Committee Advances DLI Policy Bill After Removing Subminimum‑wage Provision; Adds Temporary Restraining Order Authority and Technical Code Updates

Chair Pinto presented House File 1671, the Department of Labor and Industry’s policy and technical bill, and moved the A‑1 author’s amendment, which removes provisions that would have eliminated the subminimum wage for certain workers with disabilities.

Josiah Moore, legislative director of the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), testified the department supports the minimum wage as the floor for all workers but regretted the deletion of the subminimum‑wage elimination language. Moore explained the remaining provisions will give DLI new authority to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) to immediately restrain employers from continuing violations of labor laws under DLI’s jurisdiction in time‑sensitive cases — for example, pregnancy-accommodation claims or retaliation where delay could cause irreparable harm — instead of waiting for the full investigation and compliance-order process to conclude. The bill also contains technical updates to construction codes and licensing, including corrected statutory references and updated National Electrical Code references and a clarified exemption scope for electrical-utility work.

The committee adopted the A‑1 amendment by voice vote and the chair moved the amended bill for referral to the Judiciary Committee. The committee approved the referral by voice vote and the bill will move to Judiciary for further consideration.