To require coverage of incarcerated workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

H.R. 8002, introduced by Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) in March 2026, would modify the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to include incarcerated workers under its protections. Currently, incarcerated individuals who work while in prison are generally not covered by federal minimum wage and overtime requirements. If enacted, this bill would extend those labor protections to prison workers, potentially requiring facilities to pay minimum wage and overtime compensation for work performed by incarcerated individuals.

The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been recently introduced and referred to committee. It has not yet been voted on by the full House. If passed and signed into law, the bill could significantly affect how correctional facilities compensate incarcerated workers and could increase costs for state and federal prison systems. The practical impact would depend on how the bill defines covered work and what wage and overtime requirements it establishes.