The bill, H.B. No. 182, introduces a new requirement for contractors working on construction projects for governmental entities in Texas, mandating that they provide employees with a paid 10-minute rest break for every four-hour work period. The bill defines key terms such as "construction contract," "contractor," "employee," and "rest break," and outlines the responsibilities of governmental entities in enforcing this requirement. Specifically, it requires that construction contracts include provisions allowing employees to report violations and stipulates that governmental entities must notify contractors of any violations and may impose administrative penalties for non-compliance.

Additionally, the bill establishes that governmental entities can impose penalties ranging from $100 to $500 per day for violations of the rest break requirement. It also allows for penalties to be withheld from payments owed to contractors. The bill ensures that local ordinances that are more stringent than this state law are not preempted, and it mandates that each governmental entity develop procedures for administering these requirements. The provisions of this bill will apply to contracts solicited after September 1, 2025, and the act will take effect on the same date.

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