A 584 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the "trapped at work act"

This bill bans employers from requiring workers to sign agreements that force them to pay money if they leave employment before a set period (e.g., "reimbursement for training" clauses). It directly affects all workers, including employees, interns, volunteers, and contractors, by prohibiting these "employment promissory notes" as a condition of hiring. Key exceptions include repayment for actual training costs, property purchases, or collective bargaining agreements. Violations carry fines up to $5,000 per worker, and workers can recover attorney fees if sued over invalid clauses.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Dec 2025

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed Dec 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

A584B → A584C · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill version was amended to add a new sponsor (Assemblymember Davila) and include an additional committee action in its legislative history. The substantive text of the law remains largely the same, though there are minor wording changes in the definitions and enforcement sections.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the core provisions regarding employment promissory notes remain unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Assemblymember Davila was added as a co-sponsor of the bill.

The legislative history was updated to reflect an additional committee discharge and recommitment action.

The phrase 'null and void' was added to Section 1052 for emphasis regarding the invalidity of employment promissory notes.

A new Section 1055 (Savings clause) was added to preserve the validity of the remaining article if any portion is held invalid.

DEFINITION

Minor reordering of the definition of 'employer' to list 'partnership, association, corporation' before 'government' for organizational clarity.

ENFORCEMENT

Section 1053 was restructured to add attorney's fee recovery for employees defending against promissory note enforcement, and the fine provision was moved to subsection 2.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 12, 2025 · Assembly Jun 11, 2025

How they voted

38–21

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 63

Jun 12, 2025

D Democratic41

38 Yea 3

92% Yea

R Republican22

21 Nay 1

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 19, 2025

Signed into law

SIGNED CHAP.643

lower

Jun 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO RULES

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Jun 5, 2025

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES

lower

May 28, 2025

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 584C

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 584B

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 584A

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

lower

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO LABOR

lower

1 primary · 9 co-sponsors