In the near future, we will reintroduce legislation to provide a narrowly tailored exemption for minor league baseball players from wage and hour laws that otherwise could conflict with the Major League Baseball (MLB) collective bargaining agreement.
 
In April of 2023, MLB players and owners voted to ratify a historic collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that, for the first time in history, covers minor league players. MLB owners voted unanimously to ratify the agreement, following a vote in which more than 99% of minor league players voted to ratify the agreement. The five-year agreement, which was negotiated by MLB and the Players Association, more than doubles the salaries at all minor league levels and provides that minor league players will be paid almost year-round.
 
The new CBA treats minor league players as salaried employees in which they receive weekly salaries throughout the calendar year. Other benefits the players will receive under the CBA include, but are not limited, health benefits, retirement benefits, housing benefits and salary continuation in the event of disability resulting from a work-related injury. In order to prevent conflicting with the CBA, we are proposing these athletes be treated as “exempt” salaried professionals.
 
We recognize that given the unique nature of the work being performed, neither teams nor players would be well-served if players were forced to have their hours tracked, saw their playing or practice time reduced, or saw their access to the clubhouse or training facilities for their own self-driven development limited due to state minimum wage laws.

Last session, this legislation was Senate Bill 1322 and was co-sponsored by Senators Rothman, J. Ward, Pennycuick, Vogel, and Costa.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation, which will support and protect our nation’s pastime, its organizations, and most importantly, its players.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0570: P.L.11, No.5