Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Sponsor · State Senator, District 37 · Democratic/Working Families
Senate bill · S2596 (2025-26)
Relates to an individual's right to request a hearing regarding an unemployment insurance benefits claim
Latest action May 5, 2026
Summary
Relates to an individual's right to request a hearing regarding an unemployment insurance benefits claim; provides such a hearing can be requested if benefits or a written notice of determination denying their claim are not received within thirty days of providing all required information.
Your position on this bill
Not chosen yet
Where it stands
Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
New York State Senate
Same as A3053, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Amends the Labor Law.
Committee
Labor · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Labor · New York State Senate.
Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To require the Department of Labor to notify applicants of their right to request a hearing if they do not begin to receive benefits or do not receive a notice of determination denying their claim within thirty days of completing an application, and to allow applicants for unemployment insurance benefits to request a hearing if they do not receive a notice of determination within thirty days of completing an application.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Recorded votes
Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborMar 25, 2026Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborJan 28, 2026Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)
Cosponsors
Lea Webb, Pete Harckham and 2 more on Agora
- Democratic3
- Republican1
The sponsor's argument
Why Shelley Mayer says this is needed
Unprecedented numbers of New Yorkers applying for unemployment assist- ance swamped the Department of Labor early in the COVID-19 pandemic. In the months following the first deluge of claims, many claimants received little or no communication from the Department of Labor for weeks or in some cases months. Even now, several years after devastating job losses began the rush for much needed support, many claimants still do not receive timely determinations regarding their claims. Current law provides a right to a hearing to an unemployment insurance benefit claimant only after receipt of a notice of determination. Where the claimant has neither begun to receive benefits nor received a notice of determination denying benefits, there is no means by which to request a hearing no matter how much time has elapsed since the initial date of application. By allowing individuals to request a hearing if they have not received benefits or notice that their claim has been denied within 30 days of completing an application, this bill will provide claimants with some recourse. Further, providing a right to a hearing when thirty days have elapsed with no decision on benefit eligibility, brings the Department of Labor in line with the eligibility determination time frame for other state- administered benefits such as Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Medical Assistance benefits. All of these programs must make a determination and issue a notice of determination within 30 days of an application for benefits except in certain well-defined circumstances. Where applicants disagree with the determination, or where no determination has been timely issued, applicants have a right to a hearing. Unemployment insur- ance claimants deserve the same consideration.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- May 5, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- May 5, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
- Mar 30, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Mar 26, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (9 earlier events)Show less history
- Mar 25, 2026
1ST Report CAL.655
1ST REPORT CAL.655
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
- Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
- Apr 10, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Apr 9, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- Apr 8, 2025
1ST Report CAL.671
1ST REPORT CAL.671
NY Senate
- Jan 23, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
- Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
About this record
- Summary
The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
- Cosponsors
The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
- Party colors
Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
- Source
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data
Read the record
- Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.