Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 486: Provides for equitable disability policies

Provides for equitable disability policies; prohibits any difference, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin in the amount or payment of premiums or rate charges, or in the benefits payable, or in any of the other terms or conditions of any policy of disability insurance under the workers' compensation law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits discrimination in disability insurance benefits under workers' comp based on protected classes, directly strengthening equitable treatment and worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Workers' Compensation

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3895: Relates to the definition of employer and the duty of public employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence

This bill expands the legal definition of "employer" under New York's labor law to include specific public entities and certain nonprofits. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, public authorities, and not-for-profits receiving 50% or more of their funding from government sources. The key provision requires all these public employers to create and carry out workplace violence prevention programs. The bill amends Labor Law Section 27-b and takes effect immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates workplace violence prevention programs for public employers, directly enhancing workplace safety protections under Labor Law Section 27-b.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6910: Exempts a portion of poll workers' income earned on an election day from state income tax

Exempts a portion of poll workers' income earned on an election day from state income tax; requires the board of elections, in conjunction with the department of taxation and finance, to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform poll workers of such tax exemption; requires the department of taxation and finance to issue guidelines on how poll worker income should be reported on tax returns.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts poll workers' election day income from state tax, providing tax relief for lower-income workers as a direct fiscal benefit.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts poll workers' election day income from tax, increasing net earnings and directly supporting workers' financial compensation for specific labor.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 293: Relates to apprenticeship training

Requires that a minimum of ten percent of the labor hours of the total construction workforce employed by all contractors and subcontractors performing work pursuant to a construction contract shall be performed by a person or persons participating in a certified apprenticeship program; makes technical amendments.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 10% apprenticeship participation, promoting workforce development and skilled labor pathways per construction contract requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 174: Enacts the "commuter rail employee rights protection act"

This bill requires Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) companies to waive sovereign immunity for any legal claims against them in New York courts. It mandates that these railroads comply with key federal railroad laws, including the Railway Labor Act, Federal Employers Liability Act, and safety regulations. The waiver applies retroactively to all ongoing lawsuits involving these railroads. The bill directly affects employees who could pursue legal claims against Metro-North or LIRR under these federal protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill waives sovereign immunity for rail employees, enabling legal claims under federal labor laws (Railway Labor Act, FELA) and mandates compliance with worker protection regulations.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates compliance with federal safety regulations for commuter rail, enhancing transportation safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail Roads & Highways

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passed · New York · Assembly May 20, 2026

A 7194: Prohibits the use of student loan payment credit history checks in certain cases

This bill prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their student loan payment history or using that information to make hiring decisions. It directly affects job applicants, particularly those with student debt, by preventing employment discrimination based on their loan status. The law includes an exception for employers required by state/federal law or financial regulations to check this information. The bill applies to all employers except those in specific regulated industries like finance. It becomes effective immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employment discrimination based on student debt, protecting workers' rights in hiring decisions95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2489: Relates to paid family leave and bereavement for fetal death, still birth, and an infant being medically not viable to survive

This bill expands New York's paid family leave program to include bereavement leave for employees experiencing fetal death, stillbirth, or an infant declared medically not viable to survive. It amends workers' compensation law to explicitly add these scenarios to the definition of "family leave" under Section 201. Employees would need to provide medical documentation (such as a fetal death certificate or physician's declaration) to qualify for this leave. The policy applies to all new or renewed insurance policies starting January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands paid family leave to cover medically related bereavement (fetal death/stillbirth), improving access to healthcare-related leave and supporting mental health needs during medical trauma.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid family leave benefits to include bereavement for fetal death/stillbirth, directly strengthening worker benefits under Labor & Employment protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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signed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 4727: Relates to paid family leave benefits

Extends paid family leave benefits to employees who perform construction, demolition, reconstruction, excavation, rehabilitation, repairs, renovations, alterations, or improvements for multiple employers pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement who shall be eligible for family leave benefits if they were employed for at least twenty-six of the last thirty-nine weeks by any covered employer which is signatory to a collective bargaining agreement.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends paid family leave benefits to construction workers under collective bargaining, expanding worker benefits and supporting collective bargaining agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

in committee · New York · Assembly Sep 8, 2025

A 6658: Limits the number of hours certain public employees can work

This bill limits most public employees in New York municipalities to a maximum of 17 work hours in any single workday, applying to all municipal employees except elected officials and those excluded by law. It amends existing overtime pay rules to clarify that overtime compensation does not count toward retirement benefits, salary increases, or promotions. The restriction on daily hours applies unless overridden by an existing collective bargaining agreement. This policy change directly affects public workers in local governments across New York State.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentLimits public employees' daily work hours to 17, directly protecting worker rights and workplace safety standards per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 392: Requires employers of retail, food service or cleaning employees to give such employees 7 day notice of their work schedule and a months notice of the minimum hours of work

Requires employers of retail, food service or cleaning employees to give such employees 7 days' notice of their work schedule and a month's notice of the minimum hours of work; provides a private right of action to employees who are aggrieved by certain violations of such provisions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires advance scheduling notice for retail/food/cleaning workers, protecting their rights to predictable work hours with private right of action.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

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