Delaware Issues Regulations for Paid Family and Medical Leave – The Delaware Division of Paid Leave has published final regulations for the state’s paid family and medical leave program (PFML), which begins providing benefits Jan. 1, 2026. The new regulations amend the previous rules to provide new definitions of “application year” and “employee” under the program, guidance for self-insured employers, and modifications to information collected by the Division. There are also revisions that align the regulations with amendments previously made to the PFML statute. PFML contributions from employees and employers began in January 2025.
Read more: Delaware Legal Update
New Jersey Adopts Disparate Impact Regulations – On Dec. 15, 2025, New Jersey issued new regulations regarding disparate impact discrimination and liability under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). The new regulations went into effect immediately.
Read more: New Jersey Legal Update
New York Bans Stay-or-Pay Agreements – On Dec. 19, 2025, New York passed the Trapped at Work Act (Act), which bans employers from entering into stay-or-pay agreements with workers. The law went into effect immediately.
Read more: New York Legal Update
New York City Enacts New Pay Data Reporting Requirements – On Dec. 4, 2025, New York City enacted two pay data reporting laws, one that requires covered employers to submit annual pay data reports and another that commissions a study of the data to determine pay disparities. The new laws went into effect immediately.
Read more: New York City Legal Update
Pennsylvania Enacts CROWN Act – On Nov. 25, 2025, Pennsylvania amended the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) to prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of traits historically associated with race or religious creed, such as hairstyles and head coverings. The amendment takes effect on Jan. 24, 2026. Such legislation has gained popularity in recent years and is commonly referred to as the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act.
Read more: Pennsylvania Legal Update