Bill · S. 5615· Senate(119-S-5615)
VEST Act
- Introduced
- 9/30/2026
- Last activity
- 9/30/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Ashley Moody
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the Valuing Employee Stock Today Act or the VEST Act. It updates the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to protect worker access to employer equity. Specifically, the bill adds restricted stock unit programs to the list of employer equity programs that are exempt from the determination of an employee's regular rate when calculating overtime compensation. It also changes the word exercise to exercise or acceptance in the relevant section. Finally, the bill sets the effective date and outlines provisions regarding the liability of employers.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Business owners are protected from certain liabilities and given clearer guidelines regarding restricted stock unit programs and overtime rates.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+5
Young adults in modern workforce roles frequently receive restricted stock units and benefit from clarified equity protection laws.
Would people in middle age be better off under this?+5
Middle-aged workers who receive equity compensation benefit from the inclusion of restricted stock units in the Fair Labor Standards Act exemption.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Inclusion of Restricted Stock Units: Section 3(a) amends section 7(e)(8) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 by adding a restricted stock unit program to the exemption list. This is positive because restricted stock units have become a common form of equity for salaried and hourly workers, allowing them to share in the future success of their companies.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Employer Liability Protection: Section 3(b)(2) states that no employer shall be liable under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 for failing to include income or value derived from restricted stock unit grants in an employee's regular rate if the grants were obtained before the effective date, within a 12-month period for certain programs requiring shareholder approval, or under a collective bargaining agreement in effect on the effective date. This could be viewed as negative because it protects employers from liability regarding past or transitional calculations.
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 Business Owners+6Good For Middle Aged+5Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For Young Adults+5Good For Union Workers+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate