On April 2, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced the 2021 New York State Budget which includes a statewide paid sick leave law. The new law states, in summary, as follows: 

• Every employer is required to provide employees with annual sick leave beginning on January 1, 2021; the amount and pay required is dependent on the number of employees:

• Employers with four (4) or fewer employees and a net income of less than one (1) million dollars in the prior tax year must provide up to forty (40) hours of unpaid sick leave per year. 
• Employers with 5-99 employees (and employers who have four (4) or fewer employees and a net income greater than one (1) million dollars) must provide up to forty (40) hours of paid sick leave per year. 
• Employers with a 100 or more employees must provide fifty-six (56) hours of paid sick leave per year.

• Sick leave accrues at a rate of one (1) hour for every thirty (30) hours worked. Employers may provide all of the required hours at the beginning of the year. 

• Employees may use sick leave under the following circumstances:

• Employee has a a mental or physical illness or injury (regardless if it has been diagnosed or employee requires medical care). 
• To care for a family member who has an illness or injury. 
• To take various precautionary measures; seek treatment or services as a result of the employee or family member being a victim of domestic violence. 

• Employers who deny employees sick leave or retaliate against an employee for taking sick leave may be liable for substantial damages including but not limited to: back pay, front pay, attorneys' fees, civil penalties and liquidated damages up to $20,000.

On March 31, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed the New York State Budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year. Notable changes include increased real estate transfer tax rates and mansion taxes for properties in New York City and other cities with a population of over 1 million.

The new transfer tax and mansion tax rates apply only to property transfers in New York City (and other +1MM cities) after July 1, 2019, except for transfers with contracts signed on or before April 1, 2019 provided that the “date of execution of the contract is confirmed by independent evidence, such as the recording of the contract, payment of a deposit or other facts and circumstances determined by the commissioner of taxation and finance.” Transfer tax rates for counties outside New York counties remain the same.