EMPLOYEE FREEDOM OF SPEECH Senate SponsorsSen. Robert Peters, Doris Turner, Paul Faraci-Javier L. Cervantes, Karina Villa, Ram Villivalam, Omar Aquino, Mike Porfirio-Michael E. Hastings, Christopher Belt, Adriane Johnson, David Koehler, Mary Edly-Allen and Celina Villanueva-Mike Simmons-Lakesia Collins House Sponsors(Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.-Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.-Matt Hanson-Will Guzzardi, Stephanie A. Kifowit, Mary Beth Canty, Gregg Johnson, Kelly M. Cassidy, Harry Benton, Jay Hoffman, Michael J. Kelly, Anna Moeller, Dave Vella, Barbara Hernandez-Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Janet Yang Rohr, Dagmara Avelar, Yolonda Morris, Sharon Chung, Joyce Mason, Abdelnasser Rashid, Hoan Huynh, Bob Morgan, Michelle Mussman, Suzanne M. Ness and Debbie Meyers-Martin) 7/31/2024SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0722 New ActCreates the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. Provides that an employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, threaten to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, or take any adverse employment action against an employee: (1) because the employee declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or declines to receive or listen to communications from the employer or the agent, representative, or designee of the employer if the meeting or communication is to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters; (2) as a means of inducing an employee to attend or participate in meetings or receive or listen to communications; or (3) because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, makes a good faith report, orally or in writing, of a violation or a suspected violation of the Act. Provides for a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the Act, an employer shall post and keep posted a notice of employee rights under the Act where employee notices are customarily placed. Provides for exceptions under the Act.Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that an employer shall be assessed a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation of the Act. Provides that, upon a reasonable belief that an employer covered by the Act is in violation of any part of the Act, an employee or interested party may assert that a violation of this Act has occurred and bring an action for penalties in the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred or where the principal office of the employer is located, pursuant to a specified sequence of events. Provides that nothing in the Act: (1) prohibits a political organization, a political party organization, a caucus organization, a candidate's political organization, or a specified not-for-profit organization from requiring its staff or employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or participate in any communication with the employer or the employer's agent, representative or designee for the purpose of communicating the employer's political tenets or purposes; (2) prohibits the General Assembly or a State or local legislative or regulatory body from requiring their employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or participate in any communication with the employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee for the purpose of communicating the employer's proposals to change legislation, proposals to change regulations, or proposals to change public policy; or (3) prohibits a religious organization from requiring its employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or participate in any communication with the employer or the employer's agent, representative or designee for the purpose of communicating the employer's religious beliefs, practices, or tenets. Defines "interested party" and "voluntary". Makes other changes.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an employer or its agent, representative, or designee from requiring its employees to attend any training intended to foster a civil and collaborative workplace or reduce or prevent workplace harassment or discrimination (rather than reduce and prevent workplace harassment or discrimination). Makes changes in provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Labor and civil penalties. 2/9/2024SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters 2/9/2024SenateFirst Reading 2/9/2024SenateReferred to Assignments 2/20/2024SenateAssigned to Labor 2/21/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner 2/21/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci 2/21/2024SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes 2/23/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa 3/6/2024SenateDo Pass Labor; 011-004-000 3/6/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 7, 2024 3/6/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam 3/7/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino 3/21/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters 3/21/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 4/9/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments 4/12/2024SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As April 19, 2024 4/17/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio 4/17/2024SenateSecond Reading 4/17/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 18, 2024 4/17/2024SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings 4/19/2024SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024 4/22/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt 4/26/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson 4/29/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler 4/29/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen 4/29/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters 4/29/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 4/30/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Labor 5/1/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Labor; 010-005-000 5/2/2024SenateRecalled to Second Reading 5/2/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Peters 5/2/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 5/2/2024SenateThird Reading - Passed; 038-018-000 5/2/2024SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) 5/2/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva 5/2/2024SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons 5/2/2024SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins 5/3/2024HouseArrived in House 5/3/2024HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. 5/3/2024HouseFirst Reading 5/3/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee 5/6/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit 5/8/2024HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson 5/13/2024HouseAssigned to Labor & Commerce Committee 5/13/2024HouseCommittee/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 24, 2024 5/16/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. 5/16/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Benton 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Kelly 5/16/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller 5/20/2024HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. 5/20/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella 5/20/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez 5/20/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee 5/20/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Labor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote 5/20/2024HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Labor & Commerce Committee; 019-009-000 5/21/2024HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch 5/21/2024HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/21/2024HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/21/2024HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 5/22/2024HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/22/2024HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 079-030-000 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness 5/22/2024HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin 5/22/2024SenateSecretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 5/22/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 22, 2024 5/23/2024SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Robert Peters 5/23/2024SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments 5/23/2024SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Executive 5/25/2024SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Executive; 008-004-000 5/26/2024SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 039-018-000 5/26/2024SenateSenate Concurs 5/26/2024SenatePassed Both Houses 6/24/2024SenateSent to the Governor 7/31/2024SenateGovernor Approved 7/31/2024SenateEffective Date January 1, 2025 7/31/2024SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0722