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H.R. 2262 would modify the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how employers count work time for wage and overtime purposes. Currently, when employees attend training or educational programs outside their regular work hours, those hours may still count as compensable work time if the training relates to their job. This bill would remove that requirement, allowing employers to exclude time spent on voluntary job-related training from hours worked calculations, provided the training occurs outside regular working hours, is truly voluntary with no penalties for non-participation, and the employee performs no actual work during the program.
The bill's supporters argue it would give employers flexibility to offer workers professional development and upskilling opportunities without triggering overtime pay obligations. They contend this would help workers gain career-advancing skills and address skills gaps in the workforce. The bill would still require employers to pay workers for mandatory job training, distinguishing between voluntary and required training programs.
The bill passed the House in January 2026 but with a narrow vote. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, the practical effect would be that workers could attend employer-sponsored training on their own time without automatically increasing their paid hours, though the training would still be voluntary and workers could decline without consequences. This represents a shift in how federal wage law treats job-related education and training activities.
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Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 13.
Apr 9, 2025
Apr 9, 2025 · 14:15
The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup session on April 9, 2025, to consider five separate measures addressing education policy, labor standards, and government oversight. The bills examined included H.R. 2617, the Say No to Indoctrination Act, which would prohibit schools from using federal funds to teach concepts related to gender ideology as defined in a presidential executive order. H.R. 2616, the PROTECT Kids Act, would require schools to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms or sex-based accommodations for students through grade eight. H.R. 2262, the Flexibility for Workers Education Act, would modify the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude time spent on voluntary training and educational activities from counting as hours worked, even if job-related. H.R. 2270, the Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act, would exclude employer-provided childcare and dependent care payments from overtime compensation calculations. H.Res. 237 is a resolution of inquiry requesting documents from the President and Secretary of Education regarding reduction in force and downsizing measures at the Department of Education. The committee advanced H.R. 2617 on an 18-12 vote and H.R. 2270 on an 18-13 vote. The measures reflect differing perspectives on education policy, parental rights, labor regulations, and government operations. Advancing a bill out of committee does not guarantee passage in the full House, which must vote separately on each measure.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-423.
Dec 30, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-423.
Dec 30, 2025
Jan 12, 2026 · 21:00
On January 13, 2026, the House Rules Committee considered five bills aimed at modernizing workplace policies. The bills examined were H.R. 2262 (Flexibility for Workers Education Act), H.R. 2270 (Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act), H.R. 2312 (Tipped Employee Protection Act), H.R. 2988 (Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act), and H.R. 4366 (Save Local Business Act). H.R. 2262 would exclude time spent on voluntary professional development activities outside regular work hours from counting as compensable work time under the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing employers to offer skills training without triggering overtime pay obligations. H.R. 2312 would simplify the definition of tipped employees by allowing employers to classify workers as tipped if their combined tips and wages meet the federal minimum wage, regardless of job duties. H.R. 2270 would encourage employers to offer childcare as an employee benefit, while H.R. 2988 would require retirement plan fiduciaries to prioritize financial returns in investment decisions. H.R. 4366 would clarify joint employer standards for small businesses. The Rules Committee reported the resolution governing floor consideration of these bills by an 8-3 vote on January 12, 2026. The House subsequently passed the rule on January 13 by a vote of 214-207. The rule provided for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill. Passage of the rule allows the bills to proceed to floor consideration but does not guarantee they will advance further.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 13.
Apr 9, 2025
Apr 9, 2025 · 14:15
The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup session on April 9, 2025, to consider five separate measures addressing education policy, labor standards, and government oversight. The bills examined included H.R. 2617, the Say No to Indoctrination Act, which would prohibit schools from using federal funds to teach concepts related to gender ideology as defined in a presidential executive order. H.R. 2616, the PROTECT Kids Act, would require schools to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms or sex-based accommodations for students through grade eight. H.R. 2262, the Flexibility for Workers Education Act, would modify the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude time spent on voluntary training and educational activities from counting as hours worked, even if job-related. H.R. 2270, the Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act, would exclude employer-provided childcare and dependent care payments from overtime compensation calculations. H.Res. 237 is a resolution of inquiry requesting documents from the President and Secretary of Education regarding reduction in force and downsizing measures at the Department of Education. The committee advanced H.R. 2617 on an 18-12 vote and H.R. 2270 on an 18-13 vote. The measures reflect differing perspectives on education policy, parental rights, labor regulations, and government operations. Advancing a bill out of committee does not guarantee passage in the full House, which must vote separately on each measure.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-423.
Dec 30, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-423.
Dec 30, 2025
Jan 12, 2026 · 21:00
On January 13, 2026, the House Rules Committee considered five bills aimed at modernizing workplace policies. The bills examined were H.R. 2262 (Flexibility for Workers Education Act), H.R. 2270 (Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act), H.R. 2312 (Tipped Employee Protection Act), H.R. 2988 (Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act), and H.R. 4366 (Save Local Business Act). H.R. 2262 would exclude time spent on voluntary professional development activities outside regular work hours from counting as compensable work time under the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing employers to offer skills training without triggering overtime pay obligations. H.R. 2312 would simplify the definition of tipped employees by allowing employers to classify workers as tipped if their combined tips and wages meet the federal minimum wage, regardless of job duties. H.R. 2270 would encourage employers to offer childcare as an employee benefit, while H.R. 2988 would require retirement plan fiduciaries to prioritize financial returns in investment decisions. H.R. 4366 would clarify joint employer standards for small businesses. The Rules Committee reported the resolution governing floor consideration of these bills by an 8-3 vote on January 12, 2026. The House subsequently passed the rule on January 13 by a vote of 214-207. The rule provided for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill. Passage of the rule allows the bills to proceed to floor consideration but does not guarantee they will advance further.