Bill > S01766

This bill amends existing New York civil law to provide additional protections for plaintiffs in discrimination, harassment, or retaliation claims during settlement negotiations. Specifically, the bill requires that when resolving such claims, employers cannot automatically include confidentiality provisions without giving the plaintiff a meaningful choice. The law mandates that any proposed confidentiality term must be provided to all parties, and the plaintiff will have up to 21 days to consider whether they want the underlying facts of the claim to remain confidential. If the plaintiff chooses confidentiality, they must sign an agreement memorializing this preference, and they will then have an additional seven-day window to revoke that agreement. This change aims to give plaintiffs more control over the disclosure of facts in cases involving workplace discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, ensuring they are not pressured into silence without careful consideration. The bill applies to various types of legal resolutions, including settlements, agreed judgments, and stipulations, and covers discrimination claims under multiple legal frameworks, such as New York's executive law.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1766