Legislative Tracker

Time Off to Vote Act

This bill requires an employer, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave while polls or sites that facilitate voting-related activity are open on the day of a federal election. This allotted time may be used to vote, return a mail-in ballot, or perform other voting-related activities.

The employer may determine the two-hour period, excluding any lunch break or other break.

Taking such leave shall not result in the employee losing accrued employment benefits.

The bill makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with the right to take such leave or for an employer to discriminate against an employee for taking such leave. Further, the bill makes it unlawful for any employer to retaliate against an employee for (1) opposing any practice made unlawful by this bill; (2) filing a charge, or instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this bill; or (3) testifying or preparing to testify in an inquiry or proceeding relating to such leave.

The bill specifies penalties for employers who violate these provisions.

Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act

This bill excludes the value of employer-funded child or dependent care from being used in calculating an eligible employee's overtime pay.

Under current law, overtime hours must be paid at one and a half times an employee's regular rate of pay. This rate is an average hourly rate that must include certain types of pay, such as commissions. The bill specifies that an employer can provide or pay for child or dependent care services without the value of the services being included in this calculation.

Supporting Transit Commutes Act 

This bill provides employers a tax deduction for certain transportation fringe benefits given to employees.

Under the bill, employers may deduct costs for providing employees transportation in a commuter highway vehicle (e.g., van pool) between the employee’s home and place of work or a transit pass. The amount of the deduction cannot exceed the aggregate exclusion amount for such fringe benefits ($325 per month per employee in 2025 and adjusted annually). Further, under the bill, the deduction cannot exceed 50% of such amount for transportation fringe benefits provided under a salary reduction agreement.