Weekly Legislative Update- May 8, 2025

Committee News

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

The Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee reported a bill (A.8154) calling for the removal of “employment restrictions” on the Chair of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Specifically, enables the Chair to maintain private, outside employment, subject to the Public Officers Law, and statutorily removes the Chair’s ability to earn a salary. Additionally, authorizes the Chair of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to maintain private, outside employment, subject to the Public Officers Law.

This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Consumer Affairs and Protection

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee reported the following bills:

A.1316: Prohibits the use of credit reports for employment decisions with respect to hiring, compensation, or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. This bill was reported to Codes and subsequently to the Floor.

A.3369-A: Requires that in the event a consumer is required to sign a contract for consumer goods containing a mandatory arbitration clause, the inclusion of such clause must be disclosed to the consumer and an explanation must be provided as to what it is.

This bill was reported to the Floor.

A.4628-A: Mandates that motion picture theaters offering more than 10 weekly showings must schedule open-captioned screenings for at least one quarter of all showings of a film with four or more showings in a week. This bill was reported to Codes.

A.6862: Requires consumer reporting agencies to inform a consumer when a consumer report on such consumer has been requested. This bill was reported to Codes.

Correction

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Correction Committee reported a bill

(A.4603), which codifies in law the requirement that both State and local correctional

facilities establish visitation policies giving incarcerated individuals opportunities for “in-

person” contact with relatives, children, friends, clergy, volunteers, and other persons to

promote individual transformation, better institutional adjustment, and better community

adjustment upon release. Prohibits video conferencing or other technologies that enable

remote visitation from counting toward the required number of visits or duration of visitation0 that any facility must offer to the incarcerated by law or regulation. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

The Correction Committee reported a bill (A.5989), which requires the DOCCS

Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, to develop a

program that would automatically provide identification cards (prior to release) to

incarcerated individuals without an identification card, driver’s license, or learner’s permit or to those whose driver’s license or permit is expired, suspended, revoked, or surrendered.

Requires DOCCS to assist individuals with obtaining copies of any documents needed to

apply for identification cards, including a Social Security card and birth certificate.

NOTE: Current law requires DOCCS to notify inmates nearing release of this

identification card program and make diligent efforts to ensure they are provided these

cards if they request one. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Energy

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Energy Committee reported the following

bills:

A.168-A: Directs gas, electric, and steam utilities furnishing residential service to provide eligible customers with automatic, “affordable” payment plans. Requires open enrollment at all times. Proof of eligibility can be shown using documentation linked to any one of 16 enumerated State and federal financial assistance programs, in addition to unnamed programs that are to be identified by the Public Service Commission and/or the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

A.4105-A: Develops the minimum standards by which gas, electric, and steam utilities furnishing residential service would be required to provide eligible customers with payment plans. Prohibits these utilities from shutting off service to a residential customer enrolled in a payment plan in most scenarios. Proof of eligibility can be shown using documentation linked to any one of 16 enumerated State and federal financial assistance programs, in addition to unnamed programs that are to be identified by the Public Service Commission(PSC) and/or the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

A.2657: Establishes the Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program within the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. These point-of-sale rebates would encompass eligible purchases and leases of new, battery-powered electric lawn and landscaping equipment, yet would exclude from contention all corded electric equipment,reel mowers, and tractors used to pull other lawn care devices.This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Codes

The Codes Committee reported a bill (A.1029-A), which provides immunity from prosecution to a person who is the victim of, or a witness to, a crime (including an individual who becomes aware that another person is a victim of a crime), and has engaged or is alleged to have engaged in prostitution, prostitution in a school zone, or permitting prostitution at or in reasonable proximity to the time of the crime or under circumstances reasonably related to the crime, and, in good faith, reports the crime to a criminal law enforcement agency, seeks or receives health care services as a result of the crime, or assists or attempts to assist in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. This bill was reported to the Floor.

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Codes Committee reported the following noteworthy bills:

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 the Ways and Means.

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 Ways and Means.

Week In Focus

The Assembly and Senate passed the 2025-26 Enacted Budget. For more information, please contact Ways and Means at 518-455-4131.

Prior to passing the Enacted Budget, the Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.8270 [vote: 148-0]) in order to provide emergency appropriations for the support of the government from April 1 through May 7.