California Updates Employment Status and Reimbursement Rules for Vehicle Use – On Oct. 11, 2025, the governor approved Senate Bill (SB) 809, which reaffirmed that mere ownership of a vehicle—personal or commercial—used by a person providing labor or services for remuneration does not make that person an independent contractor. The law took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Read more: California Legal Update
Colorado Issues Updated FAMLI Notice – Colorado has posted an updated notice for 2026 for its paid family and medical leave program, called FAMLI. The most significant change in the updated notice is that it now reflects the addition of neonatal care leave.
Read more: Colorado Legal Update
District of Columbia’s Minimum Wage Rate to Increase on July 1, 2026 – The District of Columbia’s Office of Wage and Hour recently announced that the District’s hourly minimum wage will increase to $18.40 per hour on July 1, 2026. The new rate will apply to all employers, regardless of the number of individuals they employ.
Read more: District of Columbia Legal Update
New Jersey Significantly Amends Family and Medical Leave Rights – New Jersey has enacted amendments to its Family Leave Act (FLA) that apply the law to smaller employers and reduce eligibility requirements for employees. The amendments also add job protection for employees receiving benefits under the state temporary disability insurance (TDI) and family leave insurance (FLI) programs. The changes are contained in Assembly Bill (AB) 3451 and take effect July 17, 2026.
Read more: New Jersey Legal Update
New York Expands Paid Family Leave for Construction Workers – New York has enacted a bill amending the state’s paid family leave (PFL) law to provide coverage for certain collectively bargained workers in construction and related trades. The amendments do not take effect until January 2027.
Read more: New York Legal Update
New York Restricts Use of Credit History in Employment Decisions – On Dec. 19, 2025, New York passed a law restricting the use of an employee’s credit history in making employment decisions in most circumstances. The law is scheduled to take effect on April 18, 2026.
Read more: New York Legal Update