Bill
HSB 169
Prohibits using a motor carrier safety improvement to determine employment status, ensuring safety investments can't drive misclassification of drivers.
Aims and purpose
- The bill prohibits a motor carrier’s deployment, implementation, or use of a motor carrier safety improvement from being considered when determining a person’s employment status (employee, independent contractor, or jointly employed) under any state law.
- The intent is to ensure safety investments do not influence how workers are classified for employment or labor protections.
Key provisions
- Section 325B.2 (new): Prohibits considering the deployment, implementation, or use of a motor carrier safety improvement by or as required by a motor carrier (and related entities, including uses under a motor carrier transportation contract) when determining a person’s employment status under state law.
- Definition of “motor carrier safety improvement” (new section elements):
- Any device, equipment, software, technology, procedure, training, policy, program, or operational practice
- Intended and primarily used to improve or facilitate compliance with traffic safety laws, including motor carrier safety, vehicle safety, operator safety, and safety of other highway users.
- Explanatory text: The included explanation clarifies intent but does not represent legislative agreement with its substance.
Scope and impact
- Applies to all state-law determinations of employment status (employee, independent contractor, or jointly employed).
- Broadly covers safety investments by motor carriers, including usage under transportation contracts, and by related entities.
- By design, it prevents safety-related tools and practices from serving as a factor in misclassification decisions.
Legislative history and status
- Introduced: February 12, 2025 (H.S.B. 169).
- Subcommittee action: February 13, 2025 (subcommittee meeting noted; later recommendation to pass on February 19, 2025).
- Subcommittee result: February 19, 2025, recommended passage.
- Committee actions: February 26, 2025 — Committee vote: Yeas 20, Nays 0; Excused 1; recommended passage.
- Renumbering: February 28, 2025 — Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 698.
Who is affected
- Motor carriers and their related entities that deploy safety improvements.
- Workers whose employment status is evaluated under state law, including drivers and other personnel who could be classified as employees or independent contractors.
- Employers in sectors regulated by motor carrier safety requirements (e.g., trucking, logistics, delivery services).
Implementation considerations
- Effective date not specified in the provided text; typical enactment terms would set an effective date upon enactment or a future date.
- Agencies and employers may need to adjust internal classification practices to ensure motor carrier safety investments are not used as evidence of employment status.
Next steps
- With committee passage and renumbering, the bill would move toward consideration by other legislative chambers and, if enacted, become law.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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