Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would change federal law so that employers must pay workers double their regular hourly rate for overtime hours instead of the current time-and-a-half. It does this by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
• The bill replaces "one and one-half" with "two" throughout the key overtime sections of the Fair Labor Standards Act, including Section 7 (the main overtime provision) and several exemption categories in Section 13.
• If enacted, the new overtime rate would not kick in right away. Businesses and workers would have a 180-day window (about six months) before the changes take effect, giving employers time to adjust payroll and scheduling.
• The bill was introduced by Rep. Casar along with 18 cosponsors, all Democrats, and has been referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. Given the current political makeup of Congress, passage faces significant obstacles.
• By making overtime significantly more expensive, the bill aims to discourage employers from overworking existing staff and instead incentivize hiring additional workers. However, businesses could respond by cutting hours, raising prices, or reducing their workforce to control costs.