ALBANY — The 2025 New York State Legislative Session officially adjourned on June 18, 2025.
This session delivered important victories for our union. We led the charge to regulate how artificial intelligence (AI) is used by local governments, school districts and SUNY, ensuring workers aren’t replaced by these new technologies. We were also successful in getting bills done to improve recruitment and retention in the public sector, improve conditions for home-based child care providers and much more.
Here is a short summary of key legislation passed by both the state Assembly and state Senate. These bills still need to be signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to take effect. For more information on these bills and others, visit cseany.org/issues.
Regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Sector
S.7599 (Gonzalez) / A.8295 (Otis)
This bill builds upon last year’s legislative success, the LOADing Act, which protected employees of state agencies and public authorities from displacement due to AI. This bill expands these protections to local governments, school districts, and SUNY and provides transparency by requiring employers to report their use of AI systems.
Operational Safety Plans for State Parks Employees
S.7680 (Serrano) / A.6634 (Kim)
This legislation requires the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation to develop operational safety plans prior to sending employees into hazardous conditions. CSEA took action after the tragic death of Palisades Park Commission Local member Daniel Vasquez, who died responding to a wildfire in Sterling Forest State Park in November 2024. Now, before parks employees are deployed into severe weather, wildfires, or other dangerous situations, the state must fully assess the hazards and ensure that all staff assigned are properly trained, equipped, and supported for all the roles that they are expected to perform.
Aligning Staffing Requirements for Home-Based Child Care Providers
S.4929 (Brouk) / A.4003 (Clark)
This bill aligns infant supervision standards for home-based child care providers, many of whom are represented by CSEA, with the standards for child care centers. This will reduce the burden of excessive staffing requirements on home-based providers and will improve access to infant care across the state.
Providing Appointment Letters to Public Employees
S.5760 (Jackson) / A.6624 (Pheffer Amato)
This legislation requires that when a public employer offers someone a job or promotion, they must provide specific information about the position, including terms of employment, salary, and benefits. This is a common-sense measure that ensures that current and prospective employees have access to all of the information they need to make an informed decision about their employment.