A 1697 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to farm worker meal and lodging minimum wage credits

This bill adjusts minimum wage credits for farm workers who receive meal, lodging, or utility benefits. It requires the department to update these credit amounts annually based on cost-of-living increases, using a standardized calculator. The first update must be published by December 1, 2025, with subsequent updates every five years. These changes directly affect farm workers receiving in-kind benefits, ensuring their credits keep pace with inflation. The policy modifies existing wage credit calculations without creating new benefits or altering eligibility.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

A1697 → A1697A · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill changes how meal and lodging allowances for farm workers are calculated. Instead of using fixed dollar amounts that stay the same, the law now requires the state to update these allowances every five years based on cost of living increases. This ensures farm workers' compensation keeps pace with inflation.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by adding three new sponsors (Stirpe, Steck, McDonald) and changes the committee process to include a discharge and amendment step before recommitment.

REQUIREMENT

Fixed dollar amounts for meals and lodging are replaced with a requirement for the department to publish updated allowances every five years based on cost of living adjustments.

TIMELINE

The bill now requires updated allowance amounts to be published by December 1st each year and take effect on January 1st, with updates occurring every five years thereafter.

ELIGIBILITY

Specific dollar thresholds for meal credits and daily lodging rates are removed, replaced with a flexible system that adjusts automatically for inflation.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO LABOR

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 1697A

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO LABOR

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors