02.03.26
With new state employment laws continuously being enacted, it can be challenging to keep up on each change and ensure that your policies and practices are compliant. We have your solution.
This monthly digest is designed to keep you apprised of upcoming major state law changes in areas including paid sick and safe leave laws, family and parental leave, recreational and medicinal marijuana use, workplace gun laws, asking candidates about salary history and unpredictable scheduling.
Here’s what’s on the horizon:
February 2026
- New California workers’ rights notice must be distributed by February 1.
- Changes to New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time and Temporary Schedule Change Acts effective February 22.
March 2026
- California employers must provide current employees with the opportunity to name an emergency contact by March 30.
May 2026
- Maine paid family and medical leave benefits available May 1.
June 2026
- Illinois enacts unpaid parental leave for employees with a child who is a patient in a NICU on June 1.
- Colorado implements new AI protections against discrimination effective June 30.
July 2026
- Significant expansions to the New Jersey Family Leave Act effective July 17.
- Washington expands “ban the box” law effective July 1.
2027
- California expands pay data reporting law effective January 1.
- Connecticut paid sick leave law covers all employees effective January 1.
- Maryland paid family and medical leave contributions begin January 1.
- Washington expands Healthy Starts Act effective January 1.
2028
- Maryland paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 3.
- California expands employees’ eligibility to receive state paid family leave benefits to those who are taking time off work to care for a seriously ill “designated person”
effective July 1.
In case you missed it:
January 2026
- California ban on “stay-or-pay” employment contracts effective January 1.
- California adds workplace protections for victims of violence effective January 1.
- California expands Equal Pay Act and amends pay transparency laws effective January 1.
- California amends payroll and employee data storage requirements effective January 1.
- Colorado expands FAMLI benefits to NICU parents effective January 1.
- Connecticut further expands paid sick leave eligibility effective January 1.
- Delaware paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 1.
- Illinois enacts paid lactation break law on January 1.
- Illinois limits use of AI in hiring effective January 1.
- Minnesota paid family leave contributions begin January 1.
- Minnesota amends meal and rest break requirements effective January 1.
- New Hampshire enacts new unpaid leave for childbirth and child-related medical appointments on January 1.
- Oregon new hire notice requirements effective January 1.
- Oregon expands uses for paid sick leave effective January 1.
- Pittsburgh changes to paid sick leave law effective January 1.
- Rhode Island new hire notice requirements effective January 1.
- Washington expands domestic violence leave law effective January 1.
- Washington amends paid family and medical leave law effective January 1.
What to Watch:
Virginia lawmakers are pursuing a statewide paid family leave statute.