Wages
Maryland – Last year, the state approved a $15/hr minimum wage increase by 2025 for large employers and 2026 for employers with 15 or fewer workers. Lawmakers from the western part of the state recently introduced a carve out for their region, delaying implementation for two years in Allegany and Garrett counties.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Ohio – The state AFL-CIO has put its considerable weight behind a pending ballot initiative to raise the state minimum wage to $13/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Vermont – House leaders delayed a vote to override the governor’s veto of compromise legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $12.55/hr by 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Colorado – The state approved two initiatives for the Nov. ballot that would mandate between 12 and 16 weeks of paid parental and family leave.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Hawaii – A bill that extends the current paid family leave law from 4 to 16 weeks passed an additional senate committee this week as it continues toward passage.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Minnesota – Legislation to create a new paid family leave program passed out of a house committee.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Virginia – Legislation is pending in the house that would mandate one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked up to 40 hours annually. The companion bill has already passed the senate.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
New Jersey – The governor announced this week that he supports legislation that would require employers to conduct sexual harassment and discrimination trainings.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Washington – A number of controversial bills are unlikely to advance this year, including a restrictive scheduling proposal and private right to action legislation.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Philadelphia, PA – The city approved a measure for the April ballot that would create a local labor department. The agency will be tasked with enforcing the city’s minimum wage, paid leave, scheduling mandate and portable benefits regime, among other areas of employment law.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Wendy’s – The company reached a $400,000 settlement with the attorney general’s office over alleged child-labor violations at 46 locations throughout the state. This is the second major brand so far this year that has become the target of the attorney general over child labor.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Scheduling
New York City, NY – The state supreme court upheld the city’s restrictive scheduling mandate, ruling that it is not preempted by state law.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Taxes
California – The business community is leading the effort to oppose a Nov. ballot initiative, Proposition 13, that will essentially create a split roll tax system in the state, removing the caps on commercial property tax rates.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Packaging
Maine – The environment and natural resources committee will hear a first-of-its-kind product stewardship bill Feb. 26. It would mandate that franchisor’s are responsible for recycling non-compostable single-use items at locations in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Kearny, NJ – The town council unanimously voted to ban single-use plastic bags and mandate businesses either provide recyclable bags or sell reusable bags for at least $.10.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
Oregon – Legislation was defeated in a house committee that would have allowed drivers for third-party food delivery companies to be permitted as bartenders so they could deliver alcohol. Alcohol delivery is legal in the state but only by licensed providers (typically, retailers). This bill would have expanded that certification to providers like DoorDash and UberEats.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe