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Legislative updates
A rolling feed of federal, state, and municipal updates that change how a SafestHires program operates. Each entry includes the citation, the effective date, and the concrete employer action our compliance team is taking on behalf of clients.
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Every entry in the feed, with its citation and effective date. Choose a jurisdiction above to open the matching entries, or expand the full index below.
Show all 85 tracked updates
- Washington — Washington Fair Chance Act amendments take effect for employers with 15+ employeesRCW 49.94 (as amended by E2SHB 1747, Laws of 2025) · Effective July 1, 2026 (15+ employees); January 1, 2027 (fewer than 15)
- Virginia — Virginia Clean Slate sealing and employer inquiry ban take effectVa. Code §§ 19.2-392.13, 19.2-392.15, 19.2-392.16 · Effective July 1, 2026
- Delaware — Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act expansion — AI and automated decision-making obligationsDel. Code tit. 6, §§ 12D-101 et seq. (as amended, 2026) · Effective June 22, 2026
- Federal — DOT confirms no safe harbor for state-licensed marijuana in safety-sensitive drug testing49 C.F.R. Part 40; DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Notice, June 2026 · Effective June 22, 2026
- Illinois — IDHR enforcement guidance on HB 3773 — AI in employment decisions775 ILCS 5/2-102(L) (added by HB 3773); IDHR Enforcement Guidance 2026-02 · Effective January 1, 2026 (statute); June 10, 2026 (IDHR enforcement guidance)
- California — California Executive Order on AI's impact on workersCalifornia Executive Order (June 2026); Cal. Lab. Code implementation · Effective June 5, 2026
- Connecticut — Connecticut SB 5 — AI disclosures including resume screeningConn. Public Act No. 26-XX (SB 5, 2026 session) · Effective June 5, 2026 (signing); phased effective dates through 2027
- Illinois — IDHR opens public comment on AI-in-employment regulationsIDHR Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2500 (proposed) · Effective June 5, 2026 (comment period opens)
- Federal — CFPB advisory opinion on adverse-action timing in tenant + employment screeningCFPB Advisory Opinion 2026-03; 15 U.S.C. § 1681b(b)(3) · Effective June 1, 2026
- Colorado — Colorado AI Act effective date moved to January 1, 2027Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 et seq. (as amended by SB 189, 2026) · Effective January 1, 2027 (new effective date)
- New Jersey — NJDOL guidance on CREAMM Act WIRE certificationNJDOL Guidance Bulletin 2026-04; N.J.S.A. 24:6I-52 · Effective May 14, 2026
- Washington — Washington State expands Fair Chance hiring obligationsWash. Rev. Code § 49.94 (as amended, 2026 session) · Effective July 1, 2026
- Connecticut — Connecticut AI hiring disclosure law and companion data privacy billConn. Public Acts 26-XX (AI hiring); Conn. Public Acts 26-YY (data privacy companion) · Effective May 8, 2026 (signing); staggered effective dates
- International — EU reaches agreement to delay high-risk AI compliance deadlinesRegulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), as amended by the 2026 political agreement · Effective May 8, 2026 (political agreement); revised phased dates
- Virginia — Virginia may require expanded background-check rules for TNCsVa. Code § 46.2-2099.49 (proposed amendments, 2026) · Effective Pending — 2026 effective date under review
- Los Angeles County, CA — Fair Chance Ordinance for unincorporated LA County in forceL.A. County Code Title 8, Div. 3, Ch. 8.300 (Fair Chance Ordinance) · Effective April 22, 2026 (enforcement); September 3, 2025 (adoption)
- Colorado — DOJ and xAI sue to block Colorado's high-risk AI employment screening lawUnited States v. Colorado, D. Colo., filed April 2026 · Effective April 30, 2026 (litigation filed)
- Oklahoma — Oklahoma expands employer drug-testing authority for marijuanaOkla. Stat. tit. 40, § 551 et seq. (as amended, 2026) · Effective November 1, 2026
- Arizona — Arizona launches statewide Second Chance initiative for record sealingAriz. Rev. Stat. § 13-911 et seq.; Governor's Second Chance Initiative (2026) · Effective April 24, 2026
- Wisconsin — Wisconsin Governor opens nine-month commutation windowWis. Const. art. V, § 6; Governor's Commutation Announcement (2026) · Effective April 24, 2026 (window opens)
- Federal — ICE reclassifies common I-9 errors as substantive violationsICE Guidance on I-9 Substantive Violations, April 2026 · Effective April 24, 2026
- Federal — DOL proposed joint employer rule expressly excludes background checks29 C.F.R. Part 791 (proposed amendments, April 2026) · Effective Proposal — comment period April 24, 2026
- California — California CDL employers must now register with EPN electronicallyCal. Veh. Code § 1808.1; DMV Employer Pull Notice Program guidance (2026) · Effective April 24, 2026
- New York — Reminder: New York State bans employment credit checks — effective April 18N.Y. Lab. Law § 201-i (added 2026) · Effective April 18, 2026
- International — EU Digital Omnibus enters trilogue — proposed AI Act amendments on fast trackEU Digital Omnibus proposal (2026); Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · Effective April 16, 2026 (trilogue opens)
- International — Vietnam AI Law takes effect — third jurisdiction with comprehensive AI legislationVietnam Law on Artificial Intelligence (2026) · Effective April 16, 2026
- Federal — New Executive Order targets DEI practices by federal contractorsExecutive Order on Contractor DEI Practices (April 2026) · Effective April 10, 2026
- Virginia — Virginia enacts new CRA obligations on sealed recordsVa. Code § 19.2-392.6 et seq. (as amended, 2026) · Effective April 2, 2026
- Colorado — Colorado proposes to replace AI bias audit requirements with transparency frameworkColo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 et seq. (proposed amendments, 2026) · Effective Proposed — 2026
- Federal — White House releases national AI legislative recommendations to CongressWhite House Report on National AI Legislative Recommendations (March 2026) · Effective March 27, 2026
- International — Germany advances national AI enforcement law under the EU AI ActDraft Bundesgesetz zur nationalen Durchsetzung der KI-Verordnung (2026) · Effective Draft — 2026
- Washington — WA SB 5793 — pre-employment cannabis testing limits expandedWash. Rev. Code § 49.44.240 (as amended by SB 5793, 2026 session) · Effective March 7, 2026
- Federal — DOL proposes rule to lower the bar for independent contractor classification29 C.F.R. Part 795 (proposed amendments, February 2026) · Effective Proposal — comment period February 27, 2026
- Illinois — IDES rule on Equal Pay Act pay-scale posting enforcement820 ILCS 112/10(b-20); IDES rule 56 Ill. Adm. Code 320 · Effective February 19, 2026
- California — California court: applicant can sue over listing of too many CRAs in disclosure formCal. Civ. Code § 1786 et seq. (ICRAA); California appellate decision (Feb 2026) · Effective February 13, 2026
- Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania court confirms criminal-data requirements apply to self-disclosures18 Pa. C.S. § 9125; Pennsylvania appellate decision (Feb 2026) · Effective February 6, 2026
- International — Jamaica widens access to expungementJamaica Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Act, 2026 · Effective February 6, 2026
- California — California: plaintiffs can sue under ICRAA without proof of separate injuryCal. Civ. Code § 1786 et seq. (ICRAA); California appellate decision (Jan 2026) · Effective January 30, 2026
- Maine — Maine enacts new employer surveillance transparency lawMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 26 (as amended, 2026 session) · Effective January 30, 2026
- Ohio — New Ohio law mandates E-Verify use in nonresidential constructionOhio Rev. Code § 4111.99 (as amended, 2026) · Effective January 23, 2026
- Illinois — Illinois amends Clean Slate Act — expanded automatic sealing20 ILCS 2630 (as amended, 2026 session) · Effective January 23, 2026
- Federal — DOT random drug testing rates for CDL drivers remain unchanged for 202649 C.F.R. § 382.305; FMCSA 2026 Annual Notice · Effective January 16, 2026
- New Jersey — New Jersey adopts new anti-discrimination rules in employmentN.J.A.C. 13:13 (as amended, 2026) · Effective January 9, 2026
- New York — New York State restricts employer use of credit historyN.Y. Lab. Law § 201-i (added 2026) · Effective January 9, 2026 (signing); April 18, 2026 (effective)
- Federal — EEOC update — Strategic Enforcement Plan continues focus on criminal-history useEEOC Strategic Enforcement Plan FY 2026-2030; EEOC Enforcement Guidance 915.002 (2012) · Effective January 8, 2026
- Illinois — Illinois updates workplace privacy law for E-Verify mismatch notices820 ILCS 55 (as amended, 2025 session) · Effective December 19, 2025
- New York City — NYC FCA 2.0 amendments — adverse-action mailingNYC Admin Code § 8-107(11-a); 2025 amendment package · Effective December 12, 2025
- Federal — Trump Administration signs AI Executive Order placing lawmaking onus on CongressExecutive Order on AI Policy (December 2025) · Effective December 12, 2025
- Pennsylvania — Delaware County, PA enacts Human Relations OrdinanceDelaware County, PA Human Relations Ordinance (2025) · Effective December 12, 2025
- California — New California pay transparency requirements take effect in 2026Cal. Lab. Code § 432.3 (as amended, 2025) · Effective January 1, 2026
- International — Ontario will require AI transparency in job postingsOntario Working for Workers Act, AI Transparency Amendments (2025) · Effective November 21, 2025
- International — German employer online criminal history search lacked lawful basis under GDPRGDPR Art. 6, Art. 10; German DPA enforcement decision (Nov 2025) · Effective November 14, 2025
- Colorado — CRS 8-2-130 amendment — pay transparency in remote postingsColo. Rev. Stat. § 8-2-130 (as amended, 2025) · Effective November 1, 2025
- Massachusetts — MA Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act — pay-range posting in forceMass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 105F (added by Ch. 141 of the Acts of 2024) · Effective October 29, 2025 (pay-range posting); February 1, 2025 (large-employer reporting)
- California — California expands CRD procedural powers to enforce FEHACal. Gov. Code § 12960 (as amended, 2025) · Effective October 24, 2025
- Connecticut — Connecticut resumes Clean Slate implementationConn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142u (Clean Slate implementation) · Effective October 24, 2025
- Federal — DOT drug panels will soon include fentanyl49 C.F.R. Part 40 (proposed amendment adding fentanyl) · Effective October 24, 2025 (announcement); phased laboratory rollout
- California — California Governor vetoes 'No Robo Bosses Act'SB 7 'No Robo Bosses Act' (vetoed October 13, 2025) · Effective N/A (vetoed)
- Federal — EEOC has a quorum after Senate confirmationEEOC composition; Senate confirmation of third Commissioner (October 2025) · Effective October 17, 2025
- Pennsylvania — Chester County, PA enacts its first Human Relations OrdinanceChester County, PA Human Relations Ordinance (2025) · Effective October 10, 2025
- Pennsylvania — Philadelphia expands its Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards OrdinancePhila. Code § 9-3500 et seq. (as amended, 2025) · Effective October 10, 2025
- Federal — EEOC closing all pending disparate impact investigationsEEOC Enforcement Guidance (October 2025) · Effective October 3, 2025
- California — California finalizes FEHA rules on use of AI in employment2 CCR § 11008 et seq. (as amended, 2025) · Effective October 3, 2025
- California — California approves new CCPA rules on automated decision-making technologyCal. Civ. Code § 1798.185 (CCPA); CPPA ADMT Rules (approved 2025) · Effective October 3, 2025 (approval); phased effective dates
- Illinois — Illinois regulates employers' use of AI (HB 3773 signing coverage)775 ILCS 5/2-102(L) (added by HB 3773) · Effective January 1, 2026 (statute)
- Federal — Employers face sudden changes to H-1B visa requirementsUSCIS H-1B Policy Announcement (September 2025) · Effective September 22, 2025
- Washington — Washington Supreme Court broadly defines 'job applicant' under EPOAWash. Rev. Code § 49.58; Washington Supreme Court decision (Sep 2025) · Effective September 22, 2025
- North Carolina — North Carolina extends expiration of certain regular driver's licensesNCDMV Announcement extending certain driver's license expirations (2025) · Effective September 4, 2025
- Oregon — Oregon expands age-related protections for applicantsOr. Rev. Stat. § 659A.030 (as amended, 2025) · Effective September 4, 2025
- Colorado — Update on Colorado legislators' latest efforts to implement CO AI lawColo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 et seq. · Effective September 4, 2025 (interim update)
- Pennsylvania — Allentown, PA's revised anti-discrimination lawAllentown, PA Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (2025 rewrite) · Effective July 2025
- Federal — DOJ DEI guidance directed to recipients of public fundsDOJ 'Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination' (July 29, 2025) · Effective July 29, 2025 (memo); August 21, 2025 (industry coverage)
- Washington — Washington new law bars driver's license as a general employment requirementWash. Rev. Code § 49.44 (as amended, 2025) · Effective July 27, 2025
- Washington — Amendments to the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities ActWash. Rev. Code § 49.58 (as amended, 2025) · Effective July 27, 2025
- Minnesota — Minnesota expands medical cannabis protections for employees and tenantsMinn. Stat. § 152.32 (as amended, 2025) · Effective August 21, 2025
- Iowa — Iowa amends drug testing requirements for private-sector employeesIowa Code § 730.5 (as amended, 2025) · Effective August 21, 2025
- Ohio — Cleveland's pay transparency law goes into effect this fallCleveland Codified Ordinances Ch. 669 (Pay Transparency, 2025) · Effective October 27, 2025
- Colorado — Colorado lawmakers revisit implementation of AI law in special sessionColo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 et seq. · Effective August 21, 2025 (special session)
- Federal — Federal AI developments — 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' signed without AI moratorium'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (signed July 4, 2025) · Effective July 4, 2025
- Federal — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau scales back regulatory frameworkCFPB Regulatory Actions (2025) · Effective August 15, 2025 (industry coverage)
- Federal — EEOC guidance and enforcement in the Trump AdministrationEEOC Enforcement Guidance (2025); Supreme Court affirmative-action decisions · Effective August 15, 2025 (industry coverage)
- Federal — DOL pauses enforcement of Biden-era independent contractor rule29 C.F.R. Part 795; DOL Field Assistance Bulletin (2025) · Effective August 15, 2025
- Texas — Texas enacts its first statewide ban-the-box lawTexas HB 2466 (89th Leg., R.S., 2025) · Effective September 1, 2025
- Colorado — Colorado HB 25-1291 — TNC screening regulation strengthenedColo. Rev. Stat. § 40-10.1-601 et seq. (as amended by HB 25-1291, 2025) · Effective August 15, 2025 (industry coverage)
- Texas — Texas HB 4215 establishes new background screening regulationsTex. Bus. & Com. Code (as amended by HB 4215, 2025) · Effective August 15, 2025 (industry coverage)
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