In August 2016, MA became the first state to pass a law banning employers from requiring information on an applicant’s previous salary history. Designed to prevent pay discrimination based on gender, the law, An Act to Establish Pay Equity, requires ‘equal pay for equal work’, permits employees to discuss their salaries with coworkers, and prohibits employers from requesting salary history on an application before a job offer is made.  Applicants are still allowed to volunteer salary information as part of the negotiation process, however.  The law takes effect July 1, 2018. California  became the latest state to pass a similar law as of October 12, 2017.