Bills › 91st General Assembly
Establishing requirements relating to heat response in work areas and providing penalties
Sponsored by Rep. Ken Croken (D)
Topics:Jobs & workers
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedMarch 5, 2025
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Employers who have staff working regularly in the sun or high heat must provide free drinking water and access to shaded areas. When it gets extremely hot, companies must also follow specific rules for rest periods and cooling measures to protect their workers. The state can fine businesses up to $500 for every time they break these rules.1
Read the official explanation
This bill establishes requirements relating to heat response in work areas. The bill requires an employer to provide a shaded area to an employee whose working conditions regularly involve outside work with direct exposure to the sun. The bill provides requirements for shaded areas, including requirements for the location of such areas and the time at which such access must be provided. The bill requires an employer to provide drinking water at no cost to an employee whose working conditions involve regular exposure to a heat index of degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The bill provides requirements for the quantity, time, and location at which drinking water must be provided. The bill requires an employer to implement high-heat procedures when the heat index reaches or exceeds degrees Fahrenheit in an area where an employee is performing work. The bill provides requirements for such procedures including minimum rest periods and cooling and control measures. The bill is enforced by the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. An employer that violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation. The bill provides procedures for collection of such penalties.