H.R. 10323House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act

Introduced September 8, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 10, 2026 at 3:11 AM UTC

The Thirty‑Two Hour Workweek Act would change the Fair Labor Standards Act so that the standard workweek is reduced from 40 hours to 32 hours. It sets new overtime rules and phases the reduction in over three years, affecting most private‑sector workers and any public‑sector employees covered by the FLSA.

Key Provisions

  • Redefines a “standard workweek” to 32 hours; employees working more than 32 hours must be paid at least time‑and‑a‑half their regular rate.
  • Introduces a three‑year phase‑in: in year 1 the limit is 38 hours, year 2 it drops to 36 hours, year 3 to 34 hours, and after that the limit is 32 hours.
  • Keeps the existing daily overtime rules – work beyond 8 hours up to 12 hours is paid at time‑and‑a‑half, and work beyond 12 hours at double the regular rate.
  • Prohibits employers from lowering an employee’s overall pay rate or benefits simply because the employee is now covered by the new 32‑hour standard.
  • Updates related language in the FLSA to reflect the new workweek and workday definitions.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

September 8, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

September 8, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 8, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10323

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2026

Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Omar, Mr. Correa, and Mrs. Ramirez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act.

2.

Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 7 (29 U.S.C. 207)—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

in paragraph (1)—

(I)

by striking commerce, for a workweek longer than forty hours and all that follows through the period and inserting commerce—; and

(II)

by adding at the end the following:

(A)

for a workweek longer than thirty-two hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of such hours at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed; or

(B)

for a workday—

(i)

longer than eight hours, but not longer than 12 hours, unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of eight hours at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed; or

(ii)

longer than twelve hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of such hours at a rate not less than double the regular rate at which he is employed.

;

(ii)

in paragraph (2)—

(I)

in the matter that precedes subparagraph (A), by striking Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966 and inserting Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act; and

(II)

by striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following:

(A)

for a workweek longer than thirty-eight hours during the 1-year period beginning not less than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act,

(B)

for a workweek longer than thirty-six hours during the second year after the first day of such period,

(C)

for a workweek longer than thirty-four hours during the third year after the first day of such period, or

(D)

for a workweek longer than thirty-two hours after the expiration of the third year after the first day of such period,

; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(3)

With respect to any employee described in paragraph (2) who in any workweek is brought within the purview of this subsection by the amendments made to this Act by the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, the employer of such employee may not reduce the total workweek compensation rate, including the regular rate at which the employee is employed, or any other employee benefit due to the employee being brought within the purview of this subsection by such amendments.

; and

(B)

in subsection (l)—

(i)

by striking No and inserting Except as provided in subsection (a)(2), no; and

(ii)

by striking forty and inserting thirty-two; and

(2)

in section 18(a) (29 U.S.C. 218(a)) by inserting or workday after workweek in each place it occurs.