Workers’ rights preemption in the U.S.: A map of the campaign to suppress workers’ rights in the states
Preemption Map Data - 2025
| State | Overview | Minimum wage | MW info | Fair scheduling | FS info | Project labor agreements | PLA info | Prevailing wage | PW info | Paid leave | PL info | Gig economy | GE info | Heat standards | HS info |
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| Alabama | 2016 |
Minimum wageSince 2016, Alabama has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because Alabama has no state minimum wage. Any existing local minimum wage increases (including an increase in Birmingham) were nullified. |
2016 |
Fair schedulesSince 2016, Alabama has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2016 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2016, Alabama has prohibited local governments from requiring contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2014 |
Paid leaveSince 2014, Alabama has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2018, 2022 |
Gig economySince 2018, Alabama has prohibited local municipalities from imposing a tax on or requiring a license for a transportation network company or its drivers or vehicles, and from imposing a local rate on transportation network companies. The law allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to prohibit TNCs from providing prearranged rides that originate within their corporate limits, and includes exceptions for airports and cruise terminals. Additionally, a TNC may not control, direct, or manage the personal vehicle or the TNC driver who connects to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract. Finally, since 2022, according to Alabama law, a “marketplace contractor shall not be deemed to be an employee of a marketplace platform” as long as certain conditions are met. |
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| Alaska | 2017 |
Gig economySince 2017, Alaska has prohibited localities from regulating transportation network companies, their drivers, and personal vehicles used in connection with transportation network services. Alaskan law also dictates that “a transportation network company driver is an independent contractor for all purposes and is not an employee of the transportation network company” as long as certain conditions are met. |
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| Arizona | 1997 |
Minimum WageIn 1997, Arizona passed a law prohibiting local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Arizona’s state minimum wage. In 2006, that law was repealed by Proposition 202. As of 2024, Arizona no longer preempts local minimum wage laws. |
2016 |
Fair schedulesSince 2016, Arizona has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2011 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2011, Arizona has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
1984 |
Prevailing WageSince 1984, Arizona has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage, which is at least the average wage in their city/county for working on public construction contracts. A 2023 decision by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes argued that the 2006 repeal of the minimum wage preemption law also allowed for local governments to set prevailing wage standards. However, the Superior Court of Arizona Maricopa County decided in June 2024 that the 2006 minimum wage law did not contradict the 1984 prevailing wage preemption and the preemption still stood. As of 2024, Arizona preempts prevailing wage standards. |
2016 |
Paid leaveIn 2016, Arizona passed HB 2579, a bill to prohibit local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. In 2017, the Maricopa County Superior Court found HB 2579 in violation of proposition 105 (1999), which prohibits the state legislature from amending or superseding voter-approved initiatives. |
2015, 2016 |
Gig economySince 2015, Arizona has prohibited local government entities, other than public airport operators, from regulating transportation network companies. Additionally, a transportation network company (TNC) “may but is not deemed to own, operate or control a personal motor vehicle of a transportation network company driver.” Since 2016, according to Arizona law, “a qualified marketplace contractor shall be treated as an independent contractor for all purposes under state and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including employment security laws prescribed in chapter 4 of this title and workers’ compensation laws prescribed in chapter 6 of this title,” if certain conditions are met. |
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| Arkansas | 2017 |
Minimum wageSince 2017, Arkansas has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Arkansas’s state minimum wage. |
2017 |
Fair schedulesSince 2017, has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2015 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2015, Arkansas has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2017 |
Paid leaveSince 2017, Arkansas has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Arkansas has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes or licensing requirements on transportation network companies or their drivers. Transportation network company drivers are assumed to be independent contractors and not employees if certain requirements are met. |
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| California | 2017 |
Gig economySince 2017, California has prohibited local governments from requiring transportation network company drivers to have more than one business license to operate statewide. |
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| Colorado | 1999 |
Minimum wageIn 1999, Colorado passed a law prohibiting local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Colorado’s state minimum wage. In 2019, that law was repealed. As of 2019, Colorado no longer preempts local minimum wage laws. |
2014 |
