Committee advances HB1245 after adopting technical amendment to portable-benefit plan for independent contractors

The House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services subcommittee advanced House Bill 1245, a measure to create a voluntary portable benefit plan for independent contractors, after adopting a clarifying amendment.

Representative Lee moved the committee recommendation and Representative Bri described amendment 0237H as "adding a layer of insulation that protects both the hiring party and the independent contractor" by allowing the hiring party to contribute directly to a worker's benefit account. The amendment replaces language referencing a "plan provider" with "provider" defined to mean a bank or financial institution, a change sponsors said preserves the worker's independent-contractor status while making administration clearer.

Supporters said the cleanup removes confusion that had arisen from the bill's original wording. Representative Granger said the amendment "fixes up the language" and pledged to support the bill on that basis. Opponents expressed concern that the structure could be used to mask employee relationships and would not change federal standards for classification.

The committee adopted amendment 0237H on a recorded roll call and later voted the bill "ought to pass" as amended. The clerk recorded the final vote as in favor on the motion to advance HB1245 with amendment (roll recorded in the transcript). The executive session on HB1245 was then closed.