# 119-s-2984: Employee Rights Act 119-s-2984, Employee Rights Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2984 - As of: 2026-04-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-2984 - Congress: 119 - Title: Employee Rights Act - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-10-08 - Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC) - Cosponsors: 10 - Policy area: Labor and Employment - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-04-21 ## Summary **This bill would make secret-ballot union representation the required method for selecting bargaining representatives and bar non-lawful-status employees from voting in those elections.** It would also tighten privacy and dues controls, redefine who counts as an employee, expand tribal coverage, and limit forced DEI bargaining terms. - Workers and unions: Workers would see union representation chosen by secret ballot and non-lawful-status employees would be barred from voting in labor elections. Unions would face new limits on member data sharing and would need written, annually renewed permission to use dues for nonrepresentational activities. - Employers and businesses: The bill would align independent-contractor and joint-employer tests with Fair Labor Standards Act standards and clarify that franchisor-franchisee contacts alone do not create employer status. Employers would be able to act to stop harassing or demeaning conduct during organizing campaigns and strikes. - Tribes, DEI, and enforcement: It would extend National Labor Relations Act coverage to Indian Tribes and Indian lands and prohibit mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion clauses in collective bargaining unless required by law. The bill would also raise criminal penalties for violent interference in labor disputes while protecting peaceful picketing. ## Cosponsors (10) - Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] (R-WY), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] (R-ID), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] (R-ID), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND] (R-ND), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] (R-AR), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - New federal penalties for violent labor acts: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would make robbery, extortion, or threats of physical violence that affect commerce a federal crime punishable by up to a $100,000 fine and 20 years in prison. Peaceful picketing and minor injuries or minor property damage that are not part of a pattern would be left to state a… - NLRA coverage for tribal employers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would extend National Labor Relations Act protections to Indian Tribes and tribal enterprises on Indian lands. The bill would define 'Indian Tribe,' 'Indian,' and 'Indian lands' for applying the Act. - New test for independent contractors: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would set a two-part test for who counts as an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The hiring party must not exercise 'significant control' over how the work is done. The worker must also face the risks and opportunities of running a business. The bill wo… - Narrower joint-employer and franchisor rules: mixed, high. If enacted, an entity would be a joint employer only if it directly and actually controls core job terms like hiring, pay, day-to-day supervision, schedules, or discipline. The bill would also say franchisors providing training or requiring policies on harassment, trafficking, workplace violence, o… - Union vote privacy and dues opt-in: mixed, medium. If enacted, union representatives would be chosen by secret ballot in elections run by the NLRB. After the Board sets an election, employers must give unions a list of unit employees and one contact method each, usually in a searchable file. Labor organizations could use that data only for represen… - Option to negotiate individually in some States: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would create 'independent negotiating' in States that bar agreements requiring union membership or payments. An employee who stops union membership or payments could negotiate individually and be treated as outside the represented unit. The bill would make some union actions to… - Limits on DEI mandates and employer actions: mixed, low. If enacted, collective bargaining agreements could not require diversity, equity, or inclusion programs unless a federal, state, or local law already requires them. The bill would also say employers could take steps to stop discriminatory or harassing language or conduct, including during organizin… ## Related bills - 119-s-5526: Agricultural Act of 2026 - 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act - 119-s-401: Fair Access to Banking Act - 119-s-587: Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 - 119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025 - 119-s-6: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act ## Sources - [119-s-2984 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2984) ## Related - [119-s-5526: Agricultural Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5526) - [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752) - [119-s-401: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-401) - [119-s-587: Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-587) - [119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-186) - [119-s-6: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-6) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2984 (as of 2026-04-21).