The Rapid Expansion of Mini-WARN Acts

The year 2025 marked significant growth in the adoption of “mini-WARN” acts — state statutes that expand upon the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN act). This year alone, two new states — Ohio and Washington — introduced their own mini-WARN acts. Meanwhile, states like California and New York increased the obligations on employers, requiring more comprehensive disclosures during layoffs. Notably, New York’s new law mandates that employers disclose whether AI tools were used in layoff decisions.

As the year comes to a close, an unprecedented number of states now have mini-WARN laws in effect. These include California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington. Learn more on our Labor & Employment blog.