With a spotlight on employee wellness and mental health, largely due to the pandemic, a flurry of proposed legislative changes await the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Three pending Senate bills in particular could have a major impact on workers' compensation laws that have been in effect for decades, as well as significant repercussions for every industry operating in the state.

Senate Bill S9149

Senate Bill S9149 proposes that "no determinations by the workers' compensation board shall be given collateral estoppel effect in any other action or proceeding arising out of the same occurrence, other than the determination of the existence of an employer-employee relationship."