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Each new year, employers in the United States are accustomed to hearing about all the laws that go into effect on January 1. State legislatures across the country, however, are active all year long, and as we have said before, July is the new January. Following is our summary of the notable labor and employment laws taking effect from July 1 through October 1, 2026. Some of the laws are industry specific, but the list is not all-inclusive and does not contain minimum wage updates, which are addressed in a separate publication.
Virginia enacted the most new laws taking effect this summer, including laws relating to pay transparency, child labor, non-competes, workplace violence, and employee background checks for certain employers. Several other states, including Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, and Kentucky have also enacted laws relating to employee background checks, particularly for employers in healthcare-related fields. Laws relating to non-compete agreements have been another popular topic for state legislatures in Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Tennessee, in addition to Virginia. Also of note – Colorado, Connecticut and Georgia all have new laws further defining a “service animal” for purposes of disability discrimination law. And a number of states have new laws regarding child labor. Finally, several states are implementing laws further regulating Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and relationships with their drivers.
At the date of publication, some state legislatures were still in session, so these charts may not contain every new generally applicable labor and employment law taking effect soon. Employers with operations in multiple jurisdictions are encouraged to work with counsel to stay up-to-date on legislative and regulatory developments affecting their workplaces.
Alabama
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Smoking Restrictions |
Prohibits the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems in areas where the smoking of tobacco is prohibited. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Employment Contracts and Agreements: Nondisclosure |
Prohibits any contract that bars a party from disclosing facts related to sexual abuse. |
10/01/26 |
Arizona
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
App-Based Workers: Terminations |
Modifies the contract termination requirements for services performed by a qualified marketplace contractor. |
07/25/26 |
|
|
Leave of Absence |
Expands existing military leave provisions to require leave for employees during military training or in compliance with military orders. |
09/25/26 |
Colorado
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Colorado Final Rule re FAMLI Appeals (7 CCR 1107-9) |
Paid Family ⁄ Medical Leave and Insurance |
Amends the appeals process for challenging administrative decisions issued under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act and provides that a hearing officer may reconsider a decision within five business days of issuance under certain circumstances. |
07/01/26 |
|
Colorado Final Rule re FAMLI Qualifying Leave Reason Clarification (7 CCR 1107-3) |
Paid Family ⁄ Medical Leave and Insurance |
Clarifies that an absence is caused by a qualifying condition only if it would not have occurred but for the qualifying condition. |
07/01/26 |
|
Service Animals |
Provides definitions for "assistance animal" and "emotional support animal" for the purposes of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. |
08/12/26 |
|
|
Pay Equity |
Requires employers to provide EEO-1 data to the state beginning July 1, 2027, even if federal EEO-1 reporting is discontinued. |
08/12/26 |
|
|
Discrimination; Public Access |
Requires a business that offers an exam or course related to an application, license, certification, or credential, for professional or trade purposes, to offer accessible exams and courses to an individual with a disability. |
08/12/26 |
Connecticut
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Employment Policies |
Amends the pay transparency law to require disclosure of the benefits for a posted position; creates retention rights for service workers; requires an employer to notify employees of the right to disability accommodation; requires an employer to provide reasonable break time for expressing breastmilk; requires an employer to publish a guide to pay codes for overtime and pay differentials. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Workplace Safety |
Prohibits driving while using or holding a mobile electronic device except while in a hands-free mode; requires transportation network companies (TNCs) to adopt service animal nondiscrimination policies; requires TNC drivers to annually complete sexual assault prevention and driver education trainings. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Privacy and Data Security |
Amends the Connecticut Data Privacy Act by establishing new requirements concerning facial recognition technology; eliminates certain exemptions for processing decisions concerning employment. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
AI and Technology |
Creates a comprehensive online safety law with significant requirements relating to Automated Employment-related Decision Technology (AEDT). Read here for more information. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Discrimination; Public Access Issues |
Makes certain discriminatory public accommodation practices a hate crime. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Wholesale and Warehouse Operations |
Requires warehouse distribution center employers to provide written descriptions of quotas for employees upon hire; prohibits quotas that would prevent employees from complying with meal or rest periods or health and safety laws. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Privacy |
Exempts third-party self-service kiosks from the prohibition on electronic surveillance devices and systems in employee lounges. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Privacy |
Requires employers to notify employees of electronic surveillance and to inform them of which prohibited activities may require surveillance without prior notice. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Privacy and Data Security: Artificial Intelligence |
