Supporters say Commonwealth Labor Conformity Act of 2025 updates definitions, enforcement and funding for Department of Labor

Leila Staffer, identified in the meeting as "Madam Secretary," told the committee on Aug. 21 that she supports House Bill 24-47, the Commonwealth Labor Conformity Act of 2025, and summarized the bill's major changes.

Staffer said the bill would realign departmental structure and update definitions used by the Department of Labor, including more-specific definitions for U.S.-eligible workers. She said the measure repeals Title 3, Part 3 provisions related to employment of foreign national workers on the grounds that the jurisdiction no longer has authority over immigration, and that many immigration-related functions remaining in older laws have hampered enforcement.

"It is mainly to repeal, amend, and reenact several provisions from Public Law 15900 and Public Law 1701 since the CNRA has been passed," Staffer said. She described changes that would strengthen remedies and sanctions, extend timelines for appeals and filings "so that people who have been denied justice have more time to be able to file," and establish more grounds for labor enforcement actions in collaboration with the Office of Foreign Labor Certification.

Staffer also said the bill would designate federally funded programs such as WIOA and OSHA to the department and create revolving funds to help the department manage operations during low-budget periods. She told the committee she would return at 1:30 p.m. with printed summaries of the changes and to answer questions.

The committee acknowledged Representative Julie Ogo's presence during public comment. No formal action on House Bill 24-47 was taken during this session; the bill will remain under committee consideration. At the start of the meeting the committee adopted the day's agenda by voice vote.