BE HEARD Act would extend harassment protections to millions of U.S. workers
In committeeH.R. 7583Latest action
Sponsor: Ayanna Pressley · Representative · MA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: BE HEARD in the Workplace Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 7583 would broaden who is protected from workplace harassment and make it easier to prove and win discrimination claims.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 7583, the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act, would require employers with 15 or more employees to adopt written anti-harassment policies and provide workplace training. It lowers the legal standard for proving harassment, removes caps on lawsuit damages, gives workers more time to file complaints, and limits forced arbitration and nondisclosure agreements. It also explicitly classifies discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as illegal sex discrimination.
Who does it affect?
The bill covers a broad range of workers including regular employees, independent contractors, interns, volunteers, trainees, tipped workers, and federal government employees. Employers of all sizes are affected, with mandatory requirements applying to those with 15 or more employees and voluntary resources available to smaller businesses.
Why does it matter?
Lowering the legal standard for harassment and removing damage caps could lead to more workers filing and winning discrimination claims, changing how employers manage workplace conduct. Extending protections to contractors, interns, and tipped workers would shift existing legal obligations for a large share of the workforce that currently lacks those rights.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedFeb 13, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · Feb 13, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.