Gig economySince 2014, transportation network companies are governed exclusively by the state. In 2022, the law was revised to provide some exceptions for public school contracts and other public or non-profit entities. Additionally, Colorado law dictates that “a driver need not be an employee of a transportation network company.” |
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| Delaware | 2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Delaware has prohibited localities from imposing taxes or licensing requirements on transportation network companies or their drivers, and has prohibited localities from setting rates for driver pay. Transportation network company drivers are assumed to be independent contractors and not employees if certain requirements are met. |
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| Florida | 2003, 2024 |
Minimum wageSince 2003, Florida has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Florida’s state minimum wage. In 2024, Florida expanded this law to prohibit local governments from controlling the wages or employment benefits of private employers they contract with. |
2024 |
Fair schedulesSince 2024, Florida has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules, including predictive scheduling, such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2017 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2017, Florida has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements, unless a county or municipality is the sole source of the public works project’s funding. |
2017 |
Prevailing wageSince 2017, Florida has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage, unless a county or municipality is the sole source of the public works project’s funding. |
2013 |
Paid leaveSince 2013, Florida has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2017, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2017, Florida has prohibited localities from regulating transportation network companies or their drivers. TNC drivers are assumed to be independent contractors and not employees if certain requirements are met. Since 2018, Florida law defines a “marketplace contractor” as “an independent contractor, and not as an employee, of the marketplace platform for all purposes under state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances” if certain conditions are met. |
2024 |
Heat standardsSince 2024, Florida has prohibited local governments from creating workplace heat exposure regulations beyond those required under federal or state law (no such regulation currently exists). |
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| Georgia | 2004 |
Minimum wageSince 2004, Georgia has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies in Georgia because its state minimum wage is below the federal minimum. |
2017 |
Fair schedulesSince 2017, Georgia has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to give employees any additional pay based on schedule changes (such as providing additional pay when employees are given schedule changes on short notice). |
2013 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2013, Georgia has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2004 |
Paid leaveSince 2004, Georgia has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015, 2016, 2022 |
Gig economySince 2015, Georgia has prohibited localities from enacting any form of regulation regarding ride-share network services, transportation referral services, transportation referral service providers, and taxi services. The law includes an exception for airports. Since 2016, according to Georgia law, “transportation network company driver” or “driver” means an individual who uses or permits to be used his or her personal vehicle to provide transportation network company services. Such driver need not be an employee of a transportation network company. In 2022, Georgia additionally passed a bill defining ride-hail and delivery workers as independent contractors as long as the companies they work for adhere to certain conditions. |
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| Hawaii | 2022 |
Gig economyIn 2022, Hawaii established exclusive state authority for regulation of transportation network companies and preempting “any ordinance or other regulation adopted by a political subdivision that specifically governs transportation network companies, transportation network company drivers, or transportation network company vehicles, including those adopted before the effective date of this chapter.” |
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| Idaho | 2016 |
Minimum wageSince 2016, Idaho has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Idaho’s state minimum wage. |
2012 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2012, Idaho has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2011 |
Prevailing WageSince 2011, Idaho has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage, which is at least the average wage in their city/county for working on public construction contracts. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, according to Idaho law, “no municipality or other local entity may impose a tax on, or require a license for, a TNC, a TNC driver, or a vehicle used by a TNC driver where such tax or licenses relates to providing TNC services, or subject a TNC to the municipality or other local entity’s rate, entry, operational or other requirements.” Additionally, a transportation network company (TNC) “shall not be deemed to control, direct or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” |
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| Indiana | 2011 |
Minimum wageSince 2011, Indiana has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Indiana’s state minimum wage. |
2016 |
Fair schedulesSince 2016, Indiana has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2015 |
Prevailing wageSince 2015, Indiana has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2013 |
