NEWS OF INTEREST

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NEW LAWS-With every new year there are generally new laws taking effect in New York State.  2025 is no exception to that rule.  Below is a recap of laws that took effect beginning in 2025.

First-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave

This nation-leading policy, proposed in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and signed into law in April, gives workers the ability to take paid leave for any pregnancy-related medical appointments and will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

Effective January 1, 2025, any privately employed pregnant New Yorker will now be able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care. The New York State Department of Labor estimates that about 130,000 pregnant women per year will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers.

The paid prenatal leave benefits are in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave and existing sick leave benefits. The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.

The price of insulin will be cheaper with the Insurance Law

The Insurance Law requires health insurance policies and contracts to cover equipment and supplies for the treatment of diabetes, including prescription insulin.

Beginning January 1, 2025, upon the issuance, renewal, modification, alteration, or amendment of a health insurance policy or contract, cost-sharing for prescription insulin is prohibited pursuant to Part EE of Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2024 (“Chapter 58”).

                     Which health insurance policies and contracts are subject to this law? 

New York In urance Law §§ 3216(i)(15-a), 3221(k)(7), and 4303(u) require insurance policies and contracts delivered or issued for delivery in New York, which provide medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services or provide major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage, to include coverage for equipment and supplies for treatment of diabetes. 

Minimum wage goes up

New Yorkers earning minimum wage will earn an additional $0.50 per hour starting on January 1, 2025.

New York’s minimum wage will increase to $16.50-per-hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $15.50-per-hour for the rest of the state.

Protect students and teachers from extreme heat

Hochul signed legislation to require that all school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. By setting clear guidelines for extreme heat conditions, the bill will help schools ensure their spaces are conducive to student learning, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and provide for the health and safety of all those in their buildings.

Legislation S3397-A/A9011-A establishes 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in classrooms and support services spaces. It requires a plan for the removal of students and staff from these spaces where it is practical for the school district to do so. It also creates a definition of extreme heat condition days as well as a standard to measure room temperature. In addition to the above, school districts will be required to take action to relieve heat related discomfort when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Such actions can include turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening classroom doors and windows, turning off electronics, and providing water breaks.

The Property Maintenance Code of New York State currently requires a minimum temperature of 65 degrees in all workspaces in buildings across the state.

This law will come into force on September 1, 2025.

Law to support workers facing job-related post-traumatic stress

This law will allow any worker to file for workers' compensation for specific types of mental injury premised on extraordinary work-related stress.

Through an agreement with the Legislature, Legislation S.6635/A.5745 will allow any worker to file for workers' compensation for specific types of mental injury premised on extraordinary work-related stress. This expands coverage to all workers in the State of New York; previously, only certain first responders were eligible for such benefits.

This law will come into effect on January 1, 2025.

Bans unnecessary fees for leased cars

Legislation S.4778/A.7167 prohibits the imposition of certain fees at the expiration of a term on a motor vehicle lease which constitutes administrative, clerical or handling charges.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. said: “The law prohibits charging a turn-in fee at the expiration of the term of a vehicle lease, the basis of which is solely for administrative, handling or clerical charges. Both of these new laws are commonsense protections for the consumer.”

This law will come into effect on January 1, 2025.

Canceling your gym membership will be easier

Legislation S.932D/A.4667B requires health clubs accept cancellation of a membership within 10 business days of receiving notice of the cancellation.

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IRS ANNOUNCES ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2025-

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RISING NURSING HOME COSTS-"LOOKBACK"-2025- UPDATE-

New York's 2025 estimates of nursing-home costs show that Nassau and Suffolk, at $14,914 a month are the most expensive counties in the state (New York City is $14,582 per month). Both the LI and NYC estimates are up from last year. The amount is important for those looking to qualify for nursing-home care paid for by Medicaid, but who face an ineligibility period under the "lookback" rule. The rule examines whether the Medicaid applicant, in the five years before applying for Medicaid, gave away monetary gifts or transferred property to make his or her assets small enough to qualify for coverage. (Transfers to a spouse are exempt.) The ineligibility period is calculated by dividing the value of the transferred assets into the monthly cost of nursing-home care. So if someone transferred assets worth $50,000 during the five-year lookback, he or she would be ineligible for Medicaid-paid nursing-home coverage for about four months, meaning the patient or the family of the patient would be responsible for paying the costs until Medicaid kicks in. For more information, click on the Contact Us link above, call or email for an appointment.

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MEDICAID HOME EQUITY LIMIT AT $1,097,000 FOR 2025-

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