State Laws

Salem, OR – Oregon will soon become the fourth state in the nation to guarantee paid sick leave for workers, under a bill signed into law June 22 by Gov. Kate Brown (D).

Augusta, ME – The Maine Department of Labor has announced the formation of a workgroup to study the state’s drug-testing law and the workplace ramifications of medical marijuana.

Albany, NY – New York lawmakers have agreed to legislation that will strengthen safety and health protections for the state’s nail-salon workers.

Falls Church, VA – Virginia will become the first state in the nation to codify the Voluntary Protection Programs so that it becomes a permanent fixture of the state's workplace safety program, once recently approved legislation is enacted July 1.

Columbia, SC – Proposed legislation in South Carolina would allow employers to opt out of traditional workers’ compensation in exchange for alternative insurance coverage.

Davis, CA – A law intended to minimize nurse-to-patient ratios in California has improved safety among the state’s nurses, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.

Philadelphia – A task force convened by the mayor of Philadelphia has issued a report calling for mandatory paid sick leave for workers.

Boston – Voters in Massachusetts have approved a measure that will provide paid sick leave for many more workers in the state.

Phoenix – As it faces losing its State Plan status, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health is standing by its assertion that the state’s fall protection standard is “as effective as” federal OSHA’s requirement.

Sacramento, CA – Newly signed California legislation seeks to protect subcontracted workers by holding employers who use labor contractors accountable for workplace safety.