Freelance workers have been complaining for years that too many of their clients pay them late or fail to pay at all.

Various trade groups, such as the Freelancers Union, have been trying to get states to enact additional legal protections to help them. They’ve succeeded in three of the largest states—California, Illinois, and New York—where new laws require hiring firms to

sign written agreements with freelancers and

pay them promptly.

Failure to comply can subject hiring firms to steep penalties—double damages plus statutory penalties.

These new laws are the:

California Freelance Worker Protection Act,1

Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act,2 and

New York Freelance Isn’t Free Act.3

The California law went into effect January 1, 2025. The Illinois law began July 1, 2024. The New York law went into effect August 28, 2024.

New York City has had ... Log in to view full article.