Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 30, 2026

S 9089: Relates to food delivery worker safety

Enacts the "food delivery worker safety and fair algorithms act" to prohibit food delivery platforms from utilizing or deploying any algorithmic management system that requires or incentivizes delivery workers to complete deliveries within a fixed or rigid time window that cannot reasonably be met while complying with all applicable traffic laws and safety regulations; penalizes, deactivates, suspends, deprioritizes, or otherwise limits a delivery worker's access to work opportunities for failure to meet delivery time estimates that do not account for traffic patterns, traffic congestion, weather conditions, restaurant delays, or lawful compliance with traffic signals, signage, and rules of the road; directly or indirectly incentivizes speeding, unsafe operation of a vehicle or bicycle, or disregard of traffic control devices, signage, or pedestrian right-of-way; and reduces pay, tips, bonuses, or access to incentives based on a delivery worker's refusal or inability to engage in unsafe or unlawful conduct.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits algorithms requiring unsafe time windows and prevents penalties for safety compliance, directly enhancing workplace safety and worker rights for food delivery workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8727: Extends paid family leave benefits to members of the New York national guard

This bill extends New York's existing paid family leave program to include members of the New York Army National Guard and New York Air National Guard. It adds these service members to the list of eligible workers who qualify for paid family leave after serving for 26 consecutive weeks. The change does not alter the current 26-week employment requirement but explicitly includes National Guard enlistment as qualifying service. This directly affects National Guard members who meet the 26-week service threshold, granting them access to the same paid family leave benefits as other covered employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends paid family leave benefits to National Guard members, expanding worker benefits under existing program without altering requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9582: Relates to requiring delivery network company workers have access to paid sick leave

Includes delivery network company workers in the definition of "employee" for purposes of paid sick leave; provides that the employer of a delivery network company worker shall be a delivery network company.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly expands paid sick leave access to delivery workers, strengthening worker benefits and inclusion in employee protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9585: Relates to the establishment of the small business child & dependent care savings program

This bill establishes a New York State program allowing small businesses (with 1-100 employees) to offer employees a payroll-deducted savings option for child and dependent care expenses. Employees can contribute pre-tax income through their employer’s payroll system, with contributions limited to IRS Section 125/129 guidelines. Businesses must set up a payroll arrangement for employees to enroll, choose contribution amounts (as a percentage or fixed dollar amount), and allow annual enrollment changes. The program is administered by the state comptroller and labor commissioner, aiming to provide a low-cost, portable savings tool for small business employees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables pre-tax childcare savings for employees, providing tax relief per IRS guidelines, aligning with support indicators for middle-income tax relief.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes payroll-deducted dependent care savings, expanding employee benefits without direct wage/safety impact95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Tags Small Business

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failed · New York · Assembly May 19, 2026

A 10038: Requires audits by the comptroller in the event of arrest or conviction of contractors

This bill requires New York's state comptroller to conduct financial audits of all public works projects funded by the state when a contractor is convicted or found liable for specific theft or fraud violations. It directly affects contractors (including subcontractors and affiliated entities) working on state-funded projects who are convicted under certain laws related to wage theft, insurance fraud, or labor law violations. The comptroller must audit all such projects the contractor managed after a conviction for offenses listed in the insurance law, penal law (wage theft, fraud), workers' compensation law, or labor law. The law takes immediate effect and aims to ensure public funds are properly accounted for when contractors face legal consequences for financial misconduct.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTargets wage theft by mandating audits for contractors convicted of labor law violations, strengthening enforcement of workers' rights compliance in state projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 8667: Relates to employee access to lactation rooms in the workplace

Relates to employee access to lactation rooms in the workplace; requires that employers post written policies regarding the rights of nursing employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to post written policies for nursing employees' lactation access, protecting workplace rights for nursing mothers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 9070: Grants members of the city of New York's police force eligibility for retirement and pension based on previous service as traffic enforcement agents

This bill allows New York City police officers who previously worked as traffic enforcement agents to count that prior service toward their retirement and pension benefits. Specifically, it enables them to buy back service credit for their traffic enforcement time by paying the required contributions, ensuring this period counts as police service for retirement calculations. The policy applies to officers appointed as traffic enforcement agents before July 1, 2009, who later join the police department. It does not change existing retirement system rules but clarifies eligibility for those with prior traffic enforcement roles.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits for police officers by counting prior traffic enforcement service toward pension eligibility, strengthening worker benefits.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 16, 2026

S 8939: Relates to the interest rate cap on cash advances against wages or salary

S 8939 clarifies that cash advances against future wages or salary are legally defined as "loans," bringing them under the existing interest rate cap in New York's general obligations law (Section 5-501). This directly affects workers who take such advances, as it ensures all associated fees - like tips, subscription costs, or service charges - are included in the interest rate calculation and cannot exceed the cap. The bill expands the definition of "loan" to explicitly cover advances on earned but unpaid wages or future pay, requiring lenders to comply with the rate limit on all charges. It codifies current practice without creating new restrictions, focusing on clarifying that existing interest rate rules apply to these advances.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies wage advance fees are included in interest rate cap, preventing excessive fees on worker advances and protecting earnings.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9578: Relates to recovery of overpayments of unemployment benefits; repealer

Provides that any claimant who has received certain unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled shall not be held liable for the amounts overpaid provided certain conditions exist; directs the department of labor to provide claimants who have previously been denied waivers with applications for individual waivers; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents claimants from liability for overpaid unemployment benefits, protecting access to benefits under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 8706: Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use

Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use for the previous year; requires the department of labor to file an annual report on the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use in the state; establishes penalties for covered business that fail to submit such reports.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires AI hiring impact reporting to monitor workplace practices, enabling proactive labor protection against AI-driven employment risks85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI transparency in hiring reports to monitor impacts, aligning with regulatory oversight for responsible tech use and worker protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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