Enacts the "trapped at work act"

Latest action Dec 19, 2025

Enacts the "trapped at work act"; prohibits the use of employment promissory notes.

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Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A584, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A584, the matching Assembly bill.

Amends the Labor Law.

Committee

Labor · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Labor · New York State Senate, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit reimbursement clauses or promis- sory notes as a condition of employment.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 12, 2025Result: passedSenate vote on A584, the matching Assembly bill.
(38) (21) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(19) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Alex Bores, Amy Paulin and 8 more on Agora

Democratic10

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Rachel May says this is needed

Employers across the state have been trapping employees at work by requiring employment promissory notes a/k/a "training reimbursement agreements" as a condition of employment. Workers desperate for a job will sign these contractual agreements without the advice of counsel, unknowingly being trapped in a position under the threat of legal action should not complete the terms of the contract. Minimum and low-wage workers subject to these agreements are required to "repay" the employer thousands of dollars should they leave the employment due to poor work- ing conditions or anything unrelated to job performance for non-existent "on the job" training while also making money for the employer. This legislation prohibits this practice except under specific conditions, such as where there is true training that must be paid for, property has been sold or leased to the employee, sabbatical leaves and collective bargaining agreements.

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

Dec 19, 2025
Approval MEMO.28
APPROVAL MEMO.28
NY Assembly
Dec 19, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.643
NY Assembly
Dec 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
3RD Reading CAL.1618
3RD READING CAL.1618
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate

Show full history (17 earlier events)

Jun 12, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S4070B
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
Jun 11, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 11, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1618
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1618
NY Senate
Jun 6, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Jun 6, 2025
Rules Report CAL.411
RULES REPORT CAL.411
NY Assembly
Jun 5, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
May 16, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Labor
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Labor
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Apr 17, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Labor
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
NY Senate
Mar 14, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Labor
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Feb 4, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Labor
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Jan 31, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly

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 21, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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