Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6637: Enacts the safeguarding employees and accountability for termination act

Establishes certain rights and remedies for employees who are wrongfully discharged; establishes remedies for wrongful discharge; allows an employee or employer to make a written offer to arbitrate a dispute covered under this act; defines terms.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates remedies for wrongful termination, directly protecting employee rights under Labor & Employment laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 8227: Prohibits the use of student loan payment credit history checks in certain cases

This bill (S 8227) prohibits most employers from asking about or using an applicant's student loan payment history when making hiring decisions. It directly affects job applicants with student loans by preventing employers from discriminating against them based on their loan repayment status. The law includes an exception for employers required by state/federal law or financial regulations (like those in the securities industry) to check this information. The provision takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employment discrimination based on student loan status, protecting applicants' rights in hiring decisions per bill's explicit prohibition of employer use of loan history checks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2594: Enacts the Good Jobs Guarantee Act for workforce training

Enacts the good jobs guarantee program to provide workforce training and opportunities for employment for residents of New York state to secure high paying jobs through the acquisition of job skills.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides workforce training for high-paying jobs, directly advancing employment opportunities and skills development, aligning with labor & employment support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8532: Prevents discrimination based on wage history, medical history, and health conditions

Bill A 8532 expands anti-discrimination protections in both housing and employment. It amends existing law to include wage history, medical history, and health conditions as protected characteristics. This means that landlords and housing providers cannot discriminate based on these factors when selling, renting, or leasing accommodations. Similarly, employers, licensing agencies, employment agencies, and labor organizations are prohibited from discriminating in hiring, employment terms, or compensation based on an individual's wage history, medical history, or health conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents discrimination based on medical history and health conditions in housing/employment, directly protecting access to stable housing and employment - key factors for healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination based on medical/health conditions, strengthening tenant protections as explicitly stated in the bill's housing provisions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prohibits employment discrimination based on wage/medical history/health conditions, strengthening worker protections against bias in hiring and compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 23, 2026

A 3451: Relates to the establishment of a wage data clearinghouse

This bill establishes a wage data clearinghouse to analyze existing unemployment insurance and labor data, aiming to evaluate workforce development programs and identify training gaps. It directs the labor commissioner to select an academic institution (with $600,000 in funding) to run the clearinghouse, using state/federal data while protecting personally identifiable information. The clearinghouse will produce reports for state agencies, employers, and educational providers to improve workforce training effectiveness, with annual evaluations required for the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $600,000 state funds to establish wage data clearinghouse, directly funding a new state program for workforce analysis and reporting.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes wage data clearinghouse to evaluate workforce programs and identify training gaps, supporting improved employment standards through data-driven policy decisions.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment Workforce Development

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passed both · New York · Assembly Feb 4, 2026

A 618: Relates to the commissioner's duty to ensure employers inform employees about certain provisions in employment contracts

Requires employers to inform their employees that non-disclosure or non-disparagement provisions in their employment contracts do not prohibit them from speaking with law enforcement, the equal employment opportunity commission, the state division of human rights, a local commission on human rights, or an attorney retained by the employee.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to inform employees they can contact authorities/attorneys without contract restrictions, protecting workers' rights to report violations.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6298: Requires that employees laid off due to the COVID-19 state disaster emergency retain their salary, seniority and benefits once rehired

This bill requires employers to restore previous salary, seniority, and benefits to employees who were laid off during New York's official COVID-19 disaster emergency period (starting March 7, 2020) and later rehired by the same employer. It applies to employees terminated for reasons other than misconduct, voluntary departure, or retirement during the emergency. The law ensures these workers regain all accrued employment rights upon rehiring, preventing loss of pay or benefits tied to their prior service. The policy takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores salary/seniority/benefits for laid-off workers, protecting accrued employment rights during pandemic emergency95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2179: Relates to prohibiting the New York city board of elections from entering into contracts for certain services related to the conduct of elections with any entity that does not employ union labor

Relates to prohibiting New York city boards of elections from entering into contracts for certain services related to the conduct of elections with any entity that does not employ union labor.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires union labor for NYC election contracts, directly supporting collective bargaining and workers' rights through mandatory union employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Dec 8, 2025

A 2419: Requires consideration of union made commodities and services in the awarding of certain procurement contracts

Requires consideration as a quantitative factor whether the commodities or services were manufactured or will be performed by a labor union with respect to the awarding of certain procurement contracts.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates union-made commodities/services as a quantitative factor in procurement, directly advancing collective bargaining and union labor, aligning with worker rights protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8535: Establishes reduced residential rates for electric and natural gas service to furloughed or non-pay federal workers

S 8535 establishes reduced electricity and natural gas rates for federal workers who are furloughed or designated as "non-pay" due to a government funding gap. The Public Service Commission must create eligibility rules requiring proof of furlough status and ensure rate cuts don't unfairly burden other customers. Utilities must inform eligible customers through bill inserts, websites, and service initiation, and report on program usage. The program takes effect within 30 days and expires one year after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides utility cost relief to furloughed federal workers during government shutdowns, easing financial strain and aligning with worker benefit support during income disruption.90% confidence

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