Earlier today, the New York City Council’s newly constituted Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted 9 to 0 to override former Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of Introduction 276, landmark legislation aimed at preventing the wrongful deactivation of NYC for-hire vehicle (TLC) drivers working for Uber and Lyft, formally known as “high-volume” for-hire services.
The unanimous vote marks a decisive break from the Adams-era political dynamic surrounding the bill and underscores how both the composition of the City Council and its transportation leadership have changed in the new legislative session.
Clean Break from Prior Council Committee
Before heading to a full City Council vote scheduled for tomorrow, Intro 276 was required to advance out of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which it did unanimously today.
That outcome contrasts sharply with the bill’s earlier path. In December, prior to the full Council vote and subsequent mayoral veto, the legislation moved out of committee amid visible opposition and unresolved concerns. Council Members Amanda Farías and Joann Ariola voted against the bill as written, while Council Member Mercedes Narcisse supported the measure but publicly raised concerns regarding cost and implementation.
“New York City should not spend $23 million a year on a system that does not guarantee independent arbitration or meaningful worker representation. I remain committed to working…to advance a version of this legislation that is fair, accountable, and fiscally responsible.’’ — Amanda Farías, NYC Council Member
Those internal divisions are no longer present.
The reconstituted Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s unanimous vote to override the veto signals a consolidated Council position following the transition to a new legislative session and City Council leadership.
What the Bill Does
Intro 276 establishes due-process protections for app-based drivers who can currently be deactivated with little notice, explanation, or opportunity to appeal.
Under the bill, Uber, Lyft, and any similar platforms that may arise in the future would be prohibited from deactivating drivers absent just cause, a legal requirement, or a bona fide economic reason. In most cases, drivers would be entitled to advance notice before losing access to work. Immediate deactivation would remain permitted in cases involving account sharing, fraud, or egregious misconduct, including violence, sexual harassment, assault, or illegal discrimination.
The legislation also creates a formal pathway for NYC TLC-licensed drivers to challenge deactivations through an investigation by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), which is slated to receive more than $73 million to build out deactivation appeal and support infrastructure. If a deactivation is deemed wrongful, drivers could be entitled to remedies including reinstatement and back pay.
Supporters describe the measure as among the strongest for-hire driver protection laws in the country.
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Inside the Committee Hearing
The hearing was chaired by Council Member Sean Abreu, marking his first Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing of the session. Abreu, a sponsor and supporter of the legislation, framed the bill as an effort to balance public safety with fairness, emphasizing that drivers often lose their livelihoods overnight without explanation.
Abreu noted that while platforms and the City must act swiftly in cases involving credible allegations of serious misconduct, the current system offers drivers little transparency or due process, a gap Intro 276 is intended to close.
Council Member Shekar Krishnan, the bill’s original sponsor, called the vote historic, arguing that Uber and Lyft drivers have long been subject to arbitrary firings by “billion-dollar companies” without notice, process, or a meaningful ability to challenge wrongful terminations.
Political Context and Driver Advocacy
The override effort comes after sustained pressure from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), which has made driver deactivation protections a central policy priority. NYTWA, led by Bhairavi Desai, characterized the Adams veto as a betrayal of working drivers and have argued that unchecked deactivations amount to economic termination without due process.
The committee vote also reflects a broader shift in City Hall politics. Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani has signaled a more worker-aligned approach than his predecessor, including a symbolic inauguration arrival in a yellow cab driven by a longtime taxi driver and NYTWA member.
While other driver groups, including the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG), previously raised concerns about fiscal impact and administrative capacity, the new Council’s unanimous committee vote, coupled with the mayor’s support, suggests those objections no longer carry the same influence.
‘Sam Raskin, a spokesperson for Mamdani, said the mayor “proudly supports this bill because no worker should lose their livelihood at the click of an algorithm, with no explanation and no recourse.”’ — Shea Vance, “‘Unfair deactivation’ ban bill designed to protect NYC rideshare drivers gets new life in City Council after Adams’ veto,” amNewYork, January 28, 2026.
What Comes Next
After clearing committee, Intro 276 is set for a full City Council vote tomorrow, where it is widely expected to become law, including with the support of new City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
If enacted, the legislation will expand enforcement and oversight responsibilities for DCWP and significantly reshape how driver deactivations are handled in New York City, potentially setting a national precedent as other jurisdictions confront the regulation of app-based worker deactivations.
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