New Year, New Laws: Here Are 8 That NYC Should Watch In 2019

NEW YORK — New York lawmakers stayed busy in 2018. The City Council passed more than 100 bills, and the state Legislature approved a $168 billion budget with plenty of substantive provisions attached.

Next year could be even busier — Democrats will take control of the entire state Legislature come January, and they have a lengthy legislative wish list. But some statutes will affect New Yorkers before the political deal-making starts in earnest.

Here's a look at eight state and local laws that could affect you in 2019.

A Higher Minimum Wage

New York City finally became the state's first jurisdiction with a $15-per-hour minimum wage on Dec. 31. The new pay floor applies to employers with at least 11 employees under a plan Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed in 2016.

New York joined Seattle and San Francisco in implementing a $15 minimum wage. But smaller employers with 10 or fewer workers will have another year before the higher floor takes hold. The minimum for those firms rose from $12 to $13.50 per hour on New Year's Eve before increasing to $15 on Dec. 31, 2019.

No Cigarettes In Pharmacies

Pharmacies in the five boroughs won't be allowed to sell cigarettes or other tobacco products starting Jan. 1, according to the city's Department of Health. The ban was part of a package of anti-smoking legislation Mayor Bill de Blasio signed in 2017.

The prohibition will also cover supermarkets and big-box stores that have a pharmacy section, the Health Department said. While CVS stores have already stopped selling cigarettes, about 500 pharmacies in the city still sell tobacco products, acccording to the department.

Styrofoam Gets The Boot

The city's ban on single-use styrofoam products will finally be in effect starting Jan. 1 after a three-year fight. Businesses won't be allowed to sell or offer polystyrene foam items such as cups, takeout containers and plates. But there will be a six-month grace period before city officials start issuing fines for violations, and small businesses can apply for an exemption.

The Department of Sanitation initially wanted to ban styrofoam products starting in July 2015, but a pair of lawsuits held up the move. A judge reportedly sided with the city in June, clearing the way for the ban to take hold.

New Fee For Uber Rides — Maybe

The state budget approved this spring included a new surcharge for taxi and for-hire vehicle trips to and from central and lower Manhattan. Under the law that was set to take effect Jan. 1, a $2.75 fee would apply to rides hailed with apps such as Uber, while yellow cab rides would be hit with a $2.50 charge. A smaller 75-cent fee would apply to pool trips.

The measure was meant to reduce traffic congestion in the city's core while helping to fund the MTA. But a state judge blocked it from taking effect on Dec. 20 after several cabbies sued to kill the measure, so the fees won't apply immediately. Arguments in the lawsuit are expected to be heard in January.

Sexual Harassment Training

Starting in April, city employers with at least 15 workers will be required to run annual anti-sexual harassment trainings. The mandate was part of a package of bills aimed at tackling sexual harassment that the City Council passed this spring.

The city's Human Rights Commission says it will create an online program that firms can use to train their employees. But employers can also give their own training as long as it addresses what sexual harassment is, how to report it and other specific topics.

'X' Marks The Gender

New Yorkers who don't identify as male or female can put a gender marker of "X" on their birth certificates starting Jan. 1. New York joins New Jersey, California, Oregon and Washington in offering a gender-neutral option.

Under the law Mayor Bill de Blasio signed in October, New Yorkers can also change their gender marker without needing a doctor to sign off. People born in the city can use a notarized affidavit like the one at this link.

Tougher Airbnb Rules Loom

Airbnb and other home-sharing companies may have to disclose detailed information about their hosts starting early next year. The landmark law, signed by de Blasio in August and due to take effect in February, requires the platforms to share host names, addresses, listing URLs and other information to the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement, which goes after illegal short-term rentals.

Lawmakers touted the measure as a way to protect the city's affordable housing stock. But Airbnb challenged it in federal court in August, putting its future in question. The company called the law "an extraordinary act of government overreach" in its lawsuit.

Possible Test Run For Campaign Finance Rules

More than a dozen people are hoping to replace Public Advocate Letitia James, who was elected the state's attorney general in November. A special election to fill the citywide post is set for Feb. 26.

That race could be the first subjected to new campaign finance rules that voters approved in November, including lower limits for individual contributions and increased public matching for small donations.

The new rules weren't supposed to take effect until the 2021 municipal primaries, but the Council passed a bill on Dec. 20 that would apply them to the upcoming special election. It's currently awaiting de Blasio's signature.

(Lead image: New York City Hall is seen in Manhattan. Photo courtesy of Tim Lee)