Don’t STEAL Act
Sponsored By: Representative Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
Introduced
Summary
Right to full compensation: This bill would create a new legal right requiring employers to pay workers at least the higher of any contract, collective bargaining rate, or the wage required by federal or state law. It would also strengthen penalties for wage theft and direct collected fines to support Wage and Hour Division enforcement.
Show full summary
- Families and workers: It would guarantee covered employees engaged in commerce or producing goods for commerce the higher of contract or legal wages. The rule would apply to violations occurring 90 days after enactment.
- Employers and businesses: Willful wage-theft could carry criminal penalties in a two-tier scheme. Violations over $1,000 could bring fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both, while violations of $1,000 or less could bring fines, up to 1 year in prison, or both; civil penalties for unpaid wages are also expanded to cover the new right.
- Enforcement and administration: Fines collected for these wage violations would be applied by the Wage and Hour Division to cover costs of enforcing the updated wage rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Workers paid the higher promised wage
This bill would give covered workers a right to full pay. Employers would have to pay at least the higher of your promised rate (contract, union deal, or other agreement) or the federal or state legal wage. It would apply if you work in commerce or for a business engaged in commerce. Overtime rules in section 7 would still apply. The Secretary of Labor would define what counts as an “other employment agreement.”
Criminal charges for willful wage theft
This would add criminal penalties for willful wage theft. If unpaid wages or overtime are over $1,000, offenders could face fines or up to 5 years in prison. If $1,000 or less, offenders could face fines or up to 1 year. Courts would weigh how many workers were harmed, dollars kept, past convictions, and business size. These penalties would apply to violations starting 90 days after enactment.
Stronger civil wage enforcement and funding
This would fold the new wage right into civil enforcement. The Labor Department could enforce it like minimum wage and overtime cases. Fines collected for certain wage violations would help fund Wage and Hour Division enforcement of tips, minimum wage, overtime, and the new wage right. These changes would apply to violations starting 90 days after enactment.
Repeals an older wage law section
This would repeal Section 10 of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill does not explain the practical effect here. Any impact would depend on what that section currently does. It does not specify when the repeal would take effect.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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