Weekly Legislative Update - February 14, 2025

Floor News

Black History Month

The Assembly and Senate adopted a resolution (K.96) memorializing the Governor to proclaim February 2025 as Black History Month in New York State.

Safe Landings for Youth Leaving Foster Care Act

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.922) that enacts a chapter amendment to the “Safe Landings for Youth Leaving Foster Care Act” (Chapter 664 of the Laws of 2024). This chapter amendment shortens, from indefinitely with good cause shown to a person’s 23rd birthday, the time by which a motion to enforce a previously issued court order for foster care services may be filed. It also authorizes family court to convert enforcement motions to motions for reentry into foster care if a youth consents and is eligible to re-enter the foster care system (vote: 116-33).

Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.1679) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 552 of the Laws of 2024, which expanded the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program. This chapter amendment delays the expansion of the program for one year, from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027. It also extends by one year the

time frames relating to the definition of a designated food scraps generator, such that it now means a person who generates at a single location, based on a methodology established by the Department of Environmental Conservation, an annual average of:

two tons per week or more of food scraps between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2026;

one ton per week or more of food scraps between January 1, 2027 and December 31, 2028; and

one-half ton per week or more of food scraps beginning January 1, 2029, and thereafter (vote: 106-43).

Jordanian and Sudanese Demographic Categories

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.518) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 657 of the Laws of 2024, which requires every State agency, board, department, or commission that directly collects demographic data on residents of the State to use separate collection categories for various Middle Eastern or North African groups in the State. This chapter amendment adds Jordanian to the list of Middle Eastern and Sudanese to the list of North African groups and extends, from December 1, 2025, to January 1, 2027, the date by which such demographic information must be included in demographic reports on ancestry or ethnic origins of State residents (vote: 102-47).

Operating Manuals for Certain Mobility Devices

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.923) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 201 of the Laws of 2024, which prohibits any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation from selling at retail any bicycle with electric assist, micromobility device, or limited use motorcycle powered by lithium-ion batteries without also providing to the purchaser an operating manual. This chapter amendment clarifies that individuals and firms who lease, rent, manufacture, distribute, assemble, or recondition such devices are also subject to this requirement. It also deletes the definitions of lithium-ion battery and micromobility device to harmonize such definitions with other sections of law (vote: 104-45).

Committee News

Election Law

The Election Law Committee was scheduled to meet on Monday, February 10 to consider a bill (A.4881), which extends the time frame in which the Governor must issue a proclamation scheduling a special election to fill vacancies for Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional seats, and allows the Governor to schedule such a special election at the same time as a General Election under certain circumstances. After fervent opposition by the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences, the bill was pulled from the Committee’s agenda and the Committee did not meet.

Judiciary

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Judiciary Committee reported a bill (A.1656), which prohibits dependent children under the age of 18 from being named in an eviction warrant or petition and seals any related court records pertaining to the child. This bill was reported to the Floor.

Housing

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Housing Committee reported the following bills:

A.1867: Requires building owners in New York City who refuse to renew a lease for rent-

stabilized tenants when a building is to be demolished to provide information to the Division of Housing and Community Renewal proving that they have obtained a building permit for that demolition and the construction of a new building and have the financial ability to complete such demolition and new construction. This bill was reported to the Floor.

A.2287: Includes illegal conversion of any dwelling unit in the definition of tenant harassment. This bill was reported to Codes.

The Housing Committee reported a bill (A.1704) that establishes the Housing Access Voucher

Program to provide rental assistance to eligible individuals and families experiencing homelessness or facing an imminent risk of housing loss. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Local Governments

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Local Governments Committee reported a bill (A.3923) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 609 of the Laws of 2024, which requires all municipal corporations (counties, cities, towns, or villages) to maintain an official website with a “.gov” domain name that is accessible to the public and updated regularly. This chapter amendment sets a population threshold for eligible municipal corporations, stating that it applies only to such municipalities with a population of 1,500 or more people, according to the most recent federal census. Newly provides that municipalities of less than 1,500 persons need only comply to the extent practicable. Extends the effective date from 180 days to one year after enactment. This bill was reported to Rules and subsequently to the Floor.

Racing and Wagering

The Racing and Wagering Committee reported the following bills:

A.3680: Prohibits the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), as well as the horsemen’s

bookkeeper, from allocating or spending any monies from the purse account without the prior written consent of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Notes that any payment obligation provided for in law from other accounts established pursuant to the

existing statutory section (such as the account dedicated to pension plans for backstretch

employees) shall not require NYTHA’s written consent. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

A.4279-A: Enacts the “Regulating Addictive Notifications Act” to ban mobile sports wagering

(MSW) operators and platform providers from initiating and sending mobile device push

notifications and text message notifications, including alerts, that solicit sports wagers and

deposits for wagers. This bill was reported to Codes.

Week in Focus

On 2/10, Leader Barclay and Members of the Assembly Republican Conference, joined by their Senate Republican colleagues, held a press conference blasting the Democrats for their bill (A.4881) that changes the time frame in which the governor can schedule special elections for Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional seats. Due to these efforts, the bill was pulled by the Democratic Majorities. To view CLICK HERE

This week’s Joint Legislative Budget Hearings were Health/Medicaid (2/11), Human Services (2/12), and Public Protection (2/13). For archived footage of the hearings, CLICK HERE

The next Joint Legislative Budget Hearings are Higher Education (2/25), Labor/Workforce

Development & Economic Development/Arts (2/26), and Housing & Taxes (2/27).