Training Requirements for Telecommunications Tower Technicians
Summary
New York State has enacted legislation requiring all telecommunications tower technicians performing work under contracts with state agencies to complete training requirements determined by the Office of General Services before commencing work. The law, signed as Chapter 95, affects contractors and technicians working on state telecommunications infrastructure projects. Non-compliance may result in disqualification from state contracts.
What changed
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed S08818 into law on March 27, 2026, creating mandatory training requirements for telecommunications tower technicians working on state agency contracts. The Office of General Services will determine the specific training curriculum and requirements that technicians must complete prior to performing any work under state contracts. The legislation also repeals existing legislative intent provisions related to tower technician protections, effectively replacing them with enforceable training mandates.
Companies holding or seeking state telecommunications contracts must ensure all tower technicians complete the mandated training before commencing work on affected projects. Employers should identify all current state agency contracts involving tower technicians and verify that personnel have completed or will complete required training. Contractors should monitor for Office of General Services guidance establishing the specific training standards. Non-compliance may result in inability to perform work under state contracts or disqualification from future contract awards.
What to do next
- Identify all current and pending state agency contracts involving telecommunications tower work
- Verify that all tower technicians have completed training requirements before permitting work on state contracts
- Monitor Office of General Services for published training standards and curriculum requirements
- Retain documentation demonstrating training completion for all affected personnel
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / New York / S08818 Signed by Governor S08818 S Signed by Governor 2026-03-27
Provides protections for telecommunications tower technicians, including requiring that all tower technicians performing work pursuant to a contract with a state agency complete training requirements determined by the office of general services prior to commencing work pursuant to such contracts; repeals legislative intent relating to such tower technician protections; relates to the effectiveness thereof.
Bill Details
State New York
Session 2025-2026 General Assembly
Chamber Senate
Official Source www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8818
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Sponsors
Rachel May (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-03-27 S SIGNED CHAP.95 2026-03-20 S DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR 2026-02-25 A returned to senate 2026-02-25 A passed assembly 2026-02-25 A ordered to third reading rules cal.86 2026-02-25 A substituted for a9465 2026-01-21 A referred to labor 2026-01-21 S DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY 2026-01-21 S PASSED SENATE 2026-01-12 S ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.38 2026-01-08 S REFERRED TO RULES
Votes
2026-01-12 Senate Rules Committee Vote Yea: 20 Nay: 0 2026-01-21 Senate Floor Vote - Final Passage Yea: 55 Nay: 1 2026-02-25 Assembly Floor Vote - Final Passage Yea: 142 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-08 S Rules 2026-01-21 A Labor
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-08 Introduced Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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