Senate bill · S2521 (2025-26)

Relates to the adoption of a good cause for disapproval standard for certain off-premises retail licenses

New York State Senate

Same as A8548, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Aug 14, 2026

Sponsor: James Skoufis (State Senator, District 42, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 23, 2026. About our data

Summary

Relates to the adoption of a good cause for disapproval standard for certain off-premises retail licenses by the liquor authority.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would change the "public convenience and advantage" standard regarding approving and transferring retail licenses to sell liquor/wine for off-premises consumption to the "good cause for disapproval" stand- ard that currently applies to on-premises licenses.

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

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

Committee

Commerce, Economic Development And Small Business · New York State Senate

Your position on this bill

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The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

The "public convenience and advantage standard" is an evaluation made by the State Liquor Authority (SLA) when issuing retail licenses to sell wine and liquor for off-premises consumption. However, it is a burden- some standard with no precise definition, creating problems for both the applicant and the SLA. Allowing the SLA to award off-premises wine/liquor licenses "unless good cause is shown for disapproval" will generate greater faith and certainty in the licensing process for appli- cants while still ultimately allowing the SLA to determine whether there is a factual rationale to deny an application. FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE: None. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: Senate 2023: N/A 2024: S9201, Referred to Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Busi- ness 2025: S2521, Referred to Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Busi- ness 2026: S2521, Committed to Rules Assembly 2023: No Assembly Same-As 2024: No Assembly Same-As 2025: A8548, Referred to Economic Development 2026: A8548, Referred to Economic Development

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: Committee vote · Commerce, Economic Development And Small Business
Senate Commerce, Economic Development And Small BusinessMay 13, 2026Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Aug 14, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Economic Development
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NY Assembly
Aug 10, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Rules
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 18, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 14, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (5 earlier events)

May 13, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1112
1ST REPORT CAL.1112
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NY Assembly
Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
NY Senate

Read the record

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