Bill > S06531

This bill amends the New York State Executive Law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on caste in various areas of public life, including employment, housing, education, and access to public accommodations. The bill defines "caste" as a social hierarchical structure that assigns individuals social status, roles, privileges, and disadvantages based on birth, typically enforcing hereditary status and limiting social and economic mobility. Specifically, the bill adds "caste" as a protected characteristic alongside existing categories like race, color, national origin, and gender, making it illegal for employers, housing providers, educational institutions, creditors, and others to discriminate against individuals based on their caste. The amendments span multiple sections of the executive law, ensuring that caste-based discrimination is prohibited in hiring, firing, housing rentals, credit applications, internships, and other areas of social and economic interaction. The bill aims to provide legal protection for individuals who might face discrimination based on their ancestral or inherited social status, particularly in contexts where caste-based prejudice has historically been a problem. The changes are comprehensive, covering a wide range of potential discriminatory practices across different sectors of society, and the bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6531