Senate bill · S5208 (2025-26)

Relates to notice and inspection requirements for battery energy storage systems in a city with a population with one million or more

New York State Senate

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

Sponsor: Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (State Senator, District 23, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 19, 2026. About our data

Summary

Requires community boards to provide public notice of any planned siting and construction of battery energy storage systems and to provide for annual inspections of such battery energy storage systems; defines "battery energy storage systems"; requires operators of such battery energy storage systems to submit to the requirements of community boards regarding notice and inspection requirements.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are emerging as new technology to help use energy from existing sources when it is both inexpensive and readily available and redistribute it to distribution grids during times of peak demand when existing power grids are under the greatest load demand and therefore supply is low and pricing is high. However, with this new technology there is a need for regulatory notification and inspection for the purpose of community safety.

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

Cities 1 · New York State Senate

Your position on this bill

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The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Scarcella-Spanton says this is needed

Safety risks are the single biggest factor adding friction to the deployment of more BESS capacity. Today's most cost effective BESSs are based on lithium-ion battery chemistries with inherent fire safety concerns. Many of the best BESSs use cases are situated in dense urban environments like NYC, where power delivery is constrained. Although there are existing guidelines on BESSs there is a need to make sure that there is compliance and routine inspections conducted on these systems for overall public safety. There is also a need for accountability with residents and community boards by way of public outreach, addressing complaints and concerns. The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications will be required to maintain a website that provides adequate public notice of upcoming meetings, past meeting notes and accessible contact information, based on the placement of BESSs, general maintenance and construction of BESSs. Annual safety inspections of any battery energy storage system and related facilities, systems, infrastructure and substations of any scale and possessing any storage capacity, including, but not limited to, those deploying lithium-ion batteries located in the community districts should be prioritized.

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 · Cities 1
Senate Cities 1May 7, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Cities 1
Senate Cities 1May 6, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 5, 2026
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 12, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 11, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 7, 2026
1ST Report CAL.992
1ST REPORT CAL.992
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CITIES 1
NY Senate

Show full history (5 earlier events)

Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 8, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 7, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 6, 2025
1ST Report CAL.964
1ST REPORT CAL.964
NY Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CITIES 1
NY Senate

Read the record

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