Weekly Legislative Update - March 7, 2025

Floor News

Board of Regents Resolution

The Assembly and Senate adopted a concurrent resolution (C.151) that provides for the election and re-election of eight Regents:

Hasoni Pratts from the second Judicial District for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2025;

Dr. Roger P. Catania from the fourth Judicial District for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2025;

Keith B. Wiley from the eighth Judicial District for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2025;

Dr. Frances G. Wills from the ninth Judicial District for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2025;

Felicia Thomas‑Williams from the tenth Judicial District for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2025;

Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr. from Queens County as an at‑large Regent for a term of five years commencing on April 1, 2025;

Roger B. Tilles from Nassau County as an at‑large Regent for a one‑year term commencing on April 1, 2025; and

Brian J. Krist from New York County as an at‑large Regent for a term of four years commencing immediately (vote: 106-44).

Conflicts of Interest at Local Boards of Elections

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.1015) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 639 of the Laws of 2024, which prohibited board of elections employees from remaining on the board’s payroll if they maintain outside employment or run for an elected position that causes a conflict of interest. This chapter amendment allows a board of elections employee running as a candidate for office to remain on a board’s payroll if he or she receives authorization to do so by a majority vote from the board’s commissioners and restricts their scope of work if so authorized to remain (vote: 101-47).

Prescription Labeling for Mifepristone or Misoprostol

The Assembly passed a bill (A.5285) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 7 of the Laws of 2025,which allows the prescription label for mifepristone or misoprostol to contain the name of the dispensing or prescribing health care practice instead of the name of the dispenser or prescriber. This chapter amendment allows such prescription labels to contain the address, rather than the name, of the dispensing or prescribing health care practice (vote: 96-51).

Utility Call Center Outsourcing and Closure

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.2579) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 675 of the Laws of 2024, which addressed the outsourcing of call center activities anywhere outside of the in-state service territory of gas, electric, and gas-electric utilities, as well as the closure of call centers and related facilities. This chapter amendment repeals the sizeable monetary penalties applicable when these utilities fail to notify the Public Service Commission (PSC) of these actions but continues to empower the PSC to approve or deny these activities (vote: 141-7).

Committee News

Codes

The Codes Committee reported the following bills:

A.77: Prohibits the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco (i.e., any smokeless tobacco with a flavor or aroma distinguishable from tobacco flavor) within 500 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school. This bill was reported to the Floor.

A.173: Sets forth additional requirements for the incorporation or reincorporation of certain not-for-profits by directing individuals, organizations, or other groups to obtain the consent of the Authorities Budget Office prior to filing their certificates of incorporation and to identify the entity (a municipal corporation, State or local authority, or district) prompting the formation of the new or reincorporated not-for-profit. Shrinks the permissible municipal property lease term for local development corporations from 99 years to 25 years. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Codes Committee reported a bill (A.4200)

that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 643 of the Laws of 2024, which mandates that new construction and buildings that include dedicated off‑street parking areas must have electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and electric vehicle‑capable parking spaces. This chapter amendment repeals the specific charging station standard established in Chapter 643 and instead requires new buildings with off-street parking to include EV-ready infrastructure and charging stations in compliance with minimum standards established by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council. This bill was reported to Rules and subsequently to the Floor.

Environmental Conservation

The Environmental Conservation Committee reported the following bills of note:A.1749: Enacts the “Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act”, which requires companies to reduce packaging and overhauls recycling in the State, including mandating minimum amounts of recycled materials that certain packaging must contain. The bill also bans packaging containing certain toxic substances and establishes the Office of Recycling Inspector General to oversee compliance with this Act. This bill was reported to Codes.

A.1209: Requires all mattress producers and retailers to implement a program for the collection and recycling of used mattresses that is free to the consumer.This bill was reported to Codes.

Week In Focus

On 3/3, Leader Barclay, Assemblyman Ra, and Members of the Assembly Republican Conference held a press conference to call for a forensic audit of the MTA (A.6088, Ra). To view, CLICK HERE

On 3/5, Assemblymen Miller and Palmesano, along with their colleagues in the Legislature and Highway Superintendents, held a press conference calling for an increase in CHIPS funding for local roads and bridges. Members of the Assembly Republican Conference are

holding “Local Roads are Essential” press conferences in Districts across the State, demanding a $250 million increase in CHIPS.