Beltway Buzz, July 24, 2026
The latest Beltway Buzz update provides key insights for businesses navigating the current regulatory environment in Washington. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued a proposal to rescind the annual EEO-1 reporting requirements. This proposal argues the current reports create inconsistencies with employment law and carry significant administrative costs. Comments remain open until August 24, 2026, with a public hearing scheduled for August 11.
Legislative activity on Capitol Hill continues to ramp up as well. The House Committee on Education and Workforce approved the American Franchise Act, which seeks to clarify joint employer status for franchisors. Additionally, the committee passed the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, aiming to block the current OSHA proposal regarding heat illness prevention. Both bills now head to the House floor for further consideration.
In the Senate, a bipartisan effort is underway regarding paid leave. Senators John Boozman and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act. The bill proposes a Department of Labor program to distribute grants to states that implement their own paid family and medical leave systems. This move follows similar legislative discussions held earlier in the House.
The Department of Labor also released new opinion letters addressing wage and hour compliance for remote work. One letter confirms that commuting during the workday for personal convenience is not compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Another letter clarifies that time spent by field service engineers receiving daily assignments is incidental to the use of employer vehicles and remains non-compensable. However, time spent scheduling client visits is compensable work.