Relates to resource exemptions for applicants for public assistance programs

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Relates to resource exemptions for applicants for public assistance programs; amends the Welfare Reform Act in relation to the effectiveness thereof.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A2500, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Social Services Law.

Committee

Social Services · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Social Services · New York State Senate, Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section one of the bill would amend SSL 131-n. Section two of the bill would provide for the effective date.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Social Services
Senate Social ServicesJan 22, 2025Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Andrew Hevesi, Brian Cunningham and 7 more on Agora

Democratic9

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Roxanne J. Persaud says this is needed

As a critical component of improving the economic well-being of low income families, New York State has had a longstanding policy that households in receipt of public assistance should have certain' resources exempt from consideration when determining eligibility for public assistance. This bill would update and expand the resources that an applicant of public assistance may possess without affecting eligi- bility for assistance. The resources covered by the exemption include savings accounts; the home that is the usual residence of the household; one automobile per driver in the household; one burial plot per house- hold member; bona fide funeral agreements; retirement accounts, includ- ing but not limited to Individual Retirement Accounts, 401(k)s, 4o3(b)s, and Keogh plans; and (k) all 529 college savings plan, and other resources. The resource exemptions amended in this bill take into account inflation as well as the understanding that when households are able to exempt certain resources from consideration when applying for public assist- ance, the resources are often an essential component of leaving public assistance and achieving self-sufficiency.

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

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Feb 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jan 22, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 17, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
NY Assembly

Show full history (1 earlier event)

Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
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 Oct 31, 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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