Arkansas
Seller Exemption
Effective July 30, 2021, Direct Sellers (individuals engaged in a trade or business that sells consumer products in the home, delivers newspapers) are exempt from wage and hour laws, workers compensation law and unemployment insurance. AR S.B. 547
California
Safety Precautions
On June 8, 2021, the State Health Department moved the following counties into the yellow tier: Alameda, Napa, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Stanislaus County transitioned from red to orange.
Marin County
On June 8, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved paid sick leave for companies with less than 25 employees. The law grants tax credits to participant businesses.
Connecticut
Breastfeeding in the Workplace
Effective October 1, 2021, Gov. Ned Lamont approved legislation to allow an employee to express breast milk or breastfeed on site at her workplace during her meal or break period. Employers are required to provide a room or other location, in close proximity to the work area, other than a toilet stall, where the employee can express her milk in private. In addition, an employer is prohibited from discriminating, disciplining or taking any adverse employment action against any employee because the employee has elected to exercise her rights.
Delaware
Safety Precautions
On June 13, 2021, Gov. John Carney announced an extension to the State’s COVID-19 emergency order through July 13, 2021.
Florida
Disney World
Effective June 15, 2021, vaccinated park visitors are no longer required to wear face masks.
Insurance Reform
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 76, restructuring litigation rules for disputed insurance claims that disallows contractors, public adjusters, and companies from using prohibited advertisements that encourage individuals to make an insurance claim for roof damage, and imposes a fine of up to $10,000 when companies violate the law.
Georgia
Training
On June 9, 2021, Gov. Brian Kemp announced a collaborative initiative between the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE), the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide cloud computing training and education to 5,500 learners by 2024. Through this initiative, high schools and technical colleges in Georgia will offer cloud computing courses and credentials that align with skills needed to pursue in-demand technical careers.
Hawaii
Safety Precautions
On June 7, 2021, Gov. David Ige released a series of vaccination benchmarks for gatherings and restaurants, social gathering and capacity restrictions will end once 70% of residents are fully vaccinated.
Illinois
City of Chicago
On June 10, 2021, Mayor Mary Lightfoot announced that the City transitioned into Phase 5 of the States reopening plan.
Indiana
City/Council of Indianapolis
On June 7, 2021, the City-County Council rescinded its mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals and increased capacity limits for indoor service at restaurants, bars, fitness Centers/gyms and libraries (75% capacity).
Marion County
On June 8, 2021, County Health Department announced that the mask mandate had terminated but businesses may still require masks at their locations.
Kansas
Grants
On June 9, 2021, Gov. Laura Kelly announced the 105 counties and 10 metropolitan cities receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the American Rescue Plan (ARPA).
Platte County
On June 12, 2021, the Board of Trustees adopted rules that masks are not required for individuals 2 weeks after they have been fully vaccinated.
Louisiana
City of Shreveport
On June 8, 2021, the City Council voted to ban discrimination based on natural or race related hairstyles including locs, cornrows, twists, braids, bantu knots, afros, and any hairstyle in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled.
Maine
Safety Precautions
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Janet Mills announced that the state of emergency would terminate on June 30, 2021.
Maryland
Employee Leave
Effective October 1, 2021, the Flexible Leave Act is amended to provide employees with paid bereavement leave to use upon the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family. MD H.B. 56
Washington County
On June 7, 2021, the County announced that their state-of-emergency would terminate on June 14, 2021.
Anne Arundel County
On June 9, 2021, County Executive Steuart Pittman ended the County’s COVID-19 state-of-emergency.
Missouri
Prescription Drugs
On June 7, 2021, Gov. Mike Parson signed MO S.B. 63 creating a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. The legislation is designed to collect and maintain the prescription and dispensation of prescribed controlled substances to patients.
Montana
Independent Contractor
Effective October 1, 2021, the State’s workers’ compensation law is amended to provide a person who falsely claimed, to have an independent contractor certification may not be considered to be an employee solely based on not actually having an independent contractor exemption certificate. The burden of proof that an independent contractor is certified rests with the independent contractor and not the hiring entity. MT S.B 367
Nebraska
Service Animals
Effective August 28, 2021, the State amends the language of its service animals’ law to protect the right of a person with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal especially trained for that purpose. NE L.B. 540
Nevada
Job Applicants
Effective October 1, 2021, employers are prohibited from seeking an applicant’s wage/salary history when making hiring decisions or determining pay for an applicant. In addition, an employer must interview, hire or employ an applicant if they do not provide pay history. NV S.B. 293
Employee Leave
Effective October 1, 2021, the Kin Care Leave Law requires an employer to provide an employee with sick leave to allow an employee to use accrued sick leave for an absence due to an illness, injury, medical appointment or other authorized medical need of a member of the employee’s immediate family under the same conditions that apply to the employee when taking leave. NV A.B. 190
New Hampshire
City of Portsmouth
Effective July 7, 2021, the City Council voted to terminate its mask mandate originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2021.
New Jersey
Cannabis
On June 11, 2021, the Cannabis Regulatory Committee announced that municipalities have until August 21, 2021 to determine if they will opt in or opt out of the sale of cannabis within their jurisdiction.
Utility Extension
On June 14, 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy ended the moratorium on utility shutoffs effective July, 1, 2021. However, a six-month grace period has been established.
New York
Safety Precautions
On June 7, 2021, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted when 70% of individuals aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. The state’s program “New York Forward” that provides industry specific guidelines that include; capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing, will become optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings.
North Carolina
Safety Precautions
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper extended his mask requirement for “at risk” settings (public transportation, schools, health care and child care facilities).
Health Insurance
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper signed NC S.B. 248 requiring insurance cards to contain the following information; copayments, phone number, website address, and whether the health benefit plan is a fully insured or self-funded plan. Plans that are fully insured shall be noted by using the phrase “fully insured” to indicate to the consumer that the Department is able to provide assistance regarding the regulation of the plan.
Ohio
City of Columbus
On June 8, 2021, Mayor Andrew Ginther terminated the City’s mask mandate aligning with guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC.
Oregon
Safety Precautions
Effective June 11, 2021, the State has updated its specific county risk level. County information can be found here.
Pennsylvania
Safety Precautions
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation that extends critical components of the COVID-19 disaster declaration emergency.
Pennsylvania
City of Philadelphia
On June 11, 2021, the City’s “safer at Home” program ended. Moving forward individuals are not required to wear a mask and restaurants can stay open after 11:00 p.m.
Rhode Island
Effective June 6, 2021, Gov. Daniel McKee extended his supplemental emergency order through July 25, 2021.
South Carolina
Richland County
On June 5, 2021, the County Council allowed its mask mandate to lapse.
Beaufort County
On June 8, 2021, the County allowed its COVID-19 emergency orders to terminate.
Texas
COVID-19 Documentation
On June 7, 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott signed TX S.B. 968 prohibiting a business or state/local government from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Safety Precautions
On June 7, 2021 Gov. Greg Abbott extended the State’s disaster declaration through the end of June.
City of Arlington
On June 8, 2021, the City Council voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity to its housing discrimination ordinance.
City of Austin
On June 10, 2021, the City Council voted to provide rental assistance to keep individuals from being evicted.
Vermont
Safety Precautions
On June 14, 2021, Gov. Phil Scott announced that 80% of eligible state residents received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine allowing him to end the State’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Virginia
Grants
On June 11, 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam announced a new $3 million investment program the “Return to Earn Grant Program”, which will match payments from eligible small businesses to provide new hires with up to $1,000 to support their transition back into the workforce.
Washington
City of Spokane
On June 7, 2021, the City Council voted to end its COVID-19 local emergency.
Wisconsin
City of Milwaukee
Effective June 8, 2021, Mayor Tom Barrett permitted the City’s mask mandate to terminate aligning with CDC Guidelines.