Historic Bill Signed This afternoon, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The BNP advocated for this important legislation, which will make critical investments in our roads, bridges, water infrastructure, electric grid, and broadband while allowing our community to pursue landmark projects. Importantly, the
This weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill’s passing is a significant milestone after months of contentious negotiations. The bill would invest in roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, airports, broadband, and the electric grid. It would also enable our region
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.2803/A.5707 into law. This legislation reduces barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals. Curfews are commonly included in probation or conditional discharge sentences. These restrictions can prevent the formerly incarcerated from working second- and third-shift jobs, limiting their job prospects. This is one of many
A new state law goes into effect on November 1, which will change labor relations as they pertain to occupational health. Earlier this year, the state enacted the NY HERO Act. One provision of the bill, which required employers to have infectious disease prevention plans, took effect this summer. The other key
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) released a guide to help employers answer questions related to the new Marijuana Regulations and Taxation Act (MRTA). Earlier this year, the MRTA officially designated cannabis as both a legally consumable product and a lawful recreational activity for adults. View NYS DOL
Late last night, U.S. officials announced plans to reopen the U.S. border to vaccinated, non-essential travelers from Canada and Mexico beginning in early November. The administration told reporters last night that it does not plan to require vaccinated travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test, a notable difference from Canada’s
Unless the state swiftly acts, New York employers may soon face significant unemployment insurance rate increases. New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report detailing the dire financial status of the state’s UI system, confirming concerns that the BNP raised this summer. Use the BNP’s one-click tool to
The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York. On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate. As part of the 2016 state budget, the Legislature approved a gradual minimum
This morning, the U.S. federal government announced that it will be extending its closure to Canadian travelers through October 21. Non-essential Canadian travelers have been banned from entering the U.S. since March 2020. Despite calls from the BNP, numerous members of Congress, and chambers across the nation to open the border, the
What Happened? Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease,” citing rising case numbers and concerns about the delta variant. This declaration is significant because it triggers the NY HERO Act. In June, former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the NY HERO Act, which mandated infectious disease prevention protocols for all employers in