Protecting Independent Contractors from Discrimination Act of 2026
Latest action (3 Aug 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
**H.R. 10035 — Protecting Independent Contractors from Discrimination Act of 2026**
This bill would amend six major federal employment laws—Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act—to expand the definition of "employee" in each statute to include individuals who work for a business under an independent contract. In each law, the bill inserts language specifying that independent contractors are covered alongside traditional employees.
The practical effect would be to extend federal protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information to independent contractors, not just traditional employees. It would also extend equal-pay protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act to contractors. This would affect businesses that engage independent contractors, who would become subject to the same anti-discrimination and equal-pay obligations toward those contractors as they currently have toward employees, as well as independent contractors themselves, who would gain legal protections and potential recourse under these laws that they may not currently have.
The bill was introduced on August 3, 2026, by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has not yet received a committee vote or floor action; further committee consideration would be required before it could advance to the full House.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on August 3, 2026. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 10035 do?
- **H.R. 10035 — Protecting Independent Contractors from Discrimination Act of 2026** This bill would amend six major federal employment laws—Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act—to expand the definition of "employee" in each statute to include individuals who work for a business under an independent contract. In each law, the bill inserts language specifying that independent contractors are covered alongside traditional employees. The practical effect would be to extend federal protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information to independent contractors, not just traditional employees. It would also extend equal-pay protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act to contractors. This would affect businesses that engage independent contractors, who would become subject to the same anti-discrimination and equal-pay obligations toward those contractors as they currently have toward employees, as well as independent contractors themselves, who would gain legal protections and potential recourse under these laws that they may not currently have. The bill was introduced on August 3, 2026, by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has not yet received a committee vote or floor action; further committee consideration would be required before it could advance to the full House.
- Has H.R. 10035 become law?
- Not yet. As of 3 Aug 2026, H.R. 10035 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 10035?
- H.R. 10035 was sponsored by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC] (Democrat-DC), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 10035?
- Introduced (3 Aug 2026).
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