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Bill would bar employers from blocking employees from seeking or serving in public office
Summary
Representative Ed Buttry introduced House Bill 667 to prevent employers from prohibiting or retaliating against employees who run for or serve in city, county or state public office; the bill defines covered employers and clarifies leave protections if elected.
Representative Ed Buttry told the committee HB 667 would protect employees who run for local or state office from employer restrictions and from retaliation. "This is a very simple bill that just provides protections for those that have chosen to serve," he said.
The bill applies to employers with 10 or more employees, consistent with existing statutory thresholds, and clarifies that, if an employee is elected or appointed, the employer may not require use of accrued leave during the state‑law mandatory leave of absence (statute cited elsewhere limits mandatory leave to 180 days per year). Committee members asked whether the protections extend to private and public employers (yes) and whether the Human Rights Bureau would enforce complaints under the bill; legal counsel said enforcement mechanisms would need to be clarified and that wage‑payment claims could be a potential remedy if leave‑use was improperly required.
Sponsor and administration witnesses framed the bill as a modest measure to encourage civic participation and protect workers who serve in the citizen legislature.
