Compliance Stuff

New Jersey employers whose workers are on Medicaid health coverage instead of workplace insurance will soon have to pay a new fee. Other states are considering it, too. Democratic lawmakers and governors see it as a way to help pay for the joint federal and state insurance program that covers low-income residents as federal policy changes are expected to make the program more expensive for states and may lead to a reduction in the number of people with coverage. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a measure Tuesday night to charge employers that have at least 50 workers covered by Medicaid , and the state budget she approved earlier in the week counts on raising $145 million this year from the program. Under the plan, companies will be billed for each employee and employee's dependents receiving Medicaid, the joint state-federal insurance program . The fees per person would start at $325 a year for companies with 50 to 249 Medicaid beneficiaries and top out at $725 annually for ...

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced Maryland’s partnership with RAISE US, a national non-profit organization that partners with states, employers, workers, and educators to build workforce infrastructure that supports and trains workers to thrive in an AI economy. The partnership between RAISE US and the state will further the Moore-Miller administration’s work in preparing Maryland workers, employers, and community organizations to succeed in a future shaped by AI and emerging technologies.  “Marylanders are concerned about how quickly artificial intelligence is moving, and they want to know what it means for their jobs, their families, and their future,” said Gov. Moore. “That’s why my administration is moving with urgency to empower and strengthen our workforce with the skills, tools, and resources they need to meet this moment. This partnership with RAISE US builds on our commitment to creating real pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all.” In Maryland, R...

Most employers are prepared for new laws at the start of each year – but did you know that a heap of new workplace laws take effect at the halfway point? Here’s your employer cheat sheet to prepare for all the new laws taking effect in July 2026 (July 1, unless otherwise noted). NOTE: This list should not be relied upon as a comprehensive source for any or all new laws taking effect across the country. Check with your FP attorney to determine whether the jurisdictions in which you operate have additional workplace law changes set to take effect on July 1. Alaska Statewide Minimum Wage Increase. Due to a ballot measure approved by voters in 2024, the minimum wage will increase again to $14 per hour. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Summary of Wage and Hour poster can be found here . Arkansas Arkansas Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act. A law enacted last year ( HB 1717 ) will impose various data privacy and security requirements on covered opera...

Several state and local minimum wage rates will increase on July 1, 2026 . This article provides the state and major locality minimum wage increases for mid-2026 , along with related changes in the minimum cash wage for tipped employees where applicable. The new rates are listed in bold text below. (For rates that took effect earlier this year, see “ 2026 State and Major Locality Minimum Wage Updates .”) 0:00 6:38 Quick Hits Multiple states and major localities across the United States will increase their minimum wage rates in the coming months. Several jurisdictions are also raising the minimum cash wage for tipped workers. PLEASE NOTE: Jurisdictions that will not have—or have not announced—upcoming mid-year increases in their minimum wage rates are not included below. This list includes several major localities with minimum wage rates that will increase in mid-2026. It is not exhaustive of all localities nationwide that may have a mid-year minimum wage rate change. If a jurisdiction...