Paid leaveSince 2013, Indiana has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2015, Indiana has prohibited units of local government from regulating services of transportation network companies or TNC drivers. Additionally, according to Indiana law, “Except as otherwise provided in a written contract: (1) a TNC driver who connects to a TNC’s digital network is an independent contractor of the TNC; and (2) a TNC is not considered to…control, direct, or manage a TNC driver who connects to the TNC’s digital network.” Since 2018, according to Indiana law, “a marketplace contractor shall be treated as an independent contractor for all purposes under state law and ordinances and resolutions adopted by political subdivisions” if certain conditions apply. |
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| Iowa | 2017 |
Minimum wageSince 2017, Iowa has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Iowa’s state minimum wage. Any existing local minimum wage increases (including increases in Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Wapello Counties) were nullified. |
2017 |
Fair schedulesSince 2017, Iowa has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2017 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2017, Iowa has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements on construction projects. |
2017 |
Paid leaveSince 2017, Iowa has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2016, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2016, transportation network companies have been regulated exclusively by the state. Additionally, “a transportation network company is not deemed to control, direct, or manage a transportation network company driver that connects to its digital network, or the driver’s personal vehicle, except as agreed to by the company and the driver pursuant to a written contract.” Since 2018, according to Iowa law, a “marketplace contractor shall be treated as an independent contractor, and not an employee of a marketplace platform, for all purposes under state or local law,” if certain conditions are met. |
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| Kansas | 2013 |
Minimum wageSince 2013, Kansas has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Kansas’s state minimum wage. |
2016 |
Fair schedulesSince 2016, Kansas has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2012 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2012, Kansas has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2013 |
Prevailing wageSince 2013, Kansas has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2013 |
Paid leaveSince 2013, Kansas has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
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| Kentucky | 2017 |
Minimum wageSince 2017, Kentucky law has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Kentucky’s state minimum wage. But the Kentucky Supreme Court had already effectively banned local minimum wage increases even before the preemption law was passed: In 2016, the Court had struck down minimum wage increases passed in Lexington and Louisville, ruling that those cities did not have the authority to pass a minimum wage that is different than the state’s. |
2017 |
Prevailing wageSince 2017, Kentucky has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2017 |
Paid leaveSince 2017, Kentucky has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees with any “fringe benefit,” such as paid leave. |
2015, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2015, Kentucky has prohibited local governments from imposing fees or taxes over $30 on transportation network companies. Note: Though the state preempts regulation for small municipalities, Kentucky does allow for cities larger than 20,000 people and urban-county governments to set standards for drivers operating from the city and issue permits for qualified drivers. Since 2018, Kentucky has prohibited local governments from regulating “marketplace contractors” as employees. Marketplace contractors are assumed to be independent contractors and not employees if certain requirements are met. |
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| Louisiana | 1997 |
Minimum wageSince 1997, Louisiana has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because Louisiana has no state minimum wage. |
2011 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2011, Louisiana has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2011 |
Prevailing wageSince 2011, Louisiana has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage, which is at least the average wage in their city/county for working on public construction contracts. |
2012 |
Paid leaveSince 2012, Louisiana has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2019 |
Gig economySince 2019, “companies, drivers, and vehicles are governed exclusively by state law” in Louisiana, which prohibits local governments from imposing a tax on, requiring a license from, or subjecting a company , driver, or vehicle to any rate, entry, operation, or other requirement except as spelled out in state law, which allows local governments to maintain or adopt TNC ordinances imposing per-trip fees only. Includes exceptions for airports. |
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| Maine | 2019 |
Paid leaveIn 2019, Maine passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited local governments from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Maine has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies, their drivers, and personal vehicles used in connection with transportation network services. |
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| Maryland | 2018 |
Paid LeaveIn 2018, Maryland passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited local governments from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Maryland has limited the taxes that local governments can level on transportation network companies (with exemptions for jurisdictions that already had a tax in place prior to 2015). |
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| Massachusetts | 2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Massachusetts has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. |
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| Michigan | 2015 |
