Just looking this up but appears NY finally caught up here in 2023 https://newyork.public.law/laws/n.y._labor_law_section_203-f

I usually add this at the end of the agreement and if they wont go for it, I move on:

This agreement shall not apply to any inventions, conceptions, discoveries, improvements, and original works of authorship that [my name] developed entirely on their own time without using [the employer](s) equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secret information, or anything not based on or received from [the employer].

Agree it varies by state. My only first-hand experience was in a relatively conservative "red" state over 20 years ago. I paid for an hour of legal advice and the lawyer said that in general non-competes cannot be so broad that they prevent you from working in your profession or skill.

It also depends on the laws governing your contract, not just where you live.