New York’s Stance on the Industry

New York State has long maintained some of the most detailed health club statutes in the country under General Business Law Article 30. These provisions govern contract length limits, required cancellation rights, refund timelines, bonding requirements, escrow for pre-opening sales, and the requirement that online contracts allow cancellation through the same medium in which they were executed. In addition, New York City enforces its own consumer protection, employment, cash acceptance, and data privacy rules that apply to fitness facilities operating within the five boroughs.

For professionally managed facilities that regularly review their contracts and procedures, the mayor’s announcement should not require operational overhaul. But it is a reminder — and reminders matter.

This is also a moment that reinforces why the Health & Fitness Association exists.

HFA’s role is not to speculate, dramatize, or politicize. It is to engage with policymakers early, represent the industry’s perspective constructively, and ensure our members understand exactly what is required of them. That work happens long before headlines appear, and it continues long after they fade.

In New York City specifically, HFA’s advocacy and teams were tracking developments from the mayor’s office well in advance of the public announcement. At the same time, we prepared practical resources to help members assess their compliance posture.

Our "New York City Fitness Facility Compliance Guide" outlines the applicable New York City and New York state requirements across membership contracts, cash acceptance rules, biometric data use, data security obligations under the SHIELD Act, sales tax treatment, AED mandates, sauna and cold plunge permitting, freelance worker requirements, and significant recent amendments to New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act.

That guide exists for one reason: so operators can operate confidently.

More broadly, New York is not an outlier. Across the country, policymakers are paying closer attention to subscription-based industries, digital cancellation processes, employee leave mandates, privacy protections, and consumer transparency. These trends are not confined to one city or one administration. They reflect a wider regulatory environment that is evolving rapidly.

That is why HFA publishes the annual State of the States 2026: US Fitness Policy Update and Compliance Guide—a comprehensive, state-by-state analysis of the legislative and regulatory landscape affecting fitness facilities nationwide. It is also why our advocacy team remains engaged at every level of government, working to protect the business model of gyms and studios while reinforcing the professionalism and credibility of our industry. Fitness is an essential service to public health. With that status comes visibility—and, at times, scrutiny. The appropriate response is not alarm; it is preparation, engagement, and professionalism.

The recent actions in New York City are a reminder that compliance must be operational, not theoretical. Contracts must be reviewed; cancellation systems must function as required; refund timelines must be honored. Bonding and escrow requirements must be satisfied. Employment policies must be updated when statutes change. These are not new principles — they are the fundamentals of running a responsible fitness business in one of the most highly regulated jurisdictions in the country.

HFA’s commitment is steady and consistent. We monitor policy developments, and engage directly with decision-makers. We advocate for workable, reasonable regulatory frameworks. And we translate complex legal developments into clear guidance and tools for our members.

In moments of regulatory attention, that work becomes even more visible. But it is happening every day—in city halls, state capitols, and in Washington.

If you operate in New York City, take the time to review your contracts and policies alongside the NYC Compliance Guide. If you operate elsewhere, consult the State of the States report to understand what may be coming in your jurisdiction.

The headlines may change, but the mission does not. HFA exists to engage on policy, to protect the industry’s ability to operate and grow, and to equip fitness professionals with the information and tools they need to move forward with confidence.

Although Mamdani is hardly a blank slate, many political pundits and business leaders ascribe intentions to him that are due more to anxiety than to reality. As a result, observers in the business and investor community worry that their worst fears will become policy under his administration.

Add to that a media environment rewarded by posting jump-scare headlines to boost clicks, and you have news alerts that create more heartburn than any practical call to action.

Panic gets no traction at the Health & Fitness Association. The mission of the HFA advocacy and communications teams is to bring a pragmatic perspective to legislative and regulatory issues and to act accordingly. This approach has resulted in an advocacy engine that mobilizes quickly and effectively by rallying HFA members and engaging with policymakers by presenting the industry’s point of view with research and real-world outcomes.

HFA’s track record in local and state issues speaks for itself. To put it into perspective, HFA advocacy secured 56 wins in 22 state legislatures in 2025. In this issue of HFB, a case study from February in the state of Virginia demonstrates the steps that led to successful results, when two bills that would have raised taxes on fitness services were tabled in the Virginia legislature due to HFA’s influence.

The HFA advocacy team was well aware of actions coming from the New York mayor’s office. Mamdani’s staff was merely sending letters to fitness businesses in the city reminding them to comply with current laws covering membership cancellations. It neither promised stronger regulation nor threatened sanctions. The message from the mayor was simply, “We’re watching.”

So is the Health & Fitness Association. Count on it.

When stories break that may seem alarming, don’t reach for the Mylanta, reach for your smartphone or keyboard and log on to healthandfitness.org for a clear-eyed perspective on critical issues.

And you can help stay ahead of the headlines by downloading HFAs State of the States 2026: US Fitness Policy Update and Compliance Guide, a comprehensive, state-by-state analysis of the laws, regulations, and legislative trends affecting fitness facilities across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.