Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Norcross
Introduced
Summary
Would create federal minimum standards guaranteeing public employees the right to organize, join or refrain from joining a union and to bargain collectively. This bill would set a national backstop while allowing States that already meet those standards to keep their laws in force.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Union rights for public workers
If federal rules apply in your State, you would have the right to form or join a union, or not, to bargain, and to act together (including joint legal claims). Public employers would need to recognize a union chosen by a majority (or by voluntary recognition allowed by State law) and bargain in good faith. Agreements would have to be in writing. To seek decertification, at least 30% must sign, and petitions would face timing limits (a 1‑year wait after an election or recognition and limited windows near a contract’s end). Union fee deductions could be taken if agreed and would continue until you revoke under the agreement. Existing certifications and contracts in place the day before enactment would remain valid.
Federal fallback if state rules lag
The Federal Labor Relations Authority would check every State within 180 days to see if State law already gives these rights, and set procedures within 30 days. If a State falls short, federal rules would start on the later of two years after enactment or the end of the first regular State session after enactment; for later findings, after the next regular session. If a material change is reported, the Authority would re-check within 30 days. In partial cases, only the uncovered employee groups or rights would be covered by federal rules. The bill would not force States to cancel local laws that already meet the standard and would protect certain District of Columbia home rule laws.
Who is covered under this bill
The bill would define who counts as a public employer and public employee. It would generally exclude supervisors, managers, confidential staff, and elected officials, but include workers temporarily assigned to those roles. It would use Fair Labor Standards Act meanings for commerce terms. State definitions that match could continue to apply.
Court review and private enforcement rights
If you are harmed by an Authority decision, you could ask a U.S. Court of Appeals to review it within 60 days. If the Authority has not acted after 180 days on a charge, you or your union could sue a named State administrator in federal court to seek compliance. You must file within 180 days after the wait ends or after a dismissal. Courts could award attorneys’ fees. The Authority could also ask courts to enforce its orders.
Binding impasse process and safety strike limits
Where federal rules apply, bargaining impasses would have to go through a process that ends in a binding decision, such as mediation or arbitration. Employers and unions would be barred from strikes or lockouts that would likely disrupt emergency or public safety services. The bill would not change State or local rules on strikes by emergency workers or police.
Funding to run these rules
The bill would let Congress fund this work with “such sums as may be necessary.” Actual dollars would depend on later appropriations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Norcross
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov