New YorkA 22492025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relates to model management companies and model management groups

Sponsored By: Karines Reyes (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

LABORCODESRULES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.

Models gain protection against pay deductions

Management companies cannot subtract interest, fees, or expenses from model pay except the agreed contract commission and allowed advances. For an allowed expense paid on a model’s behalf, the company must obtain written approval before deducting it. The company must clearly explain how it calculates the charge. Each quarter, it must provide available records needed to check whether each charge is valid. Approval does not make an otherwise banned charge legal.

Models gain stronger complaint and lawsuit tools

Models can sue management groups, as well as companies, for harm from violations of management duties or prohibited-practice rules. Recovery includes actual damages, reasonable legal fees, and costs, plus extra damages up to 100% of actual damages. For willful violations, extra damages can reach 300%; groups avoid extra damages by proving a good-faith belief in compliance. Models have six years to file department complaints, and named parties must answer within 20 days after receiving notice. Without a timely answer, the commissioner determines that the alleged violations occurred and notifies both parties.

Models control use of digital likenesses

Management companies and clients must obtain written consent before creating or using a model’s digital replica. A digital replica is a computer-generated or AI-enhanced likeness. Consent must state the scope, purpose, rate of pay, and duration of use. Management companies must keep consent separate from the representation agreement. Clients must obtain consent that is clear and easy to notice.

Models gain workplace safety safeguards

Management companies must check that jobs they arrange for represented models do not pose unreasonable danger. Clients may offer models work only when it does not pose an unreasonable risk of danger. Both must maintain policies addressing abuse, harassment, and inappropriate behavior that meet or exceed existing legal minimums. Management companies must also communicate their policies to represented models.

Models get written deals and agreements

Management companies must give represented models a written deal memo as soon as reasonably practical before work begins. It must record the agreement, including the pay the model accepted. Companies must provide the final client agreement in the model’s requested language. They must make best efforts to obtain the model’s signature before booking. The final agreement must reach the model within seven calendar days after the work ends.

Stronger state enforcement protects models

The commissioner can fine management companies, management groups, and clients up to $3,000 for a first violation. A second or later violation can bring a fine up to $5,000. The Attorney General can bring enforcement cases against groups and clients, as well as management companies. These cases require reasonable cause to believe the business committed repeated fraudulent or illegal acts, or showed persistent fraud or illegality.

Model insurance loses explicit coverage standard

Clients still must provide liability insurance to cover and safeguard models’ health and safety. The law removes the express requirement that insurance be provided at “adequate levels.” It does not set a replacement coverage amount.

Model firms pay fees, post bonds

Management companies and groups pay $500 to register with five or fewer employees, or $700 with more than five. Payment is due before the registration certificate is issued. Half the fee is returned when an application is denied or withdrawn. Applicants with more than five employees must also provide a $50,000 surety bond when applying. The bond applies when employees work from New York or perform work related to models in New York.

Model management firms face registration rules

Covered model management companies and groups must register, submitting initial applications within one year after the article takes effect. Out-of-state firms can request an exemption only with equally strict home-state licensing, no New York office, and no New York client solicitation. Applications require business, tax-identification, operating-name, and ownership details, including qualifying former owners from the past five years. Ownership reporting thresholds are 5% for privately held applicants and 50% for publicly traded applicants. Registrations and exemptions last two calendar years; renewal applications are due at least 90 days before expiration. Groups violate the law by failing registration rules or missing a commissioner’s registration-order deadline.

Models get revised anti-retaliation protections

Clients, management companies, and management groups cannot retaliate against models for exercising rights under the law. This includes complaints to those businesses, the commissioner, or the Attorney General. The law also removes a separate ban covering filed or attempted complaints and refusal or cancellation of castings or bookings. That removed rule expressly covered reasonable, good-faith concerns about actual or potential violations. The broader protection for exercising legal rights remains enforceable.

New boundaries for model industry rules

The law covers modeling services such as photoshoots, fittings, castings, and use of digital likenesses, regardless of employment classification. A management group means two or more management companies majority-owned by the same parent, entity, or people. Directly hiring an unrepresented model for a campaign or shoot does not count as model managing. That exclusion concerns management rules, not a blanket exemption from client duties. The act takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with registration rules starting one year later.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Karines Reyes
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

William Colton
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 190 • No: 17

Senate vote • 2/10/2025

FLOOR Vote

Yes: 45 • No: 16

House vote • 2/4/2025

Assembly floor vote

Yes: 145 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

SIGNED CHAP.66
2/14/2025House
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
2/12/2025House
RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
2/10/2025Senate
PASSED SENATE
2/10/2025Senate
3RD READING CAL.97
2/10/2025Senate
SUBSTITUTED FOR S823
2/10/2025Senate
REFERRED TO RULES
2/4/2025Senate
DELIVERED TO SENATE
2/4/2025House
PASSED ASSEMBLY
2/4/2025House
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.81
1/28/2025House
RULES REPORT CAL.81
1/28/2025House
REPORTED
1/28/2025House
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
1/28/2025House
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
1/28/2025House
REFERRED TO LABOR
1/15/2025House

Bill Text

Original
1/15/2025
PDF

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