Don’t STEAL Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 5048Labor and Employment

Don’t STEAL Act

INTRO AUG 26· LAST ACTION AUG 26

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4MIN

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STEP 2 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

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Passed House

Passed Senate

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because wage theft is a widespread problem that costs American workers billions of dollars annually, affecting their financial stability and contributing to economic inequality. When employers don't pay minimum wage, deny overtime, or withhold earned wages, it directly harms families and communities. Current laws often treat wage theft primarily as a civil matter, and existing criminal penalties are frequently considered insufficient to deter intentional misconduct.

If this bill becomes law, it would significantly raise the stakes for employers considering wage theft, potentially leading to fewer instances of workers being underpaid. The threat of substantial criminal penalties, including imprisonment, would serve as a much stronger deterrent than current law. If it doesn't pass, the existing system with less severe consequences for wage theft would remain, potentially allowing the problem to persist and leaving workers vulnerable to economic exploitation.

KEY PROVISIONS

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PROVISION 01

Creates a new section in the Fair Labor Standards Act explicitly defining an employee's "right to full compensation," requiring payment of the greater of their agreed-upon rate or the legally required rate.

This clarifies and strengthens the legal basis for employees to receive all owed wages, making it easier to identify and prosecute wage theft.

PROVISION 02

Establishes new criminal penalties for willful wage theft, imposing fines and up to 5 years in prison if the stolen amount exceeds $1,000, and up to 1 year for amounts up to $1,000.

This significantly increases the legal consequences for employers who intentionally underpay workers, making wage theft a much more serious crime.

PROVISION 03

Broadens the application of existing civil penalties to include violations of the newly established "right to full compensation."

This ensures that violations of the explicit right to full pay are subject to the same civil enforcement mechanisms as other wage violations.

PROVISION 04

Directs that criminal fines collected from wage theft violations will be used to fund the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.

This provides additional resources for the agency responsible for investigating and enforcing wage laws, potentially improving enforcement capabilities.

SPONSORSHIP

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COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%

DEM 28 REP 0 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

AUG 26

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

AUG 26

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

HOUSE · INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 5048

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedAug 26, 2025

Last actionAug 26, 2025

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED AUG 26, 2025

House BillHR 5048Labor and Employment

Don’t STEAL Act

INTRODUCED AUG 26, 2025· LAST ACTION AUG 26, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

4 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

This clarifies and strengthens the legal basis for employees to receive all owed wages, making it easier to identify and prosecute wage theft.

high

Establishes new criminal penalties for willful wage theft, imposing fines and up to 5 years in prison if the stolen amount exceeds $1,000, and up to 1 year for amounts up to $1,000.

This significantly increases the legal consequences for employers who intentionally underpay workers, making wage theft a much more serious crime.

med

Broadens the application of existing civil penalties to include violations of the newly established "right to full compensation."

This ensures that violations of the explicit right to full pay are subject to the same civil enforcement mechanisms as other wage violations.

med

Directs that criminal fines collected from wage theft violations will be used to fund the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.

This provides additional resources for the agency responsible for investigating and enforcing wage laws, potentially improving enforcement capabilities.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

90 days after the date of enactment of this Act

Amendments for criminal and civil penalties apply to violations occurring on or after this date.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
criminal	Fines in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, and/or imprisonment for not more than 5 years.	Any person who willfully violates sections relating to unpaid wages or unpaid overtime compensation in an amount greater than $1,000.
criminal	Fines in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, and/or imprisonment for not more than 1 year.	Any person who willfully violates sections relating to unpaid wages or unpaid overtime compensation in an amount equal to or less than $1,000.
civil	As provided by existing Sections 16(b), (c), and (e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (e.g., unpaid wages, liquidated damages, civil money penalties for child labor violations).	Any person who violates sections relating to minimum wage, overtime pay, or the new right to full compensation.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA): A federal law that sets basic standards for minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, record-keeping, and child labor for most private and public employment.
Wage Theft: When employers fail to pay employees all of the wages they are legally or contractually owed, which can include minimum wage violations, unpaid overtime, illegal deductions, or not paying for all hours worked.
Collective Bargaining Agreement: A contract between an employer and a labor union representing its employees, which sets terms and conditions of employment, including wages, hours, and working conditions.
Willful Violation: An act done knowingly or with reckless disregard for whether the employer's conduct was prohibited by law.
Wage and Hour Division: A division within the U.S. Department of Labor responsible for enforcing federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Liquidated Damages: Additional money, often equal to the amount of unpaid wages, that an employer might have to pay to an employee in wage theft cases, typically as a form of compensation for the delay in payment and not as a penalty.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

AUG 26, 25

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

AUG 26, 25

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

INTROREFERRAL

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Don’t STEAL Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

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BILL INFO

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Don’t STEAL Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

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