Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025
Summary
The Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 aims to prevent the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a proposed standard related to heat injury and illness prevention. This proposed standard, published by OSHA, addresses heat injury and illness prevention in both outdoor and indoor work settings. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on November 20, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would block the Department of Labor from enforcing any new regulations designed to protect workers from heat-related illnesses. This could lead to a continuation of existing practices regarding workplace safety concerning heat exposure. The absence of a federal standard would leave the regulation of heat-related safety measures to individual states or employers.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially reduces regulatory burden on businesses, leading to cost savings.
- Allows businesses to maintain existing heat safety protocols without needing to adapt to new federal standards.
- Avoids potential conflicts with existing state regulations on heat safety.
- May foster innovation in heat safety solutions tailored to specific industries or regions.
- Could prevent overly broad or impractical federal regulations.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May lead to inadequate protection for workers in high-heat environments.
- Could result in increased incidents of heat-related illnesses and injuries among workers.
- Creates inconsistency in worker protection across different states and industries.
- Undermines efforts to establish a national standard for workplace safety.
- May disproportionately affect workers in sectors like agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution primarily concerns the balance of power between the federal government and the states, as well as the role of Congress in regulating commerce and ensuring worker safety. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (the Commerce Clause) grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which could be interpreted to include workplace safety standards. However, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, potentially supporting the bill's aim to limit federal intervention in this area.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).