S. 5268 – Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 11, 2026 at 5:52 AM UTC

The Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026 would change the overtime pay rule in the Fair Labor Standards Act. It raises the required overtime rate from one‑and‑a‑half times an employee’s regular pay to double that rate. The change would apply to most workers covered by the FLSA and would take effect 180 days after the law is enacted.

Key Provisions

Amends the FLSA to replace every reference to "one and one-half" times regular pay with "two" times regular pay for overtime hours.
Specifies that the new overtime rate applies to all sections of the law that set the overtime multiplier.
Sets the effective date of the new overtime rate to be 180 days after the bill becomes law.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

August 5, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

August 5, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

August 5, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued August 5, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5268

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 5, 2026

Mr. Gallego (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to adjust the rate employers pay for overtime hours from one and one-half to two times the regular rate.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026.

2.

Increasing Overtime Pay for Employees

(a)

In General

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

(1)

in section 7, by striking one and one-half each place it appears and inserting two; and

(2)

in section 13—

(A)

in subsection (b)(29), by striking one and one-half and inserting two;

(B)

in subsection (h), in the matter following paragraph (2)(B), by striking one and one-half and inserting two;

(C)

in subsection (i)(2)(B), by striking one and one-half and inserting two; and

(D)

in subsection (j)(2)(B), by striking one and one-half and inserting two.

(b)

Effective Date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.