Weekly Legislative Update - March 21, 2025

Floor News

Applicability of the Residential Redevelopment Inhibited Property Tax Exemption

The Assembly passed a bill (A.6770), which expands the applicability of the Residential Redevelopment Inhibited Property Tax Exemption to all cities (rather than only those with a population of 15,250-15,500) as well as to all towns and villages within the State (vote: 148-0). The section of law being amended was established by Chapter 406 of the Laws of 2015, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Hawley.

FOIL Exemption Extensions

The Assembly passed a bill (A.1410), which requires entities that have critical infrastructure information and/or trade secrets exempted from Freedom of Information Law disclosures to reapply for such exemption every three years (vote: 95-53).

Firearm Merchant Categories Code

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.439) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 430 of the Laws of 2024, which created a new merchant category code for payment card networks applicable to gun and ammunition retail businesses and dealers in the State. This chapter amendment removes the definition of dealer of ammunition and clarifies that this act applies only to dealers of firearms and not to dealers of ammunition as well (vote: 96-52).

Pistol Converters

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.436) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 429 of the Laws of 2024, which defines pistol converter and requires gun industry members to take reasonable steps to prevent the installation and use of a pistol converter on “qualified products” (e.g., semi-automatic Glock pistols) or face liability. This chapter amendment adds pistol converter to the definition of rapid-fire modification device (vote: 100-48).

Suicide Warning Posting/Distribution Mandate

The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.437) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 428 of the Laws of 2024, which requires gunsmiths and gun dealers to post and provide warnings that firearms and weapons increase the risk of death/suicide in the home. Chapter 428 also requires licensing officers, upon issuance of or amendment to a firearm/weapon license, to provide warnings that firearms and weapons increase the risk of death/suicide in the home. It further establishes a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or up to 15 days imprisonment for violations, with each day a violation continues constituting a separate offense. This chapter amendment replaces the term weapon with rifle and shotgun, exempts licensing officers from the law’s penalty provisions, and removes the requirement that only local police officers provide enforcement (vote: 98-50).

Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station Implementation Plan

The Assembly passed a bill (A.1012-A) instituting the Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station Implementation Plan and giving the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, in consultation with the New York Power Authority, the Departments of Transportation,Environmental Conservation, and Public Service, and a new 13-member Fast Charge NY Working Group, 24 months to develop it. Mandates that five Fast Charge NY members be appointed by the Governor, with the Temporary President of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly each appointing four members (vote: 104-39).

Committee News

Banks

Due, in part, to unanimous Republican opposition, a bill (A.6870) was pulled from the Banks

Committee agenda. This bill extends, from August 1, 2025 to August 1, 2027, statutory provisions that restrict the location of check cashing facilities owned and operated by national banks and other regulated financial entities within three‑tenths of a mile of an existing licensed check casher if the office is used primarily for the purpose of cashing checks.

Judiciary

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Judiciary Committee reported a bill (A.3392-A), which allows for no-fault separation where the relationship between spouses has broken down irretrievably for a period of at least six months and requires that issues of support and custody or visitation be resolved before commencing a separation action. This bill was reported to the Floor.

Health

The Health Committee reported a bill (A.6773), which modifies a statutory provision (established in the 2024-25 Budget) that prohibits a provider from seeking a patient’s consent to pay for health care services before the patient receives the services and the treatment costs are discussed. This bill establishes that the provision only applies to non-emergency health care services and removes the requirement that the patient receive services before their consent to pay is sought.This bill was reported to the Floor.

Labor

The Labor Committee reported a bill (A.1006), which eliminates provisions exempting employees with disabilities from the minimum wage law and provides that laws or minimum wage orders that authorize an employer to pay a wage that is less than the minimum wage are valid provided that under such laws or orders an employee with a disability is paid the same wage as an employee in a comparable position who does not have a disability. This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

Week In Focus

Budget Conference Committees were held this week. To view the schedule and Member appointments, please CLICK HERE.