NYECA's most significant victory this session was the successful effort to again stop passage of legislation that would have dramatically increased New York's Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program. Throughout the legislative session, NYECA worked closely with a broad coalition of businesses, construction, and employer trade organizations to educate lawmakers on the substantial cost increases the bill would impose on employers, particularly self-insured plans such as the Electrical Employers Self-Insurance Safety Plan (EESISP).
The legislation ultimately failed to advance before the legislature adjourned, preserving the existing benefit structure and avoiding significant new financial burdens on NYECA members. NYECA remains vigilant, as supporters of the proposal have already indicated they intend to continue pursuing TDI legislation next year. And while NYECA strenuously objected to this legislation, we have consistently maintained that we could support a more modest increase in TDI benefits that includes special consideration for the unique impact on self-insured disability plans like EESISP.
NYECA is pleased to report that a federal court has issued a preliminary injunction preventing implementation of New York's controversial offsite prevailing wage law while litigation challenging the statute proceeds. The law expands prevailing wage requirements to certain offsite custom fabrication work performed in connection with public construction projects. Industry groups argued that the statute raises significant constitutional and federal preemption concerns and would create substantial compliance burdens for contractors, subcontractors, and manufacturers throughout the construction supply chain. The court's decision temporarily halts enforcement while the merits of the case are considered.
NYECA continues to closely monitor developments in the litigation given the potentially significant impact the law could have on electrical contractors, suppliers, and fabrication facilities throughout New York State. In the meantime, implementation of the controversial new law is officially suspended.
With the 2026 legislative session concluded, NYECA's advocacy efforts have shifted towards meeting with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board regarding annual fee assessment relief for the EESISP programs. With the imprimatur of legislation now introduced in both houses, NYECA will renew discussions with the Workers' Compensation Board to explore possible regulatory and administrative solutions that would provide meaningful assessment relief to the EESISP plan. These conversations will build upon the strong legislative support demonstrated this year, including the introduction of NYECA's assessment relief legislation and productive discussions with key labor committee leadership.
NYECA will continue working with both legislative and administrative stakeholders to advance this priority issue during the remainder of the year.
The following NYECA-tracked bills passed both houses of the legislature in the 2026 regular session: