Bill > S04319

This bill establishes new legal requirements for consumer and employment contracts in New York, focusing on improving contract clarity and protecting consumers' and employees' rights. The legislation addresses contracts that are written in overly complex language or have terms scattered across multiple documents, aiming to ensure that parties can meaningfully understand the agreements they are entering. Specifically, the bill requires contracts to be written in plain language that a reasonable consumer or employee can comprehend, with all material terms contained in a single document. If a contract fails to meet these standards, a consumer or employee can seek a court order to reform the agreement, potentially removing terms that are not clearly written or located in separate documents. The bill explicitly applies to consumer and employment contracts, but notably excludes agreements negotiated through collective bargaining with labor unions. Contracts will still be subject to existing rules about contract formation and assent, but now with an added layer of protection against intentionally obscure or fragmented contract language. The law will take effect 180 days after it becomes law, giving businesses time to adjust their contract practices.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4319