors

Last activity March 12, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

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

This bill is called the Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act. It changes the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The main goal is to make sure certain caregiving employees are no longer exempted from overtime and minimum wage protections. It specifically narrows down exemptions so that they only apply to casual babysitting services. It also adds clear definitions for babysitting services and what working on a casual basis means.

Yes· 3 of 10

Scored +9
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Directly benefits low-wage care workers by granting them minimum wage and overtime pay.
Scored +8
Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay?
The bill extends minimum wage protections to caregiving employees who were previously exempted.
Scored +7
Would women be better off under this?
The caregiving workforce is predominantly female, and they are the primary beneficiaries of these wage protections.

The opposite· 3 of 6

Scored -4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases labor costs for home care agency owners.
Scored -3
Would high-income households be better off under this?
Increases the cost of hiring home care services for wealthy employers.
Scored -3
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?
Increases the cost of hiring private caregiving employees.