The City of Columbus, Ohio, has joined a growing list of jurisdictions adopting pay transparency laws intended to promote pay equity. On November 4, 2025, Mayor Andrew Ginther signed an ordinance that introduces new requirements for employers and restricts salary history inquiries. This ordinance closely mirrors the Cleveland pay transparency law that went into effect
Columbus, OH, Salary History Ban Goes Into Effect March 1, 2024
Starting March 1, 2024, the City of Columbus ordinance banning inquiries into an applicant’s salary history goes into effect. This ordinance applies to all employers with 15 or more employees within Columbus. Employers that violate the ordinance could face civil fines of up to $5,000.
Covered employers should ensure that all employees involved in hiring
Columbus, Ohio, Bans Inquiries Into Applicants’ Salary History
The City of Columbus joins Toledo and Cincinnati as the latest Ohio city to prohibit employers from asking prospective employees about past compensation. Effective March 1, 2024, employers operating in Columbus may not ask about a prospective employee’s wage or salary history. Read more.
President Biden Signs Executive Order Promoting Pay Equity and Transparency
In addition to digesting OFCCP’s release of a new directive on compensation, government contractors may soon see new regulations around inquiries into and the use of prior salary information. In conjunction with Equal Pay Day, President Biden signed a new Executive Order on Advancing Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness in Federal Contracting by Promoting Pay
Rhode Island Enacts New Protections Against Pay Discrimination
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has signed into law new protections against pay discrimination. The new law, which goes into effect January 1, 2023, makes it unlawful to pay any employee less than the employees of another race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin
Prior Pay No Defense to Pay Difference Under Equal Pay Act, Ninth Circuit Reaffirms
Prior pay, alone or in combination with other factors, is not a job-related “factor other than sex” that can be used to justify a difference in pay under the Equal Pay Act (EPA), a majority of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held again. Rizo v. Yovino, No.
Illinois Equal Pay Act Mandates to Take Effect September 29
Amendments to Illinois’ Equal Pay Act (EPA) go into effect on September 29, 2019, leaving employers little time to adjust their hiring practices.
No Inquiries into Salary History. Under the amended EPA, employers and employment agencies may not:
- Screen applicants based on their current or prior wage or salary history, including benefits or other
New Jersey Passes New Salary History Ban
New Jersey has enacted a new law prohibiting employers from seeking or relying on job applicants’ salary history.
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver (acting on behalf of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy) has signed legislation that prohibits employers from requesting or relying on a job applicant’s salary history in hiring and pay-setting decisions. The law will
Washington Adds Pay History Ban, Transparency Requirements
Washington is the latest state to pass additional pay equity protections. One year after enacting the 2018 Equal Pay and Opportunity Act, which included an array of enhanced pay equity provisions, the legislature passed HB 1696, which restricts pay history inquires and enhances pay transparency requirements. The bill passed on a near party-line
Maine Lawmakers Celebrate ‘Equal Pay Day’ by Passing Pay History Ban
On April 2, Equal Pay Day, Maine’s House and Senate passed a bill prohibiting employers from asking about a potential worker’s wage history before making a job offer. L.D. 278 passed the Maine House by a vote of 86-54 after clearing the Maine Senate by a vote of 22-11 earlier in the day.
If Governor