S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3983
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to the right of employees to
participate in certain political activities
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "freedom to
rally and engage equitably (FREE) act".
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 201-d of the labor law,
as added by chapter 776 of the laws of 1992, is amended and a new para-
graph f is added to read as follows:
a. "Political activities" shall mean (i) running for public office,
(ii) campaigning for a candidate for public office, [or] (iii) partic-
ipating in fund-raising activities for the benefit of a candidate, poli-
tical party or political advocacy group, OR (IV) ACTIONS INVOLVING
PUBLIC PETITION AND PARTICIPATION;
F. "ACTION INVOLVING PUBLIC PETITION AND PARTICIPATION" SHALL MEAN (I)
ANY COMMUNICATION IN A PLACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR A PUBLIC FORUM IN
CONNECTION WITH AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC INTEREST; OR (II) ANY OTHER LAWFUL
CONDUCT IN FURTHERANCE OF THE EXERCISE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF
FREE SPEECH IN CONNECTION WITH AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC INTEREST, OR IN FURTH-
ERANCE OF THE EXERCISE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF PETITION.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07338-01-5
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