Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4477: Relates to employers' obligations to report wages for the purposes of unemployment benefits, the payment of unemployment benefits, and employer penalties for non-compliance

Requires employers to report certain employees' wages for the purposes of unemployment benefits; relates to the payment of unemployment benefits, and employer penalties for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires accurate wage reporting for unemployment benefits, ensuring workers receive proper compensation when unemployed, aligning with protecting employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5212: Provides for the licensing of nail salons

This bill (S 5212) requires nail salons in New York to meet new licensing standards focused on health, safety, and worker rights. It directly affects nail salon owners, operators, and employees by mandating: (1) providing gloves and masks for workers; (2) distributing bilingual safety materials covering chemical hazards and wage laws; (3) completing mandatory two-hour training for owners within 30 days of licensing (and biennially for staff); and (4) covering all training costs without deducting from employee pay. The training must address health risks from chemicals, wage laws, and reporting violations, with oversight from a state-appointed committee. These requirements become part of the license application and renewal process.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates gloves/masks, bilingual wage/safety materials, and covers training costs - directly enhances worker safety and rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4319: Establishes restrictions on consumer and employment contracts

This bill requires consumer and employment contracts to use plain language that a reasonable person can understand, prohibiting confusing terms or hiding important details in separate documents. It applies to standard consumer agreements (like credit cards or services) and employment contracts, but excludes union-negotiated contracts. Consumers or employees can ask a court to rewrite non-compliant contracts to reflect what the parties reasonably understood. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires plain language in employment contracts to prevent confusing terms, enabling courts to rewrite non-compliant contracts and protect worker understanding of terms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4389: Prohibits the state from purchasing any product that was made with child labor

Prohibits the state from purchasing any product that was made with child labor or which contains components or parts manufactured or procured using child labor.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits state purchases of child labor products, directly protecting children's rights and strengthening labor standards against exploitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 12, 2025

S 5379: Relates to prevailing wage requirements applicable to brownfield remediation work performed under private contract

Relates to prevailing wage requirements applicable to brownfield remediation work performed under private contract as it relates to certain remediation activities, for sites that are seeking or have received a determination that the site is eligible for the tangible property credit component of the brownfield redevelopment tax credit, and the work is paid for in whole or in part by public funds.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentApplies prevailing wage requirements to brownfield remediation projects funded by public money, ensuring fair compensation for workers on these contracts.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7179: Relates to collective bargaining agreement disclosure

Requires law enforcement agencies and political subdivisions to make publicly available any law enforcement collective bargaining agreement such agency or subdivision is subject to.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequiring public disclosure of law enforcement collective bargaining agreements increases transparency and accountability in policing, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public disclosure of law enforcement collective bargaining agreements, enhancing transparency and supporting workers' right to know terms of collective bargaining.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7702: Relates to restrictions on consecutive hours of work for nurses

Relates to restrictions on consecutive hours of work for nurses; provides circumstances for the reinstatement of limitations on mandatory overtime; provides for civil penalties for employers who violate work hours limitations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestricts nurse work hours with penalties for violations, directly protecting worker safety and preventing excessive overtime - core labor protection measure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9268: Requires instruction on work zone safety awareness as part of the pre-licensing course

This bill (A 9268) requires all new drivers to complete a mandatory 30-minute "Work Zone Safety" module as part of their driver's license pre-licensing course. It directly affects new license applicants by mandating education on work zone dangers, legal obligations (like yielding to emergency vehicles), and consequences of violations. Key provisions include a curriculum covering work zone signage, barriers, lane shifts, photo speed enforcement, and real-world safety consequences, developed with input from transportation and safety experts. The module must be documented in the applicant's licensing record and include at least one exam question on safe work zone driving.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates work zone safety education for drivers, reducing risks to workers in road construction zones and improving workplace safety standards.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates work zone safety education for new drivers, directly enhancing transportation safety standards through driver awareness training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1674: Creates a tax credit for employers who help reduce higher education loans of their employees

This bill creates a tax credit for New York employers who pay down their employees' undergraduate student loan debt. Employers can claim a credit equal to the amount they pay toward an employee's federal, state, or institutional undergraduate loan debt (including interest), up to $10,000 per employee annually. The credit applies to loans related to undergraduate programs and covers both principal and interest payments. It directly affects employers who choose to assist employees with student debt and employees who receive this financial support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employers reducing student debt, providing tax relief per bill's explicit tax credit mechanism.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill reduces undergraduate student debt burden via employer tax credits, directly expanding higher education affordability and access for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides employer tax credit for reducing employee student debt, enhancing financial stability and expanding non-wage worker benefits per Labor & Employment topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 7781: Relates to providing reforms to the New York state worker adjustment and retraining notification act; repealer

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands coverage to part-time workers, enforces stricter notice requirements, removes penalty reductions, and extends back pay claims, strengthening worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment

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