House Bill No. 6517 seeks 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 "Benefits," which now includes health insurance, retirement plans, fringe benefits, and paid leave, and "Wage range," which refers to the good faith wage setting by employers. It prohibits employers from restricting employees' rights to discuss wages or inquire about others' wages, as well as retaliating against employees for exercising these rights. Employers are also mandated to provide wage ranges and a general description of benefits to applicants and employees upon request or during the hiring process.

Additionally, the bill establishes legal recourse for employees or prospective employees who believe their rights have been violated, allowing them to seek statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000, along with attorney's fees and other legal remedies. The timeframe for bringing an action for violations is set at two years. The bill removes a previous provision that stated the law does not require wage disclosure and clarifies that the wage disclosure law applies to positions performed within the state or those requiring reporting to a state supervisor, regardless of where the duties are performed. The provisions of this bill will take effect on October 1, 2025.

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