Sen. Murray Introduces the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act
A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 to prevent wage theft and assist in the recovery of stolen wages, to authorize the Secretary of Labor to administer grants to prevent wage and hour violations, and for other purposes.
This bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It has not moved since June 24, 2026, when it was first sent to the committee for review. The committee members must decide whether to hold a vote on the bill before it can move any further in the process.
Companion bill: Rep. DeLauro Introduces Bill to Triple Damages for Workers Who Are Denied Full Pay →While the bill has many supporters in the Senate, it lacks Republican cosponsors and would likely face a filibuster or opposition in a divided Congress.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Companion
Identical companion bill H.R. 9458 (119th) was introduced in the other chamber.
H.R. 9458 (119th) →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
Employers must now issue detailed pay disclosures, itemized paystubs every pay period, and final paychecks within 14 days of termination, adding new paperwork and compliance costs. Violations carry steep new civil fines, up to $25,150 per employee for a first offense and $250,150 for repeat or willful violations, which could hit small businesses hard.
“any person who violates section 6, 7, or 8, relating to wages, shall be subject to a civil fine that is not to exceed $25,150 per each employee affected for each initial violation of such section.”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 to prevent wage theft and assist in the recovery of stolen wages, to authorize the Secretary of Labor to administer grants to prevent wage and hour violations, and for other purposes.
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