A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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, titled the "Rural Emergency Response Support Act," proposes an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It specifically seeks to provide overtime compensation exceptions for certain employers. These exceptions would apply to employers of emergency medical technicians and paramedics in rural areas. The scope includes public agencies that are political subdivisions of a State with fewer than 100,000 residents. It also includes private entities serving those specific political subdivisions under contract.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
By allowing overtime exceptions, public agencies in smaller subdivisions may reduce their labor costs.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Provides cost relief for private entities contracted by rural political subdivisions.
- Scored +2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
May improve availability of emergency medical services in rural areas by reducing employer costs.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -3
Would union members be better off under this?
The overtime exemption directly impacts the wage protections typically championed by labor unions.
- Scored -2
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The exemption from overtime pay may weaken labor protections for EMTs and paramedics.
- Scored -2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Potential reduction in wages for EMTs and paramedics due to overtime exemptions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Overtime compensation exceptions for specific employers: This provision would allow public agencies in political subdivisions with fewer than 100,000 residents, as well as private entities contracted by them, to employ emergency medical technicians or paramedics without violating the Fair Labor Standards Act regarding overtime. (Section 2)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — By allowing overtime exceptions, public agencies in smaller subdivisions may reduce their labor costs. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Provides cost-saving measures for local government subdivisions. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Reduces labor cost burdens for private entities contracted by small rural political subdivisions. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The exemption from overtime pay may weaken labor protections for EMTs and paramedics.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides cost relief for private entities contracted by rural political subdivisions. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — May improve availability of emergency medical services in rural areas by reducing employer costs. Would union members be better off under this? — The overtime exemption directly impacts the wage protections typically championed by labor unions. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Potential reduction in wages for EMTs and paramedics due to overtime exemptions.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Supports emergency service infrastructure in rural areas by reducing labor cost constraints.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — May support the viability of emergency medical services in rural areas through cost reductions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Provides more flexibility for local political subdivisions to manage their own workforce costs. Does this give the federal government more power? — Amends the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to create specific exemptions.
- 3/3/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah