Labor & Employment

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 12, 2026

A 9643: Authorizes a claimant to receive a dependent allowance in addition to unemployment insurance benefits

Provides that a claimant eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits shall also be entitled to receive a dependent allowance which shall begin at forty-five dollars and shall increase annually by an amount determined by the department of labor; directs the department of labor to report to the legislature following each calendar quarter certain information about dependent allowances and to make such reports available on its website; provides that a claimant's maximum benefit amount, including such dependent allowance, shall not exceed one hundred percent of such claimant's average weekly wage from their highest-earning calendar quarter.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits by adding $45/week per dependent, directly increasing support for workers and families during job loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 8833: Relates to certain off-site custom fabrication public works projects and the payment of prevailing wage

Clarifies the definition of custom fabrication for the purposes of prevailing wage; requires certain reports for public works contracts including such custom fabrication.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies prevailing wage requirements for custom fabrication projects, ensuring fair compensation for workers on public works contracts per labor standards.95% confidence

Track

signed · New York · Senate Feb 13, 2026

S 8795: Extends paid family leave benefits to certain construction employees

Extends paid family leave benefits to certain construction employees 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; relates to the effectiveness thereof.

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

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 16, 2026

S 8928: Enacts the artificial intelligence workforce impact transparency act

Enacts the "artificial intelligence workforce impact transparency act"; requires that each notice include a statement as to whether the employment losses described are the result, in whole or in part, of the introduction, expansion, or adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, automation technologies, or machine-based processes that have replaced or materially altered the duties of affected employees; establishes a two year pilot program known as the AI Innovation and Workforce Tracking Initiative to evaluate compliance, data accuracy, and policy impacts of the reporting requirement; requires a report to the governor and legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires disclosure of AI-driven job losses, enhancing worker transparency and accountability in workforce changes90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Gig Economy Labor Standards Tags Artificial Intelligence

Track