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Senate bill · S597 (2025-26)

Requires the public service commission to conduct audits of private water companies

New York State Senate

Same as A7366, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Oct 21, 2026

Sponsor: Michelle Hinchey (State Senator, District 41, Democratic/Working Families)

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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

Establishes the "small water utility transparency act"; requires the public service commission to conduct audits of certain private water companies; requires certain private water companies which are under certain investigations to file public updates on the status of compliance with such orders.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Service Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill will provide greater oversight of small private water compa- nies throughout the state by granting more auditing authority to certain state agencies and the Comptroller's office. It also gives DPS the authority to institute and enforce a graduated penalty system for noncompliance of health and safety standards.

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

Energy And Telecommunications · New York State Senate

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly, Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.

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Cosponsors

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)
  • Democratic4

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Michelle Hinchey says this is needed

The Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates the rates and services of private water companies. As of 2024, according to the PSC there are approximately 830,000 New Yorkers served by 230 private water companies, around half of which serve fewer than 50 customers each. Currently, there is a patchwork of impractical regulations surrounding small water companies in New York State that allows many to fall through the cracks and skirt their responsibilities to maintain their water systems and provide clean, safe water to their customers. Several state agencies including the PSC, Department of Environmental Conservation, and State Comptroller's office need to play a more defined, coordinated role in the oversight of these companies to ensure that they uphold their responsibilities, maintain their systems, and deliver clean and reliable water. We've seen, time and again, small water companies ignore their responsi- bility to provide clean water and instead focus on profit margins and personal gain. This legislation seeks to protect consumers who rely on private water companies by requiring clear auditing processes with appropriate enforcement. The Small Water Utility Transparency Act will create the first-ever state audits of private water companies.

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: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 10, 2025Result: passed

    (57) (1) (0) (5)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesJun 9, 2025Result: passed

    (21) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications

    Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsJan 21, 2025Result: passed

    (8) (1) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Oct 21, 2026

    Amend (t) and Recommit to Environmental Conservation

    AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  2. Oct 13, 2026

    Amend (t) and Recommit to Energy and Telecommunications

    AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate

  3. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  4. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate

  5. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

Show full history (8 earlier events)
  1. Jun 10, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 10, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 10, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  4. Jun 9, 2025

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 9, 2025

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1598

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1598

    NY Senate

  6. Mar 25, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  7. Jan 21, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  8. Jan 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate

Read the record