Rep. Messmer Introduces Bill to Block OSHA From Creating New Workplace Heat Safety Rules
This bill is currently sitting in the House Committee on Education and Workforce. No action has been taken on the bill since November 2025, which means it has been stalled for about seven months. The committee must review the bill before it can move forward, but most bills like this never receive a vote.
While this bill has strong support from House Republicans, it will likely face a difficult path in the Senate or a veto from an administration that favors labor protections.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Farmworkers are among the most vulnerable to heat-related illness because they spend long hours doing physical labor outdoors in extreme heat. If this bill passes, the proposed OSHA rule that would have required employers to provide water, shade, and mandatory rest breaks would be permanently blocked. Without a federal standard, farmworkers in many states would continue to have no legal right to heat protections on the job, leaving them at higher risk of heatstroke and death.
“The Secretary of Labor may not finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed standard titled ``Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings''”
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Ind.) introduced the 'Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025' to repeal a federal heat-safety rule that would require employers to take specific actions when workers are exposed to temperatures of 80 degrees or higher, arguing it imposes unnecessary burdens on small businesses.
Rep. Mark Messmer introduced the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 to repeal OSHA's proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rule. Supporters argue the rule is a 'one-size-fits-all' mandate that fails to account for regional climate differences and industry-specific needs.
Legislators introduced the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, targeting OSHA's attempt to apply uniform heat thresholds across various industries. Critics in the construction and manufacturing sectors suggest the rule would impose unnecessary mandates and excessive federal penalties.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.