American Franchise Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hern (OK)
Introduced
Summary
Limits when a franchisor can be treated as a joint employer by tying joint-employer status to having substantial, direct, and immediate control over essential employment terms. The bill would add precise definitions to the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act and list eight specific control categories such as wages, hiring, supervision, and hours.
Show full summary
- Workers at franchised locations: The bill would make it harder to treat a franchisor as a joint employer unless the franchisor regularly exercises real decision making over essential terms. This affects who can be held responsible under labor and wage laws.
- Franchisors: The bill would narrow exposure to joint-employer liability by requiring proof of substantial direct and immediate control rather than sporadic or minor influence.
- Franchisees: The bill would reinforce that day-to-day employment decisions generally remain the franchisee's responsibility unless the franchisor meets the control test.
- Labor organizations and enforcement agencies: The bill would limit when a franchisor can be a bargaining or enforcement target by applying the new control framework.
- Pending cases: The bill would not apply to proceedings begun before enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New joint-employer rules for franchises
This bill would set one test for when a franchisor counts as a joint employer. A franchisor would count only if it has and uses substantial, direct, and immediate control over key work terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, firing, discipline, supervision, or direction. One‑off or minor actions would not count. The same test would apply in labor relations cases and in wage‑and‑hour cases. The bill would use the FTC franchise definitions in 16 C.F.R. 436.1 as of enactment. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
No retroactive changes to pending cases
This bill would not apply to cases that started before enactment. Ongoing NLRA or FLSA cases would stay under the old rules. This limit would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hern (OK)
OK • R
Cosponsors
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Van Duyne
TX • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Cuellar
TX • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • I
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Bean (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Fitzgerald
WI • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Bentz
OR • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]
CA • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Cole
OK • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
TN • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]
PA • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]
MP • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
OH • R
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]
IA • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
TX • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Aderholt
AL • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Webster (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
NC • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Jack
GA • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Allen
GA • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
AL • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Onder
MO • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
UT • R
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]
MO • R
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
GA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
WA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Timmons
SC • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Johnson (SD)
SD • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Estes
KS • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Kelly (MS)
MS • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
LaHood
IL • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
SC • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Hageman
WY • R
Sponsored 3/30/2026
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
AL • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Womack
AR • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]
KY • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Moore (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Haridopolos
FL • R
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov