Hochul Signs Ban on Employers Checking Job Applicants’ Credit

Employers in New York will be banned from seeking a worker’s credit report while making decisions about hiring or compensation, under legislation Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed into law.

The measure (S3072) makes requests for a job applicant’s “creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity or credit history” off limits in employment decisions. It is set to take effect 120 days from Hochul’s signature on Friday, although the governor said she agreed with legislators on making “technical revisions for clarity” before it takes effect.

The new law allows employers to still seek credit reports for certain roles, such as jobs ...