bill rewriting the labor union chapter to favor unions

The text as introduced · 523 words

By: Rodríguez Ramos
H.B. No. 5031

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to labor unions and workers' rights.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 101.001, Labor Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 101.001. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE. All persons engaged in any

kind of labor may associate and form trade unions and other

organizations to protect themselves [ in their personal labor in

their respective employment ].

SECTION 2. Section 101.003, Labor Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 101.003. RIGHT TO BARGAIN. A person's inherent right

to organize [ work ] and to bargain freely with the person's

employer[ , individually or ] collectively[ , ] for terms of the

person's employment may not be denied or infringed by law or by any

organization.

SECTION 3. Section 101.101(1), Labor Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(1) "Enforcement officer" means the [ attorney

general, ] district attorney[ , ] or county attorney.

SECTION 4. Sections 101.102(a) and (b), Labor Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) The legislature finds that [ because ] the activities of

labor unions benefit [ affect ] the economic conditions of the

country and the state [ by entering into almost all business and

industrial enterprises, labor unions affect the public interest and

are charged with a public use ].

(b) Workers and labor unions must be protected [ without

regard to whether they are unionized ]. The right to organize [ work ]

is the right to live.

SECTION 5. Section 101.103(a), Labor Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) This subchapter shall be liberally construed to:

(1) achieve the purposes provided by Section 101.102;

and

(2) protect the rights of labor unions and of working

persons to work and to organize for their mutual benefit in

connection with their work.

SECTION 6. Section 101.115, Labor Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 101.115. CONSTRUCTION OF FEE RESTRICTIONS. Sections

[ 101.111, ] 101.113[ , ] and 101.114 may not be construed as

preventing any type of bargaining agreement or limiting the

bargaining power of a labor union.

SECTION 7. Section 101.123(b), Labor Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor

punishable by[ :

[ (1) ] a fine of not more than $500[ ;

[ (2) confinement in the county jail for not more than

60 days; or

[ (3) both the fine and confinement ].

SECTION 8. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Sections 101.004, 101.109, 101.111, 101.112, and

101.117, Labor Code;

(2) Subchapters B, D, E, F, and G, Chapter 101, Labor

Code; and

(3) Section 15.05(e), Business & Commerce Code.

SECTION 9. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.

Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date

of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.