Labor & Employment

passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 4052: Includes Stewart International Airport in the definition of covered airport location for the purposes of minimum wage rates

This bill adds Stewart International Airport to the list of locations covered by New York's airport minimum wage law. It directly affects workers performing airline catering work at Stewart International Airport, ensuring they receive the same minimum wage rates as workers at JFK and LaGuardia airports. The law amendment explicitly includes Stewart in the definition of "covered airport location" within the labor law. This change applies immediately upon enactment to expand wage protections for these specific workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands minimum wage coverage to Stewart Airport workers, ensuring same pay as JFK/LGA under labor law, directly protecting wages and worker rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2595: Relates to providing reforms to the New York state worker adjustment and retraining notification act; repealer

Removes the exclusion of part-time employees from certain definitions relating to employment and expanding the definition of employer; removes certain exclusions for employer notice requirements for the closing of a facility; removes the discretionary reduction of penalties for employers for certain acts or omissions concerning notice requirements for mass layoffs, relocations or employment loss; removes the maximum time period for determining back pay and other liabilities for certain employees who experience employment loss; allows the attorney general to take certain action to assist certain employees in receiving back pay and other liabilities; requires employers to pay severance to employees when there is a plant closing, relocation, or mass layoff.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves part-time exclusions, expands employer definitions, and eliminates penalty reductions for notice violations, strengthening worker protections under WARN Act reforms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4478: Requires the department of labor to provide a document on workplace rights to any minor seeking working papers

Requires the department of labor to provide a document on workplace rights to any minor seeking working papers and to make such document available in other languages and to school officials who issue working papers.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProvides workplace rights document to minors seeking work authorization, aligning with immigrant service support and language accessibility for vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides minors with workplace rights information, enhancing protection for young workers through mandatory documentation and multilingual access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6141: Relates to disability benefits for pregnancy loss

This bill expands New York's workers' compensation program to include disability benefits for pregnancy loss. It directly affects employees covered by workers' compensation who experience pregnancy loss, ensuring they qualify for financial support during recovery. The key provision amends the definition of "disability" to explicitly include pregnancy loss and sets a specific benefit rate: 67% of the employee's average weekly wage, capped at 67% of the state average weekly wage. This change applies to all new or renewed policies issued after the effective date, providing concrete financial protection without altering other disability benefit calculations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp disability coverage to include pregnancy loss, providing financial support for recovery, directly advancing healthcare access for affected employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation disability benefits to include pregnancy loss, providing 67% wage replacement for recovery, directly strengthening employee benefits and protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Workers' Compensation

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3074: Relates to allowing farm laborers to decide to work on a day of rest

This bill requires farm laborers to receive at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each week. It allows farm laborers to voluntarily work on their designated rest day if compensated at 1.5 times their regular pay for all hours worked that day. The bill specifies that laborers must be paid regular wages for up to 60 hours weekly, with overtime pay for hours beyond 60. It defines "farm labor" broadly to include agricultural work like crop cultivation, livestock management, and harvesting.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 24h weekly rest, requires 1.5x pay for rest-day work, caps regular pay at 60 hours weekly with overtime beyond, strengthening farm laborer protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4644: Allows employees that refuse a coronavirus vaccine to be eligible for unemployment insurance

This bill amends New York's labor law to explicitly allow employees who refuse a coronavirus vaccine to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. It adds language stating that unemployment due to "choosing not to receive a coronavirus vaccine" cannot disqualify someone from benefits, covering both government mandates (like health department orders) and employer vaccine policies. The bill specifically prevents denial of benefits for this reason, including cases where refusal stems from mandatory vaccination requirements by employers or state health authorities. This change modifies existing eligibility rules under sections 591 and 593 of the labor law. The policy directly affects workers who face termination for vaccine refusal under current employer or public health mandates.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects workers' right to unemployment benefits when refusing vaccine, preventing denial due to employer/vaccine mandates per labor law amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6748: Relates to a minimum wage reimbursement credit

This bill creates a tax credit for New York employers who hire qualifying young workers. It allows employers to get reimbursed up to $1.35 per hour for each hour worked by employees aged 16-19 who are students and paid at or slightly above New York's minimum wage (up to 50 cents over the rate). The credit amount varies by year, and it adjusts if the federal minimum wage increases above 85% of New York's rate. The credit applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and affects businesses employing eligible young students in New York State.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employers hiring young workers, reducing state tax revenue to fund youth employment initiative. Direct tax policy supporting fiscal management for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit to incentivize hiring young workers at minimum wage, promoting youth employment opportunities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Child Labor Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5360: Establishes a program to incentivize unemployed individuals to enter jobs in healthcare

Directs the commissioner of labor, in conjunction with the commissioner of health, to develop a program which incentivizes unemployed individuals to enter jobs in healthcare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncentivizes healthcare workforce entry to address staffing shortages, improving service capacity and access per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill directly targets unemployment by creating a program to incentivize unemployed individuals into healthcare jobs, advancing employment standards as defined in the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Workforce Development

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3678: 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 & EmploymentRequires MTA to prioritize union labor, strengthening collective bargaining rights for transit workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5012: 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" to include specific public entities: certain child welfare agencies and nonprofits receiving at least 50% of their budget from government sources. It requires all public employers under this new definition to develop and implement workplace violence prevention programs. The law takes immediate effect and applies to state agencies, local governments, public authorities, and the newly included entities. The change clarifies which organizations must comply with workplace safety requirements under New York's labor law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates workplace violence prevention programs for expanded employer categories, directly strengthening workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment policies.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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