In 2025, New York will introduce groundbreaking new laws in the country. Some of them have to do with eliminating insulin costs for patients with diabetes and ensuring that pregnant workers have paid leave for medical appointments. These are regulations that seek to improve the lives of citizens during a context as complicated as the current one.
As part of the state budget that Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law in April, health insurers can no longer charge co-pays and deductibles for insulin. This alleviates a potential cost burden for some 1.8 million New Yorkers diagnosed with diabetes. Recall that the state had previously capped out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $100 per month.
At the same time, there is another policy change enacted through that $237 million spending plan. It states that as of January 1, 2025, all private sector employers must grant female workers up to 20 hours of paid time off each year for prenatal care. This will allow them to take time off work for physical exams, monitoring and other pregnancy-related purposes. In addition, they may use that paid time to undergo fertility treatments.
Both measures are pioneering in the United States. New York becomes the first state to establish prenatal leave requirements in its laws and also to prohibit insurers from sharing insulin costs. Many other states are expected to follow in its footsteps.
Other laws that will take effect in New York by 2025.
Next, we will discuss new laws that will take effect in New York during 2025. Included in the list will be two that have been challenged in court and await final decisions on appeal:
$35,000 outside salary cap for New York state legislators.
State legislators were given 29 percent salary increases at the end of 2022. This raised their salaries to $142,000. However, with these salaries, which are the highest of all U.S. state legislatures, came a new condition: the 63 senators and 150 members of the New York Assembly will no longer be able to earn more than $35,000 in private-sector jobs while on the state payroll.
New York minimum wage increase
The minimum wage will increase 50 cents starting January 1, 2025, reaching $16.50 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, and $15.50 in the rest of the state. This is a major step above NY Department of Labor regulations.
Elongated limousines will be subject to new safety rules
New York began phasing in regulations on elongated limousines that were included in the 2024 budget. The same were requested since a terrible limousine accident in Schoharie in 2018, which killed 20 people. In this framework, one of the measures that came into force in October is that such vehicles be equipped with window-breaking tools, fire extinguishers and easily accessible emergency exits.
In 2025, a new step will be taken, which will include a misdemeanor charge and a minimum fine of $5,000 for operating a limousine that has been suspended for safety defects. With this, they intend to regularize their activity and avoid future inconveniences.
Elections in even-numbered years for municipal and county offices.
In 2023, New York passed a law requiring elections for executive, county legislator and city council positions to be held in even-numbered years, along with the state and federal election processes. This transition was to begin in 2025 with the implementation of the new laws, when terms would be shortened by one year for New York offices in the November election. Thus, the next election could be held in an even-numbered year.
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