Minimum wageSince 2015, Michigan has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Michigan’s state minimum wage. |
2015 |
Fair schedulesSince 2015, Michigan has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2012 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2012, Michigan has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2015 |
Prevailing wageSince 2015, Michigan has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2015 |
Paid leaveSince 2015, Michigan has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2017, Michigan has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies or from imposing taxes on or requiring a license for transportation network company drivers. Additionally, “a transportation network company driver shall be considered an independent contractor, and not an employee of a transportation network company,” if certain conditions are met. |
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| Mississippi | 2013 |
Minimum wageSince 2013, Mississippi has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because Mississippi has no state minimum wage. |
2014 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2014, Mississippi has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2013 |
Paid leaveSince 2013, Mississippi has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Mississippi has prohibited local government entities, other than public airport operators, from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Also according to Mississippi law, “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract” and “Drivers shall be independent contractors and not employees of the transportation network company” if certain conditions are met. |
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| Missouri | 2015, 2017 |
Minimum wageSince 2015, Missouri has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Missouri’s state minimum wage, but the 2015 law did not nullify local minimum wage ordinances that were in existence at the time, such as an ordinance in St. Louis. In 2017, Missouri amended its preemption law, adding a provision to retroactively nullify any existing local minimum wage increases, including the increase in St. Louis. A minimum wage increase in Kansas City—passed by local referendum in 2017—was also prevented from going into effect. |
2017 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2017, Missouri has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2015 |
Paid leaveSince 2015, Missouri has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2016, 2017 |
Gig economySince 2016, according to Missouri law, “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” Since 2017, Missouri has prohibited municipalities or other state or local entities from imposing a tax on, or requiring a license for, a TNC, driver, or vehicle, or subjecting a TNC to any local rate, entry, operational, or other requirements. |
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| Montana | 1999 |
Project labor agreementsSince 1999, Montana has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Montana has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Also, according to Montana law, “a transportation network carrier may not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network carrier drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” |
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| Nevada | 2015 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2015, Nevada has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, according to Nevada law, TNCs are “prohibited from controlling, directing or managing driver, motor vehicle operated by driver, monitored autonomous vehicle provider or monitored autonomous vehicle operated by monitored autonomous vehicle provider.” Nevada has also prohibited local governments from requiring licenses for or imposing taxes or fees on transportation network drivers, or imposing any other requirement not generally applied to other motor vehicle operators by the local government (provides some exemptions for airports). |
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| New Hampshire | 2016, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2016, New Hampshire has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Since 2018, New Hampshire law specifies that “TNC drivers are presumed to be independent contractors and not employees of the TNC” provided certain conditions are met. |
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| New Jersey | 2018 |
Paid LeaveIn 2018, New Jersey passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited local governments from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards. |
2017 |
Gig economySince 2017, New Jersey has prohibited local governments from requiring licenses for or imposing taxes or fees on transportation network drivers or vehicles (with exceptions for agreements between cities of the first class and airports). |
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| New Mexico | 2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, New Mexico has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies or from imposing taxes on or requiring a license for transportation network company drivers. New Mexico law also states that “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network.” |
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| New York | 2017 |
Gig economySince 2017, regulation of TNCs and drivers in New York is “governed exclusively” by state law, and no county, town, city, or village may enact a tax or fee on or require a license, permit, or additional insurance or impose any other limitations or restrictions, on a TNC, driver, or vehicle. The state law does not apply to New York City, and allows counties, and cities over 100,000 to enact local ordinances prohibiting TNCs from picking up persons within their geographic boundaries. |
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| North Carolina | 2016 |
Minimum wageSince 2016, North Carolina has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above North Carolina’s state minimum wage. |
