Bill · H.R. 4844· House(119-HR-4844)
Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 8/1/2025
- Last activity
- 8/1/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Maxine Dexter
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act of 2025," aims to protect farmworkers from the dangers of wildfire smoke and excessive heat. It establishes an initial occupational safety and health standard to protect workers immediately upon enactment. This standard requires employers to provide protective equipment, such as N95 or N100 respirators and cooling facilities. Employers must also provide training and mandatory rest breaks during dangerous conditions. The Secretary of Labor is tasked with promulgating a formal permanent standard within 90 days.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+2
The bill provides essential health protections for farmworkers who often belong to low-income households.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?+2
The bill specifically targets protections for farmworkers, a demographic with significant Hispanic representation.
Would union members be better off under this?+2
The bill establishes formal occupational safety and health standards for agricultural labor.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
Agricultural employers face new operational costs and requirements for equipment and rest periods.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
Agricultural operation employers must bear the costs of providing respirators, water, cooling facilities, and mandatory rest breaks.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection from hazardous air quality: Employers must provide appropriate equipment, including N95 or N100 respirators, when air quality reaches dangerous levels (Section 3(b)(2)(A-B)).
-
Protection from heat-related illness: The bill requires employers to provide water and cooling facilities to protect workers from excessive heat (Section 3(b)(2)(D-E)).
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Mandatory rest and recovery: To prevent injury or fatality, the bill requires employers to provide mandatory rest breaks of at least 10 minutes every 2 hours in shaded areas when conditions are dangerous (Section 3(b)(2)(H)).
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Access to essential information: Employers must provide training and education materials in a language understood by the workers, covering how to use equipment and the health risks involved (Section 3(b)(2)(G)).
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Support for vulnerable populations: The Secretary of Labor is directed to work with community organizations to reach workers facing geographic isolation, language barriers, or literacy issues (Section 3(d)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed within the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Hispanic Americans+2Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Rural Residents+2Good For Union Workers+2Good For People With Disabilities+1Good For Business Owners-3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Union Protections+1Improves Small Business Support-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 8/1/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.