HB5031 - Relating to labor unions and workers' rights.

      By: Rodríguez Ramos H.B. No. 5031       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to labor unions and workers' rights.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 101.001, Labor Code, is amended to read   as follows:          Sec. 101.001.  RIGHT TO ORGANIZE. All persons engaged in any   kind of labor may associate and form trade unions and other   organizations to protect themselves [ in their personal labor in   their respective employment ].          SECTION 2.  Section 101.003, Labor Code, is amended to read   as follows:          Sec. 101.003.  RIGHT TO BARGAIN. A person's inherent right   to organize [ work ] and to bargain freely with the person's   employer[ , individually or ] collectively[ , ] for terms of the   person's employment may not be denied or infringed by law or by any   organization.          SECTION 3.  Section 101.101(1), Labor Code, is amended to   read as follows:                (1)  "Enforcement officer" means the [ attorney   general, ] district attorney[ , ] or county attorney.          SECTION 4.  Sections 101.102(a) and (b), Labor Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The legislature finds that [ because ] the activities of   labor unions benefit [ affect ] the economic conditions of the   country and the state [ by entering into almost all business and   industrial enterprises, labor unions affect the public interest and   are charged with a public use ].          (b)  Workers and labor unions must be protected [ without   regard to whether they are unionized ]. The right to organize [ work ]   is the right to live.          SECTION 5.  Section 101.103(a), Labor Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  This subchapter shall be liberally construed to:                (1)  achieve the purposes provided by Section 101.102;   and                (2)  protect the rights of labor unions and of working   persons to work and to organize for their mutual benefit in   connection with their work.          SECTION 6.  Section 101.115, Labor Code, is amended to read   as follows:          Sec. 101.115.  CONSTRUCTION OF FEE RESTRICTIONS. Sections   [ 101.111, ] 101.113[ , ] and 101.114 may not be construed as   preventing any type of bargaining agreement or limiting the   bargaining power of a labor union.          SECTION 7.  Section 101.123(b), Labor Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  An offense under this section is a misdemeanor   punishable by[ :                [ (1) ]  a fine of not more than $500[ ;                [ (2)     confinement in the county jail for not more than   60 days; or                [ (3)  both the fine and confinement ].          SECTION 8.  The following provisions are repealed:                (1)  Sections 101.004, 101.109, 101.111, 101.112, and   101.117, Labor Code;                (2)  Subchapters B, D, E, F, and G, Chapter 101, Labor   Code; and                (3)  Section 15.05(e), Business & Commerce Code.          SECTION 9.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.   Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date   of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.