Amends the Connecticut Data Privacy Act to expand coverage standards; requires a controller that uses personal data for profiling to conduct an impact assessment. |
07/01/26 |
Florida
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Home Health Care: Criminal Background Checks |
Amends the list of offenses that must be included in a background check for care placement service employees. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Discrimination and Harassment |
Requires certain civil actions with the Florida Commission on Human Relations to be commenced within specified time periods. |
07/01/26 |
Georgia
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Service Animals for Persons with Disabilities |
Clarifies that a "service dog" includes an animal that is being trained; expands the definition of qualifying persons with disabilities who are eligible to use a service dog. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Independent Contractors: Benefits |
Provides for portable benefit plans and portable benefit accounts for independent contractors. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Criminal Background Checks |
Requires criminal background checks for owners, applicants, and employees of certain mental health facilities; provides procedures regarding applicants or employees with ineligible determinations and civil penalties for failure to terminate those with ineligible determinations. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Hospitality: Human Trafficking Training |
Requires hotel employees to complete human trafficking training upon hire and annually thereafter. |
07/01/26 |
Hawaii
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Family Military Leave |
Authorizes an eligible employee to take family leave for a qualifying military exigency under state law. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Criminal Background Checks |
Clarifies requirements for criminal background checks of employees and volunteers at healthcare facilities. |
07/01/26 |
Idaho
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Criminal Background Checks |
Requires background checks for individuals with direct access to children, elderly, or vulnerable adults. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Criminal Background Checks |
Defines qualified entities required to perform background checks for employees who will be working with children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. |
07/01/26 |
Indiana
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Discrimination and Harassment: Civil Procedure |
Amends requirements related to civil actions involving the state civil rights commission. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Workplace Violence |
Requires a healthcare employer to report incidents of workplace battery. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Child Labor |
Repeals the requirement that an employer submit and maintain information about minor employees in the state’s Youth Employment System. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Unemployment |
Updates definitions related to unemployment insurance. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Unemployment |
Codifies certain administrative rules regarding, among other topics, seasonal and part-time workers, contribution rates, and benefit payments to deceased workers. |
07/01/26 |
Kansas
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Independent Contractors: Benefits |
Provides for portable benefit accounts for independent contractors. |
07/01/26 |
Kentucky
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Criminal Background Checks |
Requires an employer to report a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has been convicted of certain misdemeanors. |
07/15/26 |
Louisiana
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Workers’ Compensation; Independent Contractors |
Expands the definition of an "independent contractor" for purposes of workers' compensation. |
08/01/26 |
|
|
Independent Contractors |
Provides for portable benefit accounts for independent contractors. |
08/01/26 |
|
|
Noncompete Agreements |
Prohibits noncompete agreements for interns and apprentices. |
08/01/26 |
|
|
Background Checks |
Provides that qualified private sector entities cannot be provided with expunged criminal records from the state. |
08/01/26 |
|
|
Leaves of Absence |
Requires a private employer to grant a leave of absence to an employee serving as an organ donor or bone marrow donor. |
08/01/26 |
Maine
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Wage Transparency |
Requires employers with 10 or more employees to disclose the pay range for a position in each job posting and to current employees upon request. Read here for more information. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Employee Monitoring and Surveillance |
Requires employers that use employee surveillance to provide notice to employees and candidates for employment; prohibits employers from using audiovisual monitoring in an employee's residence or personal vehicle. Read here for more information. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Civil Procedure: Notification Requirements |
Enhances labor department enforcement powers for violations of state employment laws; requires employers found to be in violation of the law to post a notice of the violation in the workplace. Read here for more information. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Paid Family ⁄ Medical Leave and Insurance |
Clarifies that the state’s paid family and medical leave law does not allow self-insured employers to pool risks with other employers, but allows an employer to share legal, accounting, and administrative costs with multiple employers. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Unemployment: Employer Penalty |
Establishes a monetary penalty for employers whose unemployment payment is returned unpaid. Reasons commonly include insufficient funds, account closure, stop-payment order, or nonexistence of the account. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Drugs and Alcohol |
Modifies requirements related to employer substance use testing policies by replacing “probable cause” testing with “reasonable suspicion” testing. |
07/29/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Noncompete Agreements |
Prohibits employers from requiring or permitting health care practitioners to enter into noncompete agreements in certain circumstances. |
07/29/26 |
Maryland
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Health and Welfare Plans |
Alters the effective dates for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) insurance enrollment. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Staffing Plans |
Requires certain hospitals to establish and maintain a staffing committee and to implement a clinical staffing plan. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Rideshare Operators: Human Trafficking Training |
Prohibits transportation network company (TNC) operators from allowing applicants and license holders to provide TNC services without completing human trafficking awareness training. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Health and Welfare Plans |
Alters the effective dates for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) insurance enrollment. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Staffing Plans |
Requires certain hospitals to establish and maintain a staffing committee and to implement a clinical staffing plan. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Mandatory Meetings (“Captive Audience”) |
Creates the Maryland Worker Freedom Act; prohibits mandatory employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Discrimination and Harassment: Civil Procedure |
Provides that filing an initial discrimination complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights satisfies the prerequisites for commencing a civil action alleging a violation of certain county discrimination laws. |
10/01/26 |
Minnesota
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Disability Discrimination and Accommodation |
Clarifies that failure to engage in the interactive process for disability accommodations may be an unfair discriminatory employment practice. |
08/01/26 |
Mississippi
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
401k ⁄ Retirement ⁄ Pension |
Establishes the Mississippi Work and Save Program; allows employers to offer eligible employees the choice to contribute to an IRA through a payroll deduction. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Health and Welfare Plans |
Allows trade association member employers to purchase health coverage from self-funded association plans. |
10/01/26 |
Missouri
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Website Accessibility: Civil Procedure |
Authorizes the state attorney general to bring suit on behalf of businesses that are subject to abusive litigation alleging that a website or web content fails to comply with the accessibility requirements of the ADA or state disability law. |
08/28/26 |
Nebraska
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Hospitality: Human Trafficking Training |
Requires lodging establishments to display posters relating to human trafficking and provide trafficking recognition training to employees. |
09/17/26 |
|
|
Workplace Safety and Health |
Repeals the requirement that employers must maintain a workplace safety program and workplace safety committees. |
09/17/26 |
|
|
Child Labor |
Creates a registered apprenticeship program for minors aged 16 and older; modifies recordkeeping requirements for employment of minors. |
07/15/26 |
|
|
Reductions in Force (RIFs ⁄ WARN); Healthcare; Non-English Speaking Employees |
Enacts the Nebraska Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; creates the Health Care Staffing Agency Registration Act; amends the Non-English-Speaking Workers Protection Act. Read here for more information. |
07/17/26 |
New Hampshire
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Wage and Hour: Wage Claims |
Extends the time an employer has to file objections to a wage claim from 10 days to 20 days after receiving notice of the claim. |
07/07/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Noncompete Agreements |
Prohibits any contract or agreement that creates or establishes terms of a partnership, employment, or other form of professional relationship with a physician associate. |
07/07/26 |
New Jersey
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Paid Family ⁄ Medical Leave and Insurance |
Lowers the employer coverage threshold under the state Family Leave Act; provides for reinstatement of employees who use state Temporary Disability Insurance or Family Leave Insurance under certain circumstances. Read here for more information. |
07/17/26 |
|
|
New Jersey Final Rule re Independent Contractor Classification (NJAC 12:11) |
Independent Contractors |
Clarifies that the employer has the burden of proof to establish independent contractor status under the applicable regulations and must establish that the services at issue and the individual providing the services meet all three prongs of the regulations. Read here for more information. |
10/01/26 |
New York
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Healthcare: Workplace Violence |
Requires hospitals to establish a violence prevention program consistent with regulatory requirements regarding emergency events and workplace violence standards. |
09/18/26 |
Oregon
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Workplace Safety |
Adopts most of OSHA’s amended standards regarding employer requirements for classified hazards present in the workplace as published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2026; extends multiple compliance dates past the federal standard's effective dates. |
07/01/26 |
South Carolina
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Unemployment |
Employers with delinquent unemployment tax who have a department-approved installment payment agreement may be permitted to pay unemployment compensation tax at the annual rate unless the employer fails to make a deferred payment or fails to submit certain wage reports. |
07/01/26 |
South Dakota
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Noncompete Agreements |
Permits the seller of a business entity to enter into a noncompete agreement with the buyer in certain circumstances. |
07/01/26 |
Tennessee
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Noncompete Agreements |
Prohibits the use of noncompete agreements, except under certain circumstances. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
App-Based Workers |
Requires delivery network companies to collect specific information during the application process, establish a reporting process for customers who suspect their driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, maintain trip and driver records for one year, and conduct criminal background checks on potential drivers. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Immigration |
Provides that it is a Class A misdemeanor and creates strict liability for personal injury or property damage, for an employer to knowingly employ and allow a person unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial vehicle. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Employer Liability |
Provides that employers that subsidize costs of certain childcare services for employees are not liable for harm caused by the childcare provider with certain exceptions. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Wage Payment Obligations |
Sets the limits for timely payment of wages for employees paid on a piece rate or commission basis. |
07/01/26 |
Vermont
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Discrimination and Harassment: Civil Procedure |
Establishes a state cause of action for violations of federal constitutional rights. |
07/01/26 |
Virginia
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
401k ⁄ Retirement ⁄ Pension |
Amends the definition of "eligible employer" for purposes of the state-facilitated IRA savings program; provides penalties for failure to timely submit contributions. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Wage and Hour Penalties |
Provides applicable remedies for violations of certain wage and hour requirements; expands overtime coverage to include home care and long-term care workers. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Tobacco Retailers: Employer Liability |
Makes tobacco product retailers liable for employees' violations of state tobacco retail permitting laws. |
10/01/26 |
|
|
Virginia HB 627(SB 128) |
Healthcare: Noncompete Agreements |
Expands the prohibition on non-competes for low-wage employees to also cover certain health care professionals. |
07/01/26 |
|
Wage Transparency, Salary History |
Requires employers to include the wage range for a position in each job posting; prohibits employers from seeking the wage or salary history of prospective employees. Creates a private right of action. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Discrimination and Harassment: Immigration Status |
Creates a civil penalty for coercion or threat by an employer based on immigration status. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Discrimination and Harassment: Civil Procedure |
Extends the statute of limitations for filing a discrimination complaint; allows a civil action to be filed after making a complaint with a local human rights commission. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Garnishments |
Revises the maximum amount of aggregate disposable earnings that may be subject to garnishment pursuant to a treasurer’s lien. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Child Labor |
Provides that children 14 years and older may be employed at certain summer camps. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Rideshare Operators: Criminal Background Checks |
Requires a transportation network company’s criminal background checks of prospective drivers to include every address at which the driver has resided, not limited to a specific time frame. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Workplace Violence |
Expands workplace violence reporting requirements for hospitals. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Child Labor |
Allows children aged 16 and older to work in voluntary apprenticeships or other work-based learning experiences provided certain conditions are met. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Emergency Responder Leave |
Prohibits retaliation against employees for absence due to serving as voluntary emergency responders. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Noncompete Agreements |
Provides that a noncompete is not enforceable if an employer discharges the employee from employment without providing severance benefits. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Healthcare: Weapons Restrictions |
Prohibits the possession of specified weapons in hospitals that provide mental health services or developmental services. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Workplace Safety and Health: Heat Illness Standard |
Requires employers to adopt heat illness standards promulgated by the Safety and Health Board. Read here for more information. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Garnishments |
Provides the maximum percentage an employer may deduct from an employee’s disposable earnings, as well as the exemptions under certain circumstances. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Anti-Preemption of Local Laws: Successorship Obligations |
Permits local governments to enact right of recall and right of retention laws covering service employees. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Labor Management Relations: Unemployment |
Excludes an employer's lockout from the definition of a labor dispute for purposes of unemployment benefit eligibility. |
07/01/26 |
Washington
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Washington Final Rule re Non-Agricultural Youth Employment Updates (WAC 296-125) |
Child Labor |
DOL amendments to child labor regulations to conform to existing laws. |
07/01/26 |
|
Child Labor |
Permits individuals 16 or 17 years of age that are enrolled in a college, career, or technical education program to work the same number and frequency of hours during the school year as would be permitted during school vacations or holidays. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
App-Based Workers: Notification Requirements |
Requires a transportation network company (TNC) to provide an accessible record system available to drivers. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Child Labor: Wage and Hour Penalties |
Increases penalties for certain child labor violations. |
07/01/26 |
|
|
Immigration: Notification Requirements |
Requires employers to notify employees in the event of a Form I-9 audit; requires employers to post a notice of immigration-related rights in the workplace. |
10/01/26 |
Wyoming
|
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation |
Main Topic |
Summary |
Effective Date |
|
Independent Contractors: Benefits |
Authorizes the establishment of portable benefit accounts for independent contractors. |
07/01/26 |
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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