This Week in Albany – September 5, 2025

1. Executive Order on Collective Bargaining

Last week, the Trump administration stripped even more federal employees of their right to have a union and collectively bargain. Under the new directive, President Donald Trump added NASA, the National Weather Service, and agencies within the Department of Commerce to the list of entities excluded from federal labor-management law. Since January, nearly 445,000 federal employees have already lost their union rights under this administration, with another 600,000 at risk in the months ahead. 

Unions and their allies are not standing by quietly. Major lawsuits are already underway to challenge these rollbacks in court. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions have filed suits arguing that the administration’s actions unlawfully strip away long-standing collective bargaining protections and destabilize the civil service. Courts have issued temporary orders in some cases, and appeals are ongoing, with major decisions expected this fall.

At the same time, there is an effort in Congress to reverse these attacks. Bipartisan legislation—the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550)—has been introduced in the House to restore bargaining rights to federal workers. A Senate companion bill (S. 1006) has also been filed, and advocates are pressing for swift action. Broader labor reform legislation, like the PRO Act, would further strengthen the right of workers across the country to organize and bargain collectively.

Thankfully here in New York, we have a governor who continues to fully support the rights of all workers to form and have a union at work.

2. Special Election in Assembly District 115

Last week, Assemblyman Billy Jones resigned from his position representing the 115th Assembly District. While Governor Hochul has not yet announced the date for a special election, it is expected to align with the general election in November. The 115th Assembly District, which includes parts of Clinton, Franklin, and Essex counties, will remain vacant until the special election. Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman (D) and New York State Trooper Brent Davison (R) are running for the open seat. 

3. Congressman Nadler Announces Retirement

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents parts of Manhattan in New York’s 12th Congressional District, announced on Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Nadler is retiring after 34 years in office. Nonprofit founder Liam Elkind and Assemblyman Micah Lasher have officially entered the race. Several other potential challengers have been floated, including former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, Assemblyman Alex Bores, Assemblyman Tony Simone and John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg. 

4. New Laws Taking Effect

As students return to classrooms this week, three new laws have taken effect that impact schools districts:

1. Cardiac Emergency Response Plans: This new law requires all school districts andvBoards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to establish plans to respond to incidents involving sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on any site owned or operated by a school or at a location of a school sponsored event.
2. Bell-to-Bell Device Ban: This new law prohibits K-12 students from using their cellphones and any other internet-connected personal devices throughout the entire school day. The ban applies to all public schools, charter schools, and BOCES. Each school district submitted a plan outlining their use policies. You can read your local school district’s plan here. 
3. Maximum Temperature in School Buildings: This new law sets 88 degrees as the maximum temperature for occupancy of all spaces used by students in public school buildings. The law also mandates that school boards create a policy that requires staff to try to “relieve heat-related discomfort” whenever the temperature of an occupied room reaches 82 degrees.

5. CSEA Legislative Toolkit

We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. You can also check out our summary of the 2025-2026 New York State Budget.

	Civil Service Victories:		K-12 Victories:		Health Care Victories:
	SUNY Victories:		Local Government Victories:		OPWDD & OMH Victories:
	Child Care Victories:		Work Zone Speed Cameras:		DMNA 25-Year Retirement: