Prohibits public utilities from using funds or being reimbursed by funds raised from ratepayers for certain activities

Latest action Feb 5, 2026

Prohibits public utilities from using funds or being reimbursed by funds raised from ratepayers for contributions or gifts to political candidates, trade associations, public charities, and lobbyists, and for certain travel, entertainment and educational expenditures.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A4249, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Service Law.

Committee

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · New York State Senate, Energy And Telecommunications · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To ensure that ratepayer funds are used appropriately, this bill prohib- its utility companies from using ratepayer funds for political activ- ities.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 4, 2026Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications
Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsJan 27, 2026Result: passed
(20) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJan 12, 2026Result: passed
(20) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 12, 2025Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 11, 2025Result: passed
(19) (1) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

Chris Burdick, Christopher Eachus and 7 more on Agora

Democratic8
Republican1

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

There is no situation in which a utility company in New York State should be using money they receive from ratepayers for political activ- ities like lobbying. Dollars from the public should not be used to further the interests of utility companies, which are to earn greater revenue and sometimes to defeat environmental and public health protections. New York State currently prohibits rate determinations from including the operational costs of a utility that include the costs of lobbying or association membership dues. However, lobbying is narrowly defined, and only covers influencing the legislature and governor on bills before them. This bill follows in the footsteps of other states that have recently enacted laws that provide for more prohibitions on political activities by utility companies. This legislation will strengthen the prohibition on lobbying to include a ban on direct or reimbursed expenditures of ratepayer and large shareholder funds on political donations, and lobby- ing expenses associated; and the direct or grassroots influencing of all public officials and staff, and perks provided to a utility's board of directors. Further, this bill will require greater reporting by utility companies and make such reports publicly accessible. LEGISATIVE HISTORY: 2024: S7637 Referred to Energy and Telecommunications. 2023: S7637 Referred to Rules.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Feb 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Feb 4, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.136
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.136
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate

Show full history (13 earlier events)

Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
Passed a chamber
REPASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Returned to Assembly
RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1796
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1796
NY Senate
Jun 11, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jun 9, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Energy and Telecommunications
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jan 31, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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