House Bill No. 6517 aims to improve transparency in employment practices by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges and benefits in both public and internal job postings. The bill introduces new definitions for terms such as "Benefits," "Wages," and "Wage range," while repealing the previous definitions. It prohibits employers from restricting employees' rights to discuss wages or inquire about others' wages, and it mandates that employers provide wage ranges and a general description of benefits to applicants and employees upon request or during the hiring process. Additionally, the bill includes protections against retaliation for employees exercising their rights under this law.

The legislation also establishes legal recourse for employees or prospective employees who believe their rights have been violated, allowing them to seek statutory damages ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, as well as compensatory damages and attorney's fees. The statute of limitations for such actions is set at two years from the date of the violation. The bill eliminates a previous provision that stated the law could not compel wage disclosure and clarifies that the wage disclosure requirements apply to positions performed within the state or those requiring reporting to a state location, regardless of where the duties are performed. These provisions will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 31-40z
LAB Joint Favorable: 31-40z
File No. 506: 31-40z