Bill Status of HB 5071   103rd General Assembly

Short Description:  WORK WITHOUT FEAR ACT

House Sponsors
Rep. Lilian Jiménez-Carol Ammons-Norma Hernandez-Anna Moeller-Kevin John Olickal, Rita Mayfield, Dagmara Avelar, Michelle Mussman, Diane Blair-Sherlock, Lindsey LaPointe, Hoan Huynh, Aarón M. Ortíz, Abdelnasser Rashid, Nabeela Syed, Theresa Mah, Mary Beth Canty, Laura Faver Dias, Kelly M. Cassidy, Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Edgar González, Jr., Will Guzzardi, Barbara Hernández, Gregg Johnson, Joyce Mason, Cyril Nichols, Justin Slaughter and Anne Stava-Murray

Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Work Without Fear Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to engage in, or to direct another person to engage in, immigration-related retaliation against any person or his or her family member or household member for the purpose of, or with the effect of, retaliating against any person for exercising any right protected under State employment laws or by any local employment ordinance. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Allows the Attorney General to initiate or intervene in a civil action to obtain appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person has violated the Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prevent any person from making complaint or prosecuting his or her own claim for damages caused by retaliation. Allows a person who is the subject of retaliation prohibited by the Act to bring a civil action for: (1) back pay, with interest, and front pay, or, in lieu of actual damages, liquidated damages of $30,000; (2) a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000; (3) reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; and (4) equitable relief as the court may deem appropriate and just. Provides that a person that violates any provision of the Act shall be subject to an additional civil penalty in an amount of $25,000 for each violation, or $50,000 for each repeat violation within a 5-year period. Sets forth license suspension penalties for violations of the Act. Effective January 1, 2025.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/8/2024HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Lilian Jiménez
  2/8/2024HouseFirst Reading
  2/8/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/14/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
  2/16/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield
  2/22/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  2/22/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
  2/22/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
  2/28/2024HouseAssigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
  3/6/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
  3/6/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/6/2024HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernández
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Cyril Nichols
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
  3/7/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
  4/4/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lilian Jiménez
  4/4/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  4/5/2024HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die

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