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Senate bill · S4697 (2025-26)

Creates the Checkout NY pass

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A4909, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Cordell Cleare

State Senator, District 30 · Democratic

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Summary

Creates the "Checkout NY" pass, a comprehensive pass that allows for free or discounted use of state parks, historic sites and recreational facilities; provides one such pass to each consolidated, federated and cooperative public library system within the state free of charge for circulation.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 18, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Allows local libraries to circulate the "Checkout NY" pass to their patrons, which would allow the pass holder to access to any state park or historical site operated by the office or department of environmental conservation. This pass would provide access to these sites without additional fees offered by the office for up to one year.

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

Where it stands

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

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

Committee

Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation · New York State Senate

Also referred to Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development · New York State Assembly.

Cosponsors

Dana Levenberg, Jen Lunsford and 2 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)
  • Democratic3
  • 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

In communities across New York State, libraries are becoming far more than just a place for books to call home; they are trusted community institutions that serve a wide variety of needs to their patrons and community members. As libraries look to diversify what they offer and create collections that serve a variety of needs, expanding the access to the cultural heritage of New York is a priority. With the creation of the "Checkout NY" pass, libraries across New York State will be able to offer their patrons free access to the cultural, historical and environ- mental highlights of our state or for reduced admission to any state park, historical site or recreational facility operated by the state. This pass would allow families of all socio-economic status to access New York's world-class cultural facilities, while allowing libraries to add additional passes into circulation at a reasonable cost.

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 · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation

    Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationMay 19, 2026Result: passed

    (7) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Jun 5, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  2. May 21, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  3. May 20, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  4. May 19, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.1219

    1ST REPORT CAL.1219

    NY Senate

  5. Mar 4, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

Show full history (8 earlier events)
  1. Mar 4, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  2. Mar 4, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  3. Feb 26, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading CAL.268

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.268

    NY Assembly

  4. Feb 26, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED

    NY Assembly

  5. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  6. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  7. Feb 11, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  8. Feb 10, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly