Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
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 ``Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026'', aims to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The primary purpose is to change the rate employers pay for overtime hours. Currently, the rate is one and one-half times the regular rate. This legislation would increase that rate to two times the regular rate. The changes would take effect 180 days after the act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income workers often rely on overtime to meet essential needs.
- Scored +7
Would union members be better off under this?
Directly increases the compensation-to-labor ratio for workers.
- Scored +5
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Young workers entering the workforce benefit from higher overtime pay.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increased labor costs negatively impact business profitability.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Higher overtime costs may place a heavier financial burden on small business owners.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Pay for Overtime Work: This bill would change the overtime rate from one and one-half to two times the regular rate, which increases the amount of money employees receive for extra hours worked (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated 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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income workers often rely on overtime to meet essential needs. Would union members be better off under this? — Directly increases the compensation-to-labor ratio for workers. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged workers often work significant overtime to support families. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increases earnings for middle-class workers who work extra hours. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young workers entering the workforce benefit from higher overtime pay. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increased labor costs negatively impact business profitability.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay? — While not a minimum wage increase, it significantly raises the floor for overtime compensation. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Increases the value of labor for hourly workers which aligns with union interests. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Higher overtime costs may place a heavier financial burden on small business owners.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increased overtime pay can help lift working families out of poverty.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal labor standards across the country.
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland