Legal Updates

On April 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a significant update to its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Heat‑Related Hazards, originally issued in April 2022. The revised NEP is ... Read More

Effective July 1, 2026, Idaho House Bill 928, titled the Merit‑Based Health Care Act, establishes new requirements for health care providers that participate in Idaho’s Medicaid program. The law conditions participation in Medicaid on the requirement that employment, contracting, and ... Read More

Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia Senate Bill 170 further limits when employers may enforce covenants not to compete against workers, expanding Virginia’s already restrictive noncompete framework. The new law not only reinforces existing protections for low‑wage employees, but it also ... Read More

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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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’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