2013 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2013, North Carolina has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2016 |
Paid leaveSince 2016, North Carolina has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, North Carolina has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies or from imposing taxes on or requiring a license for transportation network company drivers. Additionally, according to North Carolina law, “a rebuttable presumption exists that a TNC driver is an independent contractor and not an employee. The presumption may be rebutted by application of the common law test for determining employment status.” |
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| North Dakota | 2019 |
Minimum wageSince 2019, North Dakota has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above North Dakota’s state minimum wage. |
2013 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2013, North Dakota has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2021 |
Paid leaveSince 2021, North Dakota has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015, 2019 |
Gig economySince 2015, North Dakota has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. In 2021, North Dakota passed SB 2149, amending earlier preemption legislation in order to allow airports to regulate TNCs. Since 2019, according to North Dakota law, a transportation network company may not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or participating drivers that connect to the transportation network company’s online-enabled application or platform, unless agreed to by written contract. |
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| Ohio | 2016 |
Minimum wageSince 2016, Ohio has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Ohio’s state minimum wage. |
2016 |
Fair schedulesSince 2016, Ohio has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2016 |
Paid leaveSince 2016, Ohio has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Ohio has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies or from imposing taxes on or requiring a license for transportation network company drivers. Ohio law also states that “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except when agreed to by written contract.” Additionally, sections of Ohio state code covering minimum wage, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and wage payment “do not apply to transportation network companies with regard to transportation network company drivers and transportation network company drivers are not employees for purposes of those chapters or sections, except where agreed to by written contract.” A driver is not an employee for purposes of state code on whistleblower and employee reporting protections and “nothing in this division shall be construed to create an employer and employee relationship between a transportation network company driver and a transportation network company.” |
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| Oklahoma | 2014 |
Minimum wageSince 2014, Oklahoma has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Oklahoma’s state minimum wage. |
2012 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2012, Oklahoma has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2014 |
Paid leaveSince 2014, Oklahoma has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Oklahoma has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Oklahoma law also states that “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” |
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| Oregon | 2001 |
Minimum wageSince 2001, Oregon has prohibited local governments from establishing minimum wages above the state’s minimum wage. |
2015 |
Paid leaveIn 2015, Oregon passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited local governments from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards. |
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| Pennsylvania | 2006 |
Minimum wageSince 2006, Pennsylvania has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Pennsylvania’s state minimum wage. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Pennsylvania has prohibited municipalities from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for TNCs. The prohibition does not apply to “first class cities” with populations over 1.5 million (Philadelphia). |
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| Rhode Island | 2014 |
Minimum wageSince 2014, Rhode Island has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Rhode Island’s state minimum wage. |
2017 |
Paid leaveIn 2017, Rhode Island passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited local governments from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, Rhode Island has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Additionally, “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract,” and “TNC drivers shall be independent contractors and not employees of the TNC if they are determined to meet federal and state law and regulation relating to independent contractors, and the TNC and TNC driver agree in writing that the TNC driver is an independent contractor of the TNC.” |
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| South Carolina | 2002 |
Minimum wageSince 2002, South Carolina has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because South Carolina has no state minimum wage. |
2014 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2014, South Carolina has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2017 |
Paid leaveSince 2017, South Carolina has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, South Carolina has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. |
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| South Dakota | 2014 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2014, South Dakota has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2016, 2022 |
Gig economySince 2016, South Dakota has prohibited local governments from regulating insurance requirements for transportation network companies beyond the state law. Additionally, a transportation network company “does not control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” Since 2022, under South Dakota law, a “delivery facilitation contractor” is an independent contractor and not an employee of the “delivery facilitation platform”; the law specifies that “delivery facilitation platforms” include but are not limited to transportation network companies. |
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| Tennessee | 2013 |
Minimum wageSince 2013, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because Tennessee has no state minimum wage. |
2017 |
Fair schedulesSince 2017, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2011 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2011, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2013 |
Prevailing wageSince 2013, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2013 |
Paid leaveSince 2013, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. |
2015, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2015, Tennessee has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies. The law also states that “a transportation network company shall not be deemed to own, control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles used by transportation network company drivers and is not deemed to control or manage transportation network company drivers.” Since 2018, according to Tennessee law, “a marketplace contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee of the marketplace platform for all purposes under state and local laws, rules, ordinances, and resolutions” if certain conditions are met. |
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| Texas | 2003 |
Minimum wageSince 2003, Texas has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Texas’s state minimum wage. |
2023 |
Fair schedulesIn 2023, Texas passed a sweeping preemption law blocking local governments from passing laws in any area covered by the state’s codes on agriculture, business and commerce, finance, insurance, labor, local government, natural resources, occupations, or property. This includes fair scheduling laws. Several cities immediately sued Texas over this law and a District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, however, and the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. |
2023 |
Project labor agreementsIn 2023, Texas passed a sweeping preemption law blocking local governments from passing laws in any area covered by the state’s codes on agriculture, business and commerce, finance, insurance, labor, local government, natural resources, occupations, or property. This includes project labor agreement laws. Several cities immediately sued Texas over this law and a District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, however, and the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. |
2023 |
Prevailing wageIn 2023, Texas passed a sweeping preemption law blocking local governments from passing laws in any area covered by the state’s codes on agriculture, business and commerce, finance, insurance, labor, local government, natural resources, occupations, or property. This includes prevailing wage laws. Several cities immediately sued Texas over this law and a District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, however, and the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. |
2023 |
Paid leaveIn 2023, Texas passed a sweeping preemption law blocking local governments from passing laws in any area covered by the state’s codes on agriculture, business and commerce, finance, insurance, labor, local government, natural resources, occupations, or property. This includes paid leave laws. Several cities immediately sued Texas over this law and a District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, however, and the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. |
2017, 2019 |
Gig economySince 2017, Texas prohibits local governments from imposing a tax; requiring an additional license or permit; setting rates, imposing operational or entry requirements; or imposing other requirements on TNCs (includes exception for airports and cruise terminals). Additionally, according to Texas law, “a driver who is authorized to log in to a transportation network company’s digital network is considered an independent contractor for all purposes, and not an employee of the company in any manner” if certain conditions are met. Since 2019, Texas state administrative code specifies that a marketplace contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee. |
2023 |
Heat standardsIn 2023, Texas passed a sweeping preemption law blocking local governments from passing laws in any area covered by the state’s codes on agriculture, business and commerce, finance, insurance, labor, local government, natural resources, occupations, or property. This includes heat standards laws. Several cities immediately sued Texas over this law and a District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, however, and the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. |
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| Utah | 2001 |
Minimum wageSince 2001, Utah has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Utah’s state minimum wage. |
1995 |
Project labor agreementsSince 1995, Utah has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2001 |
Prevailing wageSince 2001, Utah has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2015, 2018, 2019 |
Gig economySince 2015, Utah has prohibited local government entities, other than public airport operators, from regulating transportation network companies. Since 2019, according to Utah law, “a transportation network driver is an independent contractor of a transportation network company; and not an employee of a transportation network company.” Since 2015, Utah has had a marketplace contractor law that regulates platform workers. In 2018, Utah passed additional legislation stating that “anyone who uses an online platform to find work and performs one of the following building services is considered to be an independent contractor, if the charge for the service is $3,000 or less: cleaning or janitorial; furniture delivery, assembly, moving, or installation; landscaping; home repair; or any service similar to the services described above.” |
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| Vermont | 2018 |
Gig economySince 2018, Vermont state law preempts “municipal ordinances, bylaws, or resolutions regulating transportation network companies.” Cities over 35,000 are exempted, though this exemption is set to expire in 2025. However, a previous 2022 expiration was extended and the exemption may continue to be renewed. |
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| Virginia | 2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Virginia has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies. |
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| Washington | 2022 |
Gig economySince 2022, Washington state “preempts the field of regulating TNC networks and drivers. No county, city, town, or other municipal corporation may regulate TNCs or drivers, or impose any tax, fee, or other charge on a TNC company or driver.” Includes exceptions for airports, and allows large cities/counties to maintain existing ordinances in place prior to January 1, 2022, for purposes of collecting (but not increasing) taxes, fees, or other charges from TNCs or drivers and maintaining existing licensing systems, but preempts all other preexisting local ordinances. Also since 2022, according to Washington law, with regard to sections of state code covering insurance, family and medical leave, long-term care benefits, and workers’ compensation, “a driver is not an employee or agent of a transportation network company” if certain conditions are met. A driver “shall not include any person ultimately and finally determined to be an ’employee’ within the meaning of section 2(3) of the National Labor Relations Act.” |
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| West Virginia | 2015 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2015, West Virginia has prohibited local governments from requiring city contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2016 |
Gig economySince 2016, West Virginia has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies. Since 2016, West Virginia law also states that “a transportation network company does not control, direct, or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” |
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| Wisconsin | 2005 |
Minimum wageSince 2005, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from raising their local minimum wages above Wisconsin’s state minimum wage. |
2017 |
Fair SchedulesSince 2017, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. |
2017 |
Project labor agreementsSince 2017, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements. |
2017 |
Prevailing WageSince 2017, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage. |
2011 |
Paid leaveSince 2011, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. Any existing local paid leave ordinances (including an ordinance in Milwaukee) were repealed. |
2015 |
Gig economySince 2015, Wisconsin has prohibited local governments from regulating transportation network companies. Additionally, according to Wisconsin law, “a licensed company is not considered to control, direct, or manage a participating driver or that participating driver’s personal vehicle,” in the absence of a written agreement. |
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| Wyoming | 2017, 2018 |
Gig economySince 2017, Wyoming has prohibited local governments from imposing taxes on or requiring licenses for transportation network company drivers or from imposing a local rate, among other requirements, on transportation network companies. Includes exceptions for public airports. Since 2018, according to Wymoning law, “a driver shall be an independent contractor, not subject to the Wyoming Worker’s Compensation Act and not an employee of a transportation network company” if certain conditions are met. A transportation network company “shall not be deemed to control, direct or manage the personal vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.” |
Note: New Jersey and Oregon have enacted statewide paid sick days laws that guarantee paid sick days for most workers, but also prohibit localities from passing more generous policies.
Source: Worker rights preemption in the U.S., the Economic Policy Institute's preemption law tracker.
States have been blocking local labor laws for two decades, but the trend has picked up significantly since 2013
Updated February 2025
Resources
- Minimum Wage Tracker
The current status of minimum wage laws in every U.S. state and locality - Testimony in support of SB 170 and SB 171 before the Michigan Senate Labor Committee
Repeal of Michigan laws preempting local labor standards will empower communities to address inequality, boost low wages, and ensure major public investments generate good jobs
Testimony • By Jennifer Sherer • June 21, 2023 - Flexible work without exploitation
Reversing tech companies’ state-by-state agenda to unravel workers’ rights and misclassify workers as ‘contractors’ in the gig economy and beyond
Report • By Jennifer Sherer and Margaret Poydock • February 23, 2023 - The role of local government in protecting workers’ rights
Report • By Terri Gerstein and LiJia Gong • June 13, 2022 - Preempting progress in the heartland
State lawmakers in the Midwest prevent shared prosperity and racial, gender, and immigrant justice by interfering in local policymaking
Report • By Julia Wolfe, Sebastian Martinez Hickey, Dave Kamper, and David Cooper • October 14, 2020 - Preempting Progress
State interference in local policymaking prevents people of color, women, and low-income workers from making ends meet in the South
Report • By Hunter Blair, David Cooper, Julia Wolfe, Jaimie Worker • September 30, 2020 - City governments are raising standards for working people—and state legislators are lowering them back down
Report • By Marni von Wilpert • August 26, 2017