S 4070 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the "trapped at work act"

This bill, S 4070 ("Trapped at Work Act"), prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign employment promissory notes as a condition of employment. Such notes - agreements forcing workers to repay money if they leave before a set period - would be unenforceable and void under the law. Exceptions include agreements for repaying non-training-related advances, property leases, or collective bargaining terms. Violating the law subjects employers to fines of $1,000-$5,000 per affected worker, and workers can recover attorney fees if sued over these invalid agreements.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action Jun 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S4070A → S4070B · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version (S4070B) includes substantive changes to the enforcement section and clarifies the definition of 'worker' compared to the previous version (S4070A). The most significant change is the addition of a provision allowing employees to recover attorney's fees when successfully defending against an employer attempting to enforce a prohibited promissory note. The bill also clarifies that the 'null and void' language applies to the note itself, and reorganizes the enforcement section to place the attorney's fee provision first.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on prohibiting employers from requiring workers to sign employment promissory notes, with no change to the core prohibition or the definition of 'worker' beyond minor formatting adjustments.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new provision allowing employees to recover attorney's fees when successfully defending against an employer seeking to enforce a promissory note made null and void by this article.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definition of 'worker' to clarify that it includes individuals providing services through business or nonprofit entities or associations, with minor formatting changes to line breaks.

TECHNICAL

Changed the phrase 'shall be void' to 'shall be null and void' in the enforcement section for legal clarity.

Reordered the enforcement section to place the attorney's fee provision before the fine provisions, improving logical flow.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 9, 2025

Committee

COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

upper

May 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 4070B

upper

May 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 4070A

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO LABOR

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor