Maine Enacts New Investigatory and Enforcement Powers for Bureau of Labor Standards

Maine has enacted LD 1587 (HP 1045), titled An Act to Clarify the Bureau of Labor Standards’ Investigatory and Enforcement Procedures, significantly expanding the authority of the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards (BLS) to investigate, penalize, and collect ... Read More

Virginia Enacts New Protections for Employees Serving as Volunteer Emergency Responders

Virginia has enacted a new employment law protection by adding § 40.1‑27.5 to the Code of Virginia, which prohibits retaliation against employees who miss work to serve as volunteer emergency responders. The law applies to employees who are active members ... Read More

Virginia Enacts Minimum Wage Reforms Affecting Wage Rates and Farmworker Coverage

Virginia has enacted three interrelated pieces of legislation—House Bill 1 (HB 1), House Bill 20 (HB 20), and Senate Bill 121 (SB 121)—that together reshape the Commonwealth’s minimum wage framework. These laws both revise the schedule and amounts of future ... Read More

Oregon Expands Criminal Liability for Labor and Construction Contractors

Oregon House Bill 4089, effective January 1, 2027, makes changes to the state’s criminal enforcement framework governing wage theft, contractor licensing, and labor contracting practices in the construction industry. Most notably, the law expands Oregon’s theft of services statute to ... Read More

Executive Order Targets “Racially Discriminatory” DEI Practices in Federal Contracting

On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued a new Executive Order entitled Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors, reinforcing the Administration’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The Order declares it the policy of the United States to promote ... Read More

Washington Bars Employer‑Driven Microchip Implants

Washington has enacted House Bill 2303, a statute designed to draw a bright line around employee bodily autonomy and workplace privacy. The new law, effective June 11, 2026, prohibits employers from engaging in any practice that pressures workers—directly or indirectly—to ... Read More

Utah Eliminates Non‑Competes for Healthcare Workers

Utah has enacted House Bill 270, which introduces restrictions on post‑employment covenants for healthcare professionals. Effective May 6, 2026, non‑compete agreements between employers and covered healthcare workers will be void. The legislation reflects a growing policy trend aimed at supporting ... Read More

Tennessee Revises Wage‑Payment Rules for Piece‑Work and Commission Employees

Tennessee has enacted Senate Bill 2024, refining the state’s wage‑payment statutes by introducing new, specific timing requirements for employees compensated through piece‑work or commission arrangements. While the longstanding monthly wage‑payment requirements for traditional hourly and salaried employees remain unchanged, the ... Read More

Washington Eliminates Noncompetition Agreements

Washington’s newly enacted House Bill 1155 represents a shift in the state’s approach to restrictive covenants, declaring all noncompetition agreements void and unenforceable, regardless of when they were executed. The legislation aims to promote competition, innovation, and workforce mobility by ... Read More

Utah Significantly Restricts Veterinarian Non‑Compete and Related Agreements

Utah has enacted Senate Bill 111, introducing changes to employment restrictions involving veterinarians. The legislation updates terminology throughout existing law, replacing references to “post‑employment restrictive covenants” with the more familiar “non‑compete agreements.” It also adds several new definitions, including “veterinarian,” ... Read More

Michigan Passes Anti-SLAPP Statute

Michigan has enacted a sweeping new anti‑SLAPP statute designed to protect individuals and organizations from lawsuits that target constitutionally protected speech. The law creates a mechanism for early dismissal of claims arising from a person’s exercise of free‑speech rights on ... Read More

New Washington Law Clarifies Pregnancy Accommodation Rules and Strengthens Confidentiality

Washington has enacted Senate Bill 6014, introducing refinements to the state’s pregnancy‑related accommodation requirements. The legislation amends existing unfair practice provisions under chapter 49.92 RCW by clarifying when employers may request written certification to support accommodation requests. Notably, the bill ... Read More