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Senate bill · S120 (2025-26)

Prohibits termination of electricity or heat service during forecasts of extreme temperatures

PassedLatest action May 19, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A5786, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Cordell Cleare

State Senator, District 30 · Democratic

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Summary

Prohibits termination of electricity or heat service during forecasts of 85 degrees or more than or thirty-two degrees or below.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Service Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill is meant to prevent nonpayment utility shutoffs during extreme weather events which can be dangerous to utility customers' health. SUMMARY: Section 1 amends paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 of section 32 of the public service law as added by chapter 713 of the laws of 1981 to provide for technical changes to the paragraph. Section 2 amends Section 32 of the public service law by adding a new subdivision 3-a which (a) defines "forecast of extreme temperature" thresholds, (b) prohibits the intentional termination of heating elec- tricity, or water service under certain conditions, and (c) provides that customers of submetered residential electric or water service are subject to the same protections outlined in the subdivision. Section 3 provides a severability clause Section 4 sets the effective date.

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

Where it stands

Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

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.

Cosponsors

Aron Wieder, Chris Burdick and 10 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Democratic11
  • Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

Existing laws prevent utility services from being shut off for residents who will suffer severe health or safety impairments. Generally, this status requires the submission of a written certification by a medical practitioner to the utility provider. However, extreme summer weather is becoming more common, and many individuals, even those without health impairments can become vulnerable to extreme heat. In July of 2023, New York City saw an extreme heat advisory for several days, with temperatures reaching 108 degrees. Heat-exacerbated deaths have been increasing in the past decade, and in New York City alone, an estimated 350 New Yorkers die because of heat and heat-related causes each summer. A balance due on one's electric or gas bill should not mean New Yorkers risk their lives during the warmest and coldest days of the year. This legislation follows the lead of many other state temperature-based shutoff rules, including Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois, among others. This legislation will tie the criteria to the National Weather Service readings to prevent shutoffs during extreme heat and cold forecasts throughout the state.

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.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMay 18, 2026Result: passed

    (54) (6) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateApr 15, 2026Result: passed

    (54) (1) (0) (8)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications

    Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsMar 24, 2026Result: passed

    (8) (1) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMay 28, 2025Result: passed

    (60) (1) (0) (2)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications

    Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsJan 21, 2025Result: passed

    (8) (1) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. May 19, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.456

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.456

    NY Assembly

  2. May 19, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. May 19, 2026

    Substituted

    SUBSTITUTED FOR A5786B

    NY Assembly

  4. May 18, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  5. May 18, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    REPASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

Show full history (26 earlier events)
  1. May 18, 2026

    Returned to Assembly

    RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. May 7, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading CAL.456

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.456

    NY Assembly

  3. May 5, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED

    NY Assembly

  4. May 4, 2026

    Amended

    AMENDED ON THIRD READING 120B

    NY Senate

  5. May 4, 2026

    Recalled From Assembly

    RECALLED FROM ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  6. May 4, 2026

    Returned to Senate

    RETURNED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  7. Apr 30, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  8. Apr 16, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  9. Apr 15, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  10. Apr 15, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  11. Mar 26, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  12. Mar 25, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  13. Mar 24, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.627

    1ST REPORT CAL.627

    NY Senate

  14. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  15. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  16. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate

  17. May 28, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  18. May 28, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  19. May 28, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  20. Apr 10, 2025

    Amend and Recommit to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  21. Feb 20, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

    NY Assembly

  22. Jan 27, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  23. Jan 22, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  24. Jan 22, 2025

    Amended

    AMENDED 120A

    NY Senate

  25. Jan 21, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.132

    1ST REPORT CAL.132

    NY Senate

  26. Jan 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate