Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026
Rep. Casar Introduces Bill to Require Double Pay for Overtime Work
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It is considered active, but no further meetings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill mentioned for this proposal.
Legislative Progress
This bill is supported by progressive members of Congress but faces strong opposition from business groups and many other lawmakers who worry about the cost to employers.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small businesses that rely on overtime to meet demand, especially in retail, food service, construction, and manufacturing, would face a significant jump in labor costs. A worker earning $20/hour would cost $40/hour in overtime instead of the current $30/hour. Many small businesses operate on thin margins and may need to cut hours, raise prices, or reduce staff to absorb the increase.
“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.”
Programs
Milestones
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.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
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Jayapal moves to double overtime pay
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal introduced legislation that would require employers to pay eligible workers double their regular wage for overtime hours, replacing the current federal requirement of time-and-a-half pay. The measure, known as the Double the Wage for Overtime Act...
The Progressives’ Contract With America
The legislative package, called the New Affordability Agenda, would also tackle the wage side of the affordability equation, benefiting workers through mandates for guaranteed double time for overtime and two weeks of paid vacation.

The Progressives’ New Affordability Agenda
The CPC's effort is to break through that cynicism... Its New Affordability Agenda is essentially filling a vacuum... Provide wage and hours assistance by hiking overtime pay to double normal time, providing relief or reward to workers often pressed into overtime work.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Double the Wage for Overtime Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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