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.
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
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Casar
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Magaziner
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
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Garbarino
NY • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Pappas
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
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
McDonald Rivet
MI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Smith (NJ)
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rivas
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govRelated Bills
HR2550 — Protect America's Workforce Act
Preserves federal employees' collective bargaining agreements. This Act nullifies the Executive Order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs." - Federal employees and unions: Collective bargaining agreements that were in effect on March 26, 2025 remain valid and continue to apply through each contract's stated term. - Federal agencies and federal funds: Agencies may not obligate or spend federal funds to carry out that Executive Order, and the Executive Order has no force or effect.
HRES70 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.
Keep the U.S. Postal Service public and independent. This resolution would urge Congress to prevent privatization by framing USPS as a constitutionally authorized, self‑sustaining federal establishment that does not rely on taxpayer funding. It highlights USPS's scale and role: more than 630,000 employees including about 73,000 veterans, service to over 168 million addresses daily, and a central place in a $1.9 trillion mailing industry that employs roughly 7.9 million Americans. The text warns privatization would raise prices, cut services—especially in rural areas—and threaten e‑commerce and critical infrastructure.
HR20 — Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
Strengthens worker organizing rights and enforcement. The bill broadens who counts as an employee or joint employer and builds tougher remedies, penalties, and election rules to make organizing and bargaining easier to enforce and monitor. - Workers: Expands who is treated as an employee by tightening the three-part test for independent contractors and broadening the joint-employer test to include direct, indirect, and reserved control. It adds clear protections for strike participation and allows back pay without reduction and liquidated damages equal to twice awarded damages. - Employers: Requires prompt disclosure and new notice duties including a detailed voter list within two business days and multilingual employee notices. Noncompliance can trigger civil penalties including up to $50,000 per unfair labor practice, up to $10,000 per refusal to obey Board orders, and fines for posting or voter-list violations. - Elections, agencies, and unions: NLRB must adopt remote electronic voting within one year and aim to hold elections within twenty business days. The bill also boosts NLRB reporting and transparency, expands private suits, and creates new whistleblower protections and expedited enforcement.
HR17 — Paycheck Fairness Act
Strengthening pay equity by expanding who is protected and limiting employers from using past pay, the Paycheck Fairness Act would tighten how pay differences are justified and increase enforcement and data collection. - Workers and prospective employees would gain a ban on employer reliance on wage history and new nonretaliation protections for wage discussions. The bill lets a candidate voluntarily share prior pay only after a job offer and only to justify a higher wage. - Employers would face new civil penalties for wage-history violations starting at $5,000 for a first offense and rising by $1,000 per subsequent offense to a $10,000 cap. Affected workers could recover damages up to $10,000 plus attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief where appropriate. - Federal enforcement and oversight would increase. The EEOC and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs would enforce the rules. The bill would create a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force and require expanded pay-data collection by EEOC, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and OFCCP from federal contractors. Provisions would take effect six months after enactment.
HJRES80 — Establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Declares the Equal Rights Amendment part of the United States Constitution. This bill would assert that the ERA was ratified by the legislatures of three‑fourths of the states and that the time limit in House Joint Resolution 208 does not bar its validity. It creates no new programs, funding, or enforcement mechanisms and makes no administrative or jurisdictional changes beyond recognizing the amendment's constitutional status.
HR14 — John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
This bill would restore robust federal oversight of voting rights by rewriting Section 2 and creating a broad practice-based preclearance system. It sets new tests for vote-dilution and vote-denial claims, adds retrogression rules for actions on or after January 1, 2021, and requires extensive public notice, data disclosure, and observer powers. - Minority and language-minority voters: Provides clearer legal paths to challenge districting and practices that dilute or abridge votes, recognizes coalitions of minority groups, and applies retrogression rules to actions from January 1, 2021. - States and local election officials: Triggers preclearance using a 25-year lookback with numeric thresholds and creates an administrative bailout that requires demonstrating sustained compliance over a 10-year period to avoid coverage. - Enforcement, oversight, and courts: Expands who may sue to include private "aggrieved persons", centralizes observer authority in the Attorney General, and authorizes pre-suit inspection and information demands that courts may enforce or modify.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Create a free account to save research, track policy impacts, and unlock your personalized versions of these pages.
Already have an account? Sign in