Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate May 20, 2026

S 3951: Prohibits cases from being closed without a hearing or written stipulation; repealer

Prohibits cases from being closed without a hearing or written stipulation; requires a stenographic record of all hearings held; requires minutes and decisions to be provided to the injured worker in their native language.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires hearings and language-accessible records for injured workers, directly protecting their rights in claims processing95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 7007: Relates to requiring mental health first aid training for licensed cosmetologists and barbers

This bill requires licensed cosmetologists and barbers to complete an eight-hour mental health first aid training program. The training teaches participants to recognize symptoms of mental health crises (like anxiety or depression), safely de-escalate situations, and refer clients to appropriate community resources. All current licensees and new applicants must complete this certified training to maintain or obtain their licenses. The law aims to enhance community safety by equipping beauty professionals - who interact closely with the public - with skills to support individuals in mental health distress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers to recognize crises and refer to resources, directly supporting mental health service access and community safety.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers, directly improving workplace safety by teaching crisis recognition and de-escalation skills.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 3460: Relates to granting employees access to personnel records

Grants employees access to personnel records; requires notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review; permits employee to include certain information in personnel records.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill grants employees access to personnel records, requires notice of negative entries, and allows review/inclusion of information, directly protecting worker rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 182: Increases the federal poverty level requirement for recipients where it concerns the one-time disregard of earned income

This bill increases the income threshold for a temporary public assistance benefit. It changes the rule so that individuals who recently started working can disregard all their earned income for up to six months (after job entry) if their total income is under 400% of the federal poverty level - up from the current 200% limit. This directly affects low-income working individuals receiving public assistance who are transitioning from unemployment to employment. The policy change aims to provide a longer financial buffer during early employment while maintaining eligibility for benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands public assistance eligibility by raising income threshold for earned income disregard, providing tax relief to low-income workers transitioning to employment.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases income threshold for public assistance during job transition, preventing benefit loss for low-income workers entering employment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 4424: Enacts the anti-waiver of employment rights act

Enacts the "anti-waiver of employment rights act" to invalidate any express or implied contractual provision waiving or otherwise limiting any employee's substantive or procedural rights, remedies, or claim.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentInvalidates contractual waivers of employee rights, directly protecting workers from losing legal claims or remedies through agreements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 5623: Relates to the right to unemployment benefits based on employment with certain educational institutions; repealer

Relates to the right to unemployment benefits based on employment with certain educational institutions, including the state university of New York, the city university of New York and public community colleges; clarifies the meaning of certain terms relating to such rights to unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies eligibility for unemployment benefits at public institutions, ensuring workers' access to benefits under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 339: Relates to the establishment of a state university-based center for employee ownership; repealer

Relates to the establishment of a state university-based center for employee ownership that provides education and outreach to business owners regarding employee ownership.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill promotes employee ownership education, aligning with labor engagement models that empower workers through business stake, supporting worker-centric employment structures.70% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 4515: Requires employers of domestic workers to provide annual sick leave to such workers

This bill requires employers of domestic workers to provide paid sick leave, directly affecting household workers like nannies, caregivers, and housekeepers. It mandates that employers with 5-99 workers (including those hiring domestic workers) provide 40 hours of paid sick leave annually per employee, while larger employers (100+ workers) must offer 56 hours. Small employers (4 or fewer workers) must provide 40 hours of *unpaid* sick leave unless they earned over $1 million in the previous year, in which case it becomes paid. The law applies to all domestic workers as defined by existing labor law, with no exemption for household employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave for domestic workers, expanding worker benefits and directly protecting employment standards per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 11, 2026

S 381: Relates to certain notices and guidelines regarding mental health services and resources available to employees

Directs the commissioner of labor to create and distribute to employers written materials regarding mental health services and resources available to employees to be posted in the workplace; directs voluntary guidance for employers to put in place strategies and programs to support the mental health and wellness of their employees; provides that such guidance be in written and digital resources and in English or translated to an additional primary language or languages as applicable.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health resource materials for employers, promoting workplace mental health access and support per bill's directive to distribute written/digital resources.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates mental health resources for employees, advancing workplace wellness and support under labor standards90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4464: Relates to the organization of industrial development agencies

This bill (S 4464) revises rules for New York's industrial development agencies (IDAs), which are local entities that support economic growth through tax incentives and development projects. It mandates that IDAs include at least one representative from a local labor organization (defined as groups focused on collective bargaining or workplace issues) and one representative from a school district or local government, alongside business and municipal representatives. Agencies must have 3-7 members appointed by local governing bodies, with no paid roles but reimbursement for necessary expenses. The bill directly affects IDAs operating across New York municipalities, requiring structural changes to their governance to include labor and education representation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates labor organization representation (focused on collective bargaining) in industrial development agencies, directly supporting worker voice in economic development decisions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track