A 7781 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

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

Summary
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.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A7781 A7781A · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends New York's labor law to expand protections for part-time employees and clarify definitions of 'employer' and 'employment loss'. It removes exclusions that previously left part-time workers without coverage under certain definitions and adjusts thresholds for what constitutes a mass layoff. The changes aim to ensure more workers receive severance pay and other protections during plant closings, relocations, or mass layoffs.
Scope change
Expanded from only full-time employees to include part-time employees in certain definitions and protections related to employment loss and severance requirements.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed exclusion of part-time employees from certain definitions relating to employment and employer status.

DEFINITION

Changed the threshold for 'mass layoff' from six months to three months, making it easier to qualify for protections.

Changed the threshold for reduction in hours of work from six-month period to three-month period for qualifying as employment loss.

Removed the definition of 'Associate' which previously defined relationships with officers, partners, and relatives.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for employers to pay severance to employees during plant closings, relocations, or mass layoffs.

TECHNICAL

Removed discretionary reduction of penalties for employers concerning notice requirements for mass layoffs.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 7781A
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors