LI, NYC minimum wage rises to $17 an hour, as new state laws go into effect for 2026

ALBANY — For the third year in a row, the state’s minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1.

The wage hike is just one of a slew of new laws going into effect in 2026. Other measures will require health insurance plans to cover auto-injectors for allergic reactions, require schools to develop cardiac emergency plans and mandate food stores and other retailers to accept cash for payment.

New Yorkers earning minimum wage will see their pay rise to $16 an hour across most of the state. Those in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island will see their pay bumped to $17 an hour.

New York’s minimum wage is among the highest in the country, with only a handful of states, like Washington, California, Connecticut and Oregon, with higher pay rates. Washington’s statewide minimum wage will rise to $17.13 an hour, with some cities going even higher. Seattle’s minimum wage will reach $21.30 and the minimum wage in a nearby suburb will be $21.65.

State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said the increased minimum wage is another way the state is increasing affordability.

"With costs rising, this increase is crucial for workers looking to make ends meet," she said in a statement last month.

Starting in 2027, increases to the state minimum wage will be linked to inflation. The increases will be determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the Northeast region — a regional measure of inflation.

But there is already a push for an even higher base pay rate in New York City. Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed raising the minimum wage in the city to $30 an hour by 2030.

Michael Kink, executive director of the Strong Economy For All Coalition, said he expects to see a push to increase the state’s minimum wage.

"The cost of living has exploded all across the state, not just in New York City," he said.

Other measures that will go into effect in 2026 include a requirement that health insurance plans provide coverage for epinephrine auto-injector devices, commonly known by the brand name EpiPen. The cost for the devices will be capped at $100 a year. The devices carry a pre-loaded dose of epinephrine that can be used as an emergency treatment during a severe allergic reaction.

In addition, several other policy measures will take effect in the new year:

Organ donation: Close friends, including primary caregivers, will now be able to authorize the donation of organs if the deceased has not explicitly said whether they want their organs donated and there is no immediate family available to make the decision.

Stores must accept cash: Cash is still king in New York. Starting in March, it will be illegal for stores to reject cash payments. This measure is meant to prevent discrimination against those without regular access to bank accounts.

Farm overtime credit: The threshold for farmers to claim a tax credit for overtime wages paid to employees will increase. It will now cover those wages paid between 52 and 60 hours a week, up from 56 to 60 hours a week. The credit will steadily increase every two years until it covers all overtime hours between 40 and 60 hours a week.

Tuition for Olympic athletes: Olympic hopefuls who train in New York, including international athletes, will now be eligible for in-state tuition. The law is meant to bring New York in line with other states, such as Colorado and Utah, which offer a similar benefit.

Heart attack plans: Schools are now required to have a cardiac emergency response plan. That plan must identify the appropriate personnel and measures to respond when someone suffers a heart attack or similar emergency on school property. The state already requires schools to have automated external defibrillators.

Veteran protections: The new law establishes a process to provide further protection for veterans’ benefits. It criminalizes the practice of charging veterans unlawful fees for benefits assistance. Violations are punishable by civil penalties of up to $10,000. The state is also creating a fund consisting of those penalties that will provide grants to veteran service organizations.

False pretenses: As of next month, the definition of false advertising will be expanded to include a business misrepresenting an affiliation with any government agency.

Medical registries: New York doctors and nurses will be required to notify the state of ALS and frontotemporal degeneration, a common form of dementia, diagnoses and send data to the state Department of Health. The data will be available for researchers to use as they seek improved treatments and potential cures. Patients will be able to opt out of the data collection if they wish.

Cheaper train rides: And although it’s not a law, traveling on the Long Island Rail Road will be cheaper for families with children. The MTA’s "family fare" program is expanding to allow up to four children under the age of 17 with each fare-paying adult to ride for $1. The program is valid any time, every day of the week. The program was previously limited to children under 12.