09.01.26
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:
October 2026
- Connecticut pay transparency law and requirement to create an employee guide for pay codes effective October 1.
- Connecticut ban on employee promissory notes effective October 1.
- Connecticut expands employer obligations to provide reasonable lactation breaks on October 1.
January 2027
- California expands pay data reporting law effective January 1.
- Colorado compliance requirements for employers using AI technologies effective January 1.
- Colorado overtime threshold for agricultural employees changes January 1.
- Connecticut paid sick leave law covers all employees effective January 1.
- Maryland paid family and medical leave contributions begin January 1.
- Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave contribution structure changes on January 1.
- Philadelphia amends Fair Practices Ordinance effective January 1 to prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of menstruation, perimenopause and menopause.
- San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance’s qualifying period reduced for large employers on January 1.
- Washington expands Healthy Starts Act effective January 1.
- Connecticut employers are required to provide written notice of an employee’s right to reasonable accommodation in the workplace for a disability by January 29.
June 2027
- Washington bans noncompete agreements effective June 30.
July 2027
- Colorado demographic workforce information rules effective July 1.
- Virginia paid sick leave law effective July 1.
2028
- Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act amends the Illinois Human Rights Act on January 1.
- San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance’s qualifying period reduced for small employers on January 1.
- Maryland paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 3.
- Virginia Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program contributions begin April 1.
- 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.
- Virginia Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program benefits available December 1.
In case you missed it:
July 2026
- Tennessee noncompete ban for certain workers effective July 1.
- Virginia salary history ban and pay transparency law effective July 1.
- Virginia restrictions on noncompete covenants absent severance pay effective July 1.
- Washington expands “ban the box” law effective July 1.
- Significant expansions to the New Jersey Family Leave Act effective July 17.
- Nebraska “mini-WARN” act effective July 18.
- New York City amends Earned Safe and Sick Time Act effective July 23.
- Maine pay range disclosure law effective July 29.
What to Watch:
Although many state legislative periods are adjourned for the year, keep an eye on states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, whose legislative sessions last well into Q4.