We pass many laws in the state Assembly and some take effect immediately while others take effect at a later date. Please find highlights below of legislation previously signed into law by the Governor and are now in effect. The summary may not always fully capture what the bill does, so the bill numbers are linked to the full text of the new law for your convenience.

New Laws Taking Effect –February 2022
Effective Date Chapter Bill Number Summary
2/1/2022 Ch. 566 of 2021 A.1899

S.749

 Awards attorney’s fees and expert witness fees in discrimination cases.
2/1/2022 Ch. 568 of 2021 A.5915-A

S.1566-A

 Requires banks to provide written notification that accepting an alternative loan payment schedule may have a negative impact on credit scores.
2/1/2022 Ch. 570 of 2021  

A.702

S.2211

 Prohibits double bunking of incarcerated individuals in dormitory housing within correctional facilities.
2/1/2022 Ch. 577 of 2021 A.7654

S.6707

 Establishes the North Shore water authority to protect, preserve and enhance the quality and quantity of the water within its supply area.
2/3/2022 Ch. 10 of 2020, Sec. 2 A.9057

S.6191-C

 Requires stretch limousines altered prior to January 1, 2021, to be retrofitted within a two-year period with approved seatbelts as

follows: at least two seatbelts for the front seat, at least one rear seat seatbelt for each passenger for which the rear seat was designed, and at least one seatbelt for each passenger seat position.
2/4/2022 Ch. 432 of 2021 A.533

S.1795

 Establishes a program for the use of medication assisted substance abuse disorder treatment for inmates in both state and county correctional facilities.
2/5/2022 Ch. 449 of 2021  

A.5527-A

S.361-A

 Requires Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC’s) to complete certain courses of study or equivalent on-the-job experience including on providing trauma-informed, patient-centered care, referring individuals to appropriate treatments for co-occurring disorders, and sensitivity training.
2/5/2022 Ch. 580 of 2021 A.394-A

S.1834-A

 Requires used car dealers to certify that the vehicle is equipped with an airbag and a readiness

indicator light that indicates the airbag is functioning.
2/5/2022 Ch. 738 of 2021 A.5972

S.5979

 Provides for alternative penalties for a first-time violation of a State Liquor Authority rule or regulation related to administrative or paperwork violations that are determined by the authority to be de minimus under the circumstances.
2/6/2022 Ch. 595 of 2021 A.7302

S.2981

 Creates a firearm violence research institute and a firearm violence research fund.
2/8/2022 Ch. 661 of 2021 A.4662-A

S.1201-A

 Requires the Department of Health to maintain a schedule of when the department will offer competency exams to qualified home care

services workers residing outside the state. It also requires such schedule to be posted on the department’s website.
2/13/2022 Ch. 622 of 2021 A.6466-A

S.1022-A

 Requires the Workers’ Compensation Board to provide for translation of documents and interpretation services and to publish a language access plan.
2/19/2022 Ch. 678 of 2021 A.3516

S.7075

 Requires insurers to provide insureds or subscribers with an explanation of pharmaceutical benefits relating to claims under certain accident and health insurance policies.
2/19/2022 Ch. 687 of 2021 A.6866

S.945-B

 Establishes the anti-discrimination in housing fund and allocates a portion of revenue from fines to the fund.
2/19/2022 Ch. 693 of 2021 A.4651

S.1630-A

 Requires third-party delivery services to have a valid agreement with a merchant before they advertise, promote, or sell the merchant’s products on their platform, and prohibits the inclusion of an indemnity clause in such agreements.
2/19/2022 Ch. 707 of 2021 A.4596

S.4596

 Requires pesticide businesses to submit detailed electronic reports to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
2/20/2022 Ch. 717 of 2021 A.359-A

S.6628-A

 Requires the Workers’ Compensation Board to appoint the Uninsured Employers Fund as the insurance carrier in cases when the identity of the responsible insurance carrier for the employer cannot be determined within 10 days of the filing of a claim and to proceed with hearings and provide notices necessary to process such claim.
2/20/2022 Ch. 719 of 2021 A.597

S.5764

 Requires the State Liquor Authority to provide applicants for a license or permit with a receipt within 15 days. The receipt must include the

date of acceptance and the estimated length of time to process such application after an initial review.
2/20/2022 Ch. 748 of 2021 A.7214-A

S.5868-A

 Allows internet service providers the right to access any building where there is or was telephone service for the purpose of upgrading the existing lines to fiber in order to deploy broadband service.
2/20/2022 Ch. 770 of 2021 A.5836-A

S.1788-A

 Creates a veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention task force to examine, evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide prevention for veterans.
2/20/2022 Ch. 780 of 2021 A.4668

S.4111

 Prohibits health care plans that provide essential benefits under the Affordable Care Act from removing a prescription drug from a formulary or adding new or additional formulary restrictions from a formulary during an enrollment year; also requires notice to policy holders of intent to remove a drug from a formulary.
2/25/2022 Ch. 519 of 2021 A.2666-A

S.13-A

 Enacts the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act, which establishes the crimes of criminal sale of an unfinished frame or receiver in the first and second degrees as class D and E felonies, respectively.
2/27/2022 Ch. 546 of 2021 A.5823-A

S.5023-A

 Requires veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty to the police, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, peace officer, district attorney’s office, animal control officer, department of agriculture and markets, or other appropriate government agency and to turn over necessary records; protects the identity of such veterinarians; and allows such veterinarians to receive a copy of such report.
2/28/2022 Ch. 634 of 2021 A.4522-A

S.5675-A

 Requires warning labels on seasonal and decorative lighting products that contain an electrical cord casing in which lead is present in a quantity greater than 100 parts per million.