H.R. 2304 protects existing federal wage and overtime exemptions for workers who provide companionship and domestic care services to elderly and disabled individuals. The bill preserves rules that allow employers to pay certain home care workers below the federal minimum wage and to avoid paying overtime, clarifying that these exemptions apply whether workers are hired directly by families or through third-party agencies. The legislation specifically defines "companionship services" to include assistance with daily living activities, meal preparation, medication reminders, and household tasks related to elder or disability care, but excludes medical services performed by licensed nurses. This bill affects millions of seniors and people with disabilities who rely on affordable in-home care, as well as the home care workforce, though the changes are largely defensive—codifying existing practice rather than creating new policy—as the bill removes language allowing the Secretary of Labor to further define or restrict these exemptions.
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