Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3235: Relates to the workers' compensation benefit of certain disabled employees

Provides that the weekly benefit which the disabled employee is entitled to receive for disability commencing: on or after January first, two thousand twenty-eight shall be fifty percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed fifty percent of the state average weekly wage; on or after January first, two thousand twenty-nine shall be fifty-five percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed fifty-five percent of the state average weekly wage; on or after January first, two thousand thirty shall be sixty percent of the employee's weekly average wage but shall not exceed sixty percent of the state average weekly wage; and on or after January first of each succeeding year, shall be sixty-seven percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed sixty-seven percent of the state average weekly wage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases workers' compensation benefits from 50% to 55% of average weekly wage for disabled employees, strengthening financial protection for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4299: Authorizes the care and treatment of injured employees by duly licensed or certified acupuncturists under the workers' compensation program

This bill (S 4299) allows injured workers covered by New York's workers' compensation program to receive acupuncture treatment from licensed or certified acupuncturists. It directly affects injured employees seeking treatment, acupuncturists who must meet specific education law requirements, and employers who must cover these services. Key provisions include requiring acupuncturists to submit treatment records to the state, establishing a fee schedule based on practitioner type (licensed vs. certified), and mandating that acupuncturists bill employers directly - not injured workers - within 48 hours of the first treatment. The bill also sets rules for dispute resolution over treatment fees and requires employers to allow impartial examinations of billing disputes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp coverage to include licensed acupuncture, improving access to alternative healthcare services for injured workers under existing insurance framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits to include licensed acupuncture treatment, directly enhancing medical care access for injured employees under workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 162: Authorizes the commissioner of labor and the workers' compensation board to issue stop-work orders

Authorizes the commissioner of labor and the workers' compensation board to issue stop-work orders; establishes procedure for the issuance of such orders; establishes penalties for failure to comply with such orders.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes stop-work orders for workplace safety enforcement, strengthening worker protection protocols and compliance with safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4863: Relates to establishing the COVID-19 recovery local employment tax credit program

Establishes the COVID-19 recovery local employment tax credit program to provide tax incentives to employers for employing local employees in full-time or part-time positions in the two years following the conclusion of the state disaster emergency declared pursuant to executive order two hundred two.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes tax credit program providing tax relief to employers for hiring local workers, directly advancing tax incentive policy under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credits to employers for hiring local workers, directly incentivizing job creation and supporting employment recovery post-pandemic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5533: Establishes the permanent child care workforce pay equity fund and provides for the distribution thereof; appropriation

S 5533 creates a permanent $1.2 billion fund to improve pay for New York child care workers. It requires that at least 75% of funds distributed to child care programs must increase compensation for direct caregivers (like teachers), 10% for administrators, and the rest for program quality or capacity. The bill mandates the state develop a minimum wage scale aligning child care pay with public school educators and prioritizes funding for programs serving high-need children, underserved communities, and those accepting state child care subsidies. Programs receiving funds must meet wage requirements and report how money is used.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $1.2B permanent appropriation to fund child care worker pay increases, directly expanding state budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $1.2B to increase pay for child care educators (direct caregivers), aligns with public school teacher wages, and prioritizes high-need areas, directly supporting educator compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates $1.2B fund to increase child care worker pay, mandates wage scale aligning with educators, and requires 75% funding for direct caregiver compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Minimum Wage

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vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 33: Relates to the promotion of employment of people with disabilities

This bill establishes a 16-member task force within New York's Department of Labor to address unemployment among people with disabilities. The task force, including representatives from state agencies, disability organizations, labor, business, and people with disabilities themselves, will study employment barriers and review successful programs. Its key duties include developing strategies to increase competitive integrated employment (meaningful jobs in regular workplaces), ensuring state agencies model inclusive hiring, and making recommendations within two years. The task force must report annually to the governor and legislature, with findings made publicly available online. This directly affects state agencies, employers, and people with disabilities seeking meaningful work opportunities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates task force to address disability employment barriers and develop strategies for competitive integrated employment, directly advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities within Labor & Employment framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4734: Relates to requiring certain employers to provide workforce demographics and equity measurements to the division of human rights annually

Relates to requiring certain employers to provide workforce demographics and equity measurements to the division of human rights annually, including each employee's race, ethnicity, age, and sex or gender identity or expression, as well as the employee's job category, date of hire, salary or wages, training received, raises, promotions, disciplinary actions, terminations and benefits, including but not limited to unpaid benefits or privileges such as flexible scheduling, the ability to work from home, or the ability to bring children to work.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates annual demographic reporting to address workplace equity disparities, advancing transparency in employment practices and protecting workers' rights through data-driven equity monitoring.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Labor Standards

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passed · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 2596: Relates to an individual's right to request a hearing regarding an unemployment insurance benefits claim

Relates to an individual's right to request a hearing regarding an unemployment insurance benefits claim; provides such a hearing can be requested if benefits or a written notice of determination denying their claim are not received within thirty days of providing all required information.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures timely access to unemployment benefits by granting hearing rights for delayed claims, directly protecting workers' rights under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4171: Relates to prioritizing union labor for certain transit projects of the metropolitan transportation authority

Requires the metropolitan transportation authority to prioritize and hire union labor for proposed public work before making a contract available for public bidding.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates MTA to prioritize union labor for transit projects, directly strengthening collective bargaining and union employment rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1320: Relates to the uniform employee and student online privacy protection act

This bill prohibits employers and educational institutions from requiring employees or students to disclose login information for their personal online accounts. It specifically bans demands for passwords, access to content, or in-person account access, except for limited exceptions like legal compliance or safety threats. The law allows access to publicly available information and permits targeted investigations into work-related misconduct or system security breaches. It directly affects all employees (including interns) and students at postsecondary institutions covered under the law's definitions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prohibits employers from demanding personal account access, directly protecting employee privacy rights in the workplace, a core labor right.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill protects individual data privacy and digital rights by prohibiting employers and educational institutions from demanding access to personal online accounts, directly advancing the 'Technology' topic.95% confidence

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