Updated October 1, 2024

State Constitution

In this year's general election on November 5, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to protect our rights and reproductive freedoms in the New York State Constitution. Voters can vote on a ballot proposal, Proposal 1, which would codify protections for ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, LGBTQ identity, pregnancy and reproductive healthcare including abortion into the law.

• Learn more about the New York Equal Rights Amendment
• Review the official language of Proposal One
 

Arts Workforce

New York’s minimum wage has increased for three years with subsequent increases tied to inflation. On January 1, 2024, the minimum wage increased to $16 in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, and to $15 in all other parts of the State. 

• Review press release on historic agreement to raise NY minimum wage.
• Learn more about New York State’s minimum wage.
• Check out history of New York State minimum wage.
 

Arts Organizations

“A Place at the Table” (A.5100A.6943 / S.5499S.6398) would raise the nonprofit and individual "lobbying threshold” to $10,000 to relieve grassroots organizations from the administrative burden of registering as lobbyists before weighing in on legislation. 

•  Sign on to support Nonprofit New York’s Campaign and review the policy briefing.
 

Senate bill S05714 and Assembly bill A04912 would increase access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation. The bill grants the state council on the arts the power to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of cultural preservation and development, racial and social justice, and performing and fine arts across the state. Additionally, it authorizes the council to accept gifts and contributions to further the educational and equity objectives of the council's programs. 
 

Senate Bill S00253A and Assembly Bill A02563A would direct the State Council on the Arts to establish criteria and guidelines for the establishment of state designated arts and cultural districts that receive state support through technical assistance, marketing expertise, and identification of applicable state resources. 
 

Assembly Bill A06797 would authorize municipalities to establish a history, arts, and culture levy and exempt this levy from the real property tax levy limit.
 

Arts Education

Assembly Bill 1502 and Senate Bill S285 would make arts education a part of the core curriculum for public school students. This opens the door for increased access to funding, inclusive curriculum design, the establishment of partnerships with local artists and arts organizations, and other opportunities. 

• Use NYC Arts Education Roundtable's Template to contact your representatives.

Senate Bill S00260 and Assembly Bill A05023 would direct the state education commissioner to require public school districts to report on compliance with art education instruction requirements.
 

Senate Bill S285 and Assembly Bill A1502 would amend the education law to add arts and music education into NY public school curriculum. 

NY Senate Bill S3207 would incorporate art and music into prekindergarten programs.
 

Freelance Workers

Senate Bill S3192 and Assembly Bill A4821 would establish an Unemployment Bridge Program and fund to provide wage replacement to workers who do not qualify for unemployment insurance or other worker wage assistance programs and who have lost a major source of income due to lost work.  

• Sign the petition from the Fund Excluded Workers Coalition.


In fall 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act (S.5026/A.6040) to provide freelance workers certain protections regarding contracts and timely payments. This is a statewide version of legislation enacted in New York City in 2017. 

• Review the full text of “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act.
• Check out WorkMade’s primer on the law on Instagram.
 

In January 2024, New York Passed the Secure Savings Program for Freelancers (S2399 / A4529), which authorizes freelancers and self-employed individuals the option of enrolling in a secure choice savings program.
 

Healthcare

Coverage For All (A3020B / S2237B) would expand health care coverage to New York residents regardless of their immigration status. The measure would create a state-funded health coverage option for New York state residents who earn up to 200% of the federal poverty line and include undocumented residents.

• Sign the petition.
• Use the Coverage for All template to call or email your representatives.
 

The New York Health Act (A07897 / S7590) proposes to provide comprehensive health coverage for every resident or full-time worker in New York. Learn more and take action to support the Campaign for New York Health. 
 

Senate Bill S6362 and Assembly Bill A6173 would amend insurance law to include outpatient care provided by creative-arts therapists in certain insurance policies covering care for other mental health services. 
 

Disability Justice

Senate Bill S3434 and Assembly Bill A4347 would eliminate provisions exempting employees with disabilities from the minimum wage law and provides that laws or minimum wage orders that authorize an employer to pay a wage that is less than the minimum wage are valid provided that under such laws or orders an employee with a disability is paid the same wage as an employee in a comparable position that does not have a disability.  

Senate Bill S450 and Assembly Bill A3781 would prohibit the imposition of different premium rates for disability insurance based on gender. The bill passed the Senate, and is now in the Insurance Committee in the Assembly.
 

Nassau County passed the nation’s first mask ban, which makes wearing a facial covering in public a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000. The law includes exceptions for health, religious, and cultural purposes. Both Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have publicly expressed support for a ban on masks on the New York City subway. While several mask bans have been introduced on the state and city level, none of them have advanced in the legislature or become law.

• Review NYCLU’s ‘Know Your Rights’ Guide to masking in Nasseau County
• Explore Long Covid Justice’s resource list on resisting mask bans
• Learn more about Governor Hochul’s statements on mask bans