Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5775: Requires applicants for a cannabis license to pay a prevailing wage or have entered into a project labor agreement for the construction of buildings or transportation

Requires applicants for a license to cultivate, process, distribute, deliver, or dispense cannabis within the state to pay a prevailing wage or have entered into a project labor agreement for the construction of buildings or transportation of items relating to the activity described in the application.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates prevailing wage for cannabis construction, protecting worker pay standards and advancing labor protections.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4837: Establishes a direct support wage enhancement to employees that provide direct care support or any other form of treatment, to individuals with developmental disabilities

Establishes a direct support wage enhancement to employees that provide direct care support or any other form of treatment, to individuals with developmental disabilities and whose income is less than $125,000.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnhances wages for direct care workers treating individuals with developmental disabilities, strengthening healthcare workforce stability and access to care services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly increases wages for care workers serving individuals with developmental disabilities, enhancing compensation for low-income employees in this sector.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1697: 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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdjusts farm worker meal/lodging credits annually for inflation, maintaining real value of in-kind benefits and protecting worker compensation from erosion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 166: Relates to securing payment of wages for work already performed; creates an employee lien

Relates to securing payment of wages for work already performed; creates a lien remedy for all employees; provides grounds for attachment; relates to procedures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; relates to rights for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates employee lien and personal liability for wage theft, strengthening worker payment protections and holding shareholders accountable.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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passed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 182: Increases the federal poverty level requirement for recipients where it concerns the one-time disregard of earned income

This bill increases the income threshold for a temporary public assistance benefit. It changes the rule so that individuals who recently started working can disregard all their earned income for up to six months (after job entry) if their total income is under 400% of the federal poverty level - up from the current 200% limit. This directly affects low-income working individuals receiving public assistance who are transitioning from unemployment to employment. The policy change aims to provide a longer financial buffer during early employment while maintaining eligibility for benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands public assistance eligibility by raising income threshold for earned income disregard, providing tax relief to low-income workers transitioning to employment.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases income threshold for public assistance during job transition, preventing benefit loss for low-income workers entering employment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Unemployment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7799: Relates to mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts

Bill S 7799 requires specific disclosures for mandatory arbitration clauses included in employment contracts. It directly affects employees who are required to sign such contracts, as well as employers who include these clauses. When an employee must agree to a mandatory arbitration clause, the employer or representative must clearly explain it in plain language. For contracts agreed to electronically or through mail, the contract must include a notice at the end and an internet link to a plain explanation of what an arbitration clause is.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires plain language disclosures for mandatory arbitration clauses, enhancing employee understanding of contract terms and protecting workers' rights to informed consent.92% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5163: Prohibits discrimination based on status as a person with a prior conviction

S 5163 amends New York's Executive Law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "status as a person with a prior conviction" in employment, licensing, and training programs. The bill adds this protected category to existing anti-discrimination provisions, making it unlawful for employers, licensing agencies, employment agencies, or labor organizations to refuse hiring, discharge, or discriminate against individuals with prior convictions in compensation, terms, or conditions of employment. It also prohibits discriminatory statements, advertisements, or inquiries related to this status, except where justified by a bona fide occupational qualification. This policy change directly affects job seekers and workers with criminal records seeking employment opportunities across New York State.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits employment discrimination against people with prior convictions, advancing reentry and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds protected class for individuals with prior convictions, prohibiting employment discrimination and advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 791: Allows employees to receive paid sick leave to care for sick pets

Enacts the "sick leave for pets care act"; allows employees to receive paid sick leave for the medical diagnosis or treatment of such employees' sick pets.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands worker benefits by adding paid sick leave for pet care, a new employment benefit under labor protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 17, 2025

S 185: Relates to restricting the use of electronic monitoring and automated employment decision tools

Restricts the use by an employer or an employment agency of electronic monitoring or an automated employment decision tool to screen a candidate or employee for an employment decision unless such tool has been the subject of an impact assessment within the last year; requires notice to employment candidates of the use of such tools; provides remedies for violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestricts unassessed employer monitoring tools, mandates impact assessments & notice to candidates, protecting workers from biased hiring practices.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires impact assessments and notice for automated employment tools, protecting employee data privacy and preventing misuse of technology in hiring decisions.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1700: Relates to the definition of a day student for the purposes of employment

This bill (A 1700) amends New York Labor Law to clarify the definition of a "day student" for employment purposes. It specifies that employment does not include work performed during regular school hours by students in elementary or secondary school who are in regular attendance. The change removes outdated language ("during the day time") and explicitly states this exclusion applies to part-time student workers. This definition directly affects students working part-time jobs during school hours, clarifying they are not covered under certain labor law provisions related to "day student" employment. The amendment takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentClarifies students' work during school hours is excluded from employment protections, weakening labor rights for part-time student workers under New York Labor Law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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