Defines enforcement officers in N.Y. City for the purposes of regulating tobacco products, herbal cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia

Latest action Nov 25, 2025

Defines enforcement officers in a city with a population of one million or more for the purposes of regulating tobacco products, herbal cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia; provides that an enforcement officer for purposes of section 1399-ee of the public health law shall be the office of administrative trials and hearings.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Signed into law.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A8468, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Health Law.

Committee

Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would streamline the processes of the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for adjudicating violations alleged to be committed by tobacco retail dealers.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 12, 2025Result: passed
(58) (1) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthMay 13, 2025Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (1)

The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

Currently, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) brings any alleged violations of a variety of laws and regulations to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), which is meant to act as a neutral adjudicator. This includes alleged violations of regulations regarding tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, and smoking paraphernalia. However, with respect to violations alleged against tobacco retail dealers, OATH is not the final adjudicator. DCWP is also granted this authority, which results in a confusing system wherein OATH can issue one decision and DCWP can issue a different one. This is a resource drain for DWCP and an inefficient process for notify- ing businesses of results. This bill would streamline the process so that final decisions are rendered by OATH, thereby allowing businesses to receive one decision and simplifying the manner in which penalties are resolved.

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

Nov 25, 2025
Approval MEMO.8
APPROVAL MEMO.8
NY Senate
Nov 21, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.551
NY Senate
Nov 17, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 16, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.833
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.833
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly

Show full history (11 earlier events)

Jun 16, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A8468
NY Assembly
Jun 15, 2025
Reference Changed to Ways and Means
REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
May 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
May 15, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1090
1ST REPORT CAL.1090
NY Senate
Feb 26, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
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.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

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

Your position