Bill > A01858

This bill amends New York state law to prohibit discrimination based on a person's height or weight in various areas of life, including employment, housing, public accommodations, educational institutions, and credit transactions. The bill expands existing anti-discrimination protections to explicitly include height and weight as protected characteristics, meaning employers, landlords, businesses, schools, and financial institutions cannot discriminate against individuals because of their body size or physical dimensions. The legislation provides detailed definitions of "height" and "weight" that go beyond simple numerical measurements and include broader considerations of body composition, proportions, and visual impressions. While the bill allows for some exceptions when height or weight restrictions are required by federal law or are necessary for safety reasons, it generally aims to prevent bias and unfair treatment based on physical appearance. Employers and other entities would need to make reasonable accommodations and cannot automatically exclude people based on height or weight unless they can prove no alternative actions could allow the person to perform essential job functions. The law would take effect 180 days after its passage, giving organizations time to adjust their policies and practices to comply with the new anti-discrimination provisions.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1858