Five Laws Going Into Effect for New York in 2025

Last updated: December 30, 2024 4:22 pm

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New York | Five Laws Going Into Effect for New York in 2025

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Changes are coming to paid sick leave, insulin costs, restaurant reservations, gym membership cancellations and protections for fashion industry workers.

At New York City’s most popular restaurants, the challenge of securing a reservation has fed a secondary market for tables that both restaurants and diners have complained about. Credit… Ramsay de Give for The New York Times Published Dec. 30, 2024 Updated Jan. 2, 2025

A flurry of legislating has resulted in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signing close to 700 bills into law that affect paid sick leave, the cost of insulin and even restaurant reservations, among other things.

As we leave 2024 behind, here’s a look at five laws that are set to change New Yorkers’ lives in 2025.

Paid prenatal leave takes effect Tucked into Ms. Hochul’s budget this year was a provision expanding the state’s paid sick leave law: Starting Jan. 1, employers must offer at least 20 hours of paid time off for pregnant employees to attend related medical appointments such as sonograms.

New York appears to be the first state to offer this form of time away from work. In arguing for the program, Ms. Hochul pointed to studies that show that mothers and children have improved health outcomes when they receive such prenatal care.

This benefit is separate from other forms of leave mandated by the state and federal government. Businesses of all sizes must offer it, and are prohibited from asking people who qualify to hand over medical information when they request the time off.

“No one should ever have to fear seeking care because of the costs it will impose or time missed from work,” Governor Hochul said in an statement in April when she announced the budget agreement.

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