The proposed bill, H.B. No. 446, aims to enhance workplace safety by establishing a framework for heat illness prevention in Texas. It introduces Chapter 53 to the Labor Code, which includes the creation of a heat illness prevention advisory board tasked with developing and recommending heat illness prevention standards to the Texas Workforce Commission. The advisory board will consist of members with expertise in heat safety, construction workers, employers, and representatives from nonprofit organizations and labor unions. The bill mandates that the commission adopt these standards, which must align with existing national guidelines and include provisions for access to drinking water, shade, rest periods, and employee training.

Additionally, the bill outlines administrative penalties for employers who violate the heat illness prevention standards, with penalties starting at $1,000 per violation. It also allows employees to pursue civil action for damages resulting from non-compliance, without needing to exhaust administrative remedies first. The bill specifies that employers will not be required to comply with the new regulations until March 1, 2026, and it includes provisions for the advisory board to be appointed and for the standards to be developed and adopted by specified deadlines.

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