# What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new exception to federal overtime rules for people who work as outdoor recreation guides and outfitters. Right now, federal labor law requires most employers to pay workers overtime (time-and-a-half pay) if they work more than 40 hours per week. This bill would allow certain outdoor recreation businesses to skip those overtime requirements for their guides and staff.

The exemption applies to two types of businesses. First, any outdoor recreation company that only operates for seven months or less per year would be exempt from overtime rules for their employees. This covers seasonal operations like ski resorts that close in summer or summer hiking guide services that shut down in winter. Second, businesses that have uneven income throughout the year—where they make more than one-third of their annual revenue in just six months—would also qualify for the exemption. This captures businesses with busy and slow seasons, like rafting companies that see surges during spring runoff.

The practical effect is that guides, outfitters, and other outdoor recreation workers at qualifying businesses could be required to work long hours without receiving overtime pay. A guide working 50 hours per week during peak season would earn regular pay for all those hours rather than getting the extra pay bump for hours over 40. For workers, this means potentially lower earnings during busy seasons. For outdoor recreation businesses, it means lower labor costs during their peak operating periods, which supporters argue helps small seasonal businesses stay competitive and profitable.