New York Assembly Bill A08044

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/22/25
• Refer: 4/22/25
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Report Pass: 5/12/26
• Refer: 5/12/26
• Report Pass: 5/28/26
• Refer: 5/28/26

Caption

Provides that contractors and subcontractors to cable television companies who are assessed penalties for two separate violations of payroll reporting requirements shall be ineligible to submit a bid on or be awarded any public work contract with the state, any municipal corporation or public body for five years; provides that cable television companies shall be subject to the requirement that workers on certain excavation projects be paid not less than a prevailing rate of wage.

Summary

A08044 amends the Labor Law to impose stronger consequences on contractors and subcontractors working for cable television companies when they violate payroll reporting requirements. Under the bill, if such a contractor or subcontractor is assessed penalties for two separate violations, it would be barred for five years from bidding on or receiving any public work contract or subcontract with the state, a municipality, or another public body. The measure is aimed at repeat violators and adds a procurement-related penalty on top of existing labor-law sanctions. The bill also expands the scope of Labor Law section 224-f, which governs payment standards on certain excavation projects, by expressly including cable television companies within the definition of “utility company.” It further states that cable television companies subject to Public Service Law article 11 remain covered by these excavation-project wage requirements regardless of any contrary language. In practical terms, this would require cable television companies to ensure workers on covered excavation projects are paid at least the prevailing wage, aligning them with other utility companies for this purpose.

Impact

The bill would change New York labor and public procurement law in two main ways: it would create a five-year debarment from public work bidding for repeat payroll-reporting violators tied to cable television companies, and it would extend prevailing-wage excavation requirements to cable television companies. The affected parties include cable television companies, their contractors and subcontractors, public agencies that award contracts, and workers on covered excavation projects. It would also reinforce the role of the Public Service Law definitions by cross-referencing cable television companies into Labor Law provisions.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or recorded support/opposition. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to reflect a pro-worker, enforcement-oriented approach, with a focus on compliance, wage protections, and accountability for repeat labor-law violations. The absence of recorded votes or discussion means the broader legislative sentiment cannot be measured from the available materials.

Contention

The likely points of contention are the expanded regulatory burden on cable television companies and their contractors, especially the five-year ineligibility penalty after two violations and the extension of prevailing-wage rules to excavation work. Supporters would likely view these provisions as necessary to deter repeat violations and protect workers, while opponents may argue that the bill increases costs, limits contractor eligibility for public work, and treats cable television companies like utilities for wage purposes. Because no hearing transcript is available, the specific positions of legislators, labor groups, industry representatives, or public agencies are not documented here.