Requires cell towers to be equipped with a back-up power source in case of a power outage

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Requires cell towers to be equipped with a back-up power source in case of a power outage.

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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 A2670, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the General Business 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

This legislation would require every owner or operator of macro cell tower sites to the extent practicable equip the infrastructure with an emergency back-up power source using renewable energy, fuel cell elec- tric generating equipment or a storage system cable of powering the site for a minimum of seventy two hours.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications
Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsApr 28, 2025Result: passed
(8) (1) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Angelo Santabarbara, Chris Tague and 11 more on Agora

Republican7
Democratic6

Show all 13 on Agora

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

Everyone who owns a cell phone has experienced a moment of momentary service loss, often leaving people in desperate search of better recep- tion.When we imagine this scenario on a larger scale because the cellu- lar network infrastructure you depend on has no power. While some may see this a simple inconvenience, it could pose as a significant public safety emergency. Without the ability to dial 911, individuals are unable to connect with emergency services putting their lives in danger. This legislation's goal is to protect and save human life by ensuring cellular network infrastructure has a backup energy plan for when that infrastructure loses power.

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 CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Apr 30, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (3 earlier events)

Apr 28, 2025
1ST Report CAL.706
1ST REPORT CAL.706
NY Senate
Feb 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly

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 2, 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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