HB5048, the “Don’t STEAL Act,” would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to create a new federal right to full compensation for covered employees. It requires employers to pay at least the greater of the amount promised in a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or other employment agreement, or the wage required by applicable federal or state law. The bill applies to employees engaged in commerce, in the production of goods for commerce, or employed by enterprises engaged in commerce.
The bill also expands enforcement by making certain willful wage violations subject to stronger criminal penalties. For covered violations involving unpaid wages or overtime, the bill would authorize fines and imprisonment of up to 5 years when the amount involved exceeds $1,000, and up to 1 year when the amount is $1,000 or less. It also broadens civil enforcement references throughout the Fair Labor Standards Act to include the new section and directs collected fines to help fund Wage and Hour Division enforcement activities. The amendments would apply to violations occurring 90 days after enactment.
Impact
If enacted, HB5048 would significantly strengthen federal wage-theft enforcement under the Fair Labor Standards Act by adding a new statutory compensation standard and increasing both criminal and civil consequences for willful underpayment. It would affect employers covered by the FLSA, especially those with workers subject to wage agreements, minimum wage, overtime, or other compensation obligations. The bill would also channel fine revenue to the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to support enforcement of wage and hour laws.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce, with no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s sponsors and framing, the measure appears to be presented as a worker-protection and anti-wage-theft proposal. Because there are no hearings, votes, or recorded debate excerpts here, there is no documented bipartisan or partisan sentiment to summarize beyond the bill’s clear pro-worker intent.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the bill’s use of criminal penalties for wage violations, including potential imprisonment, which may raise concerns among employers and business groups about over-criminalization, compliance burdens, and the severity of penalties for wage disputes. Another possible issue is the bill’s interaction with existing contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and state wage laws, since it would require payment of the greater of contractual or legal wage rates. Supporters are likely to emphasize deterrence, worker recovery, and stronger enforcement against wage theft, while critics may focus on enforcement discretion, litigation risk, and the scope of federal regulation.