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Senate bill · S6985 (2025-26)

Provides for requirements for the rental of helmets

Latest action Jun 3, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A5822, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Rachel May

State Senator, District 48 · Democratic/Working Families

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Summary

Prohibits any person, corporation, association or partnership who rents helmets or provides helmets to customers as part of their business from renting or providing a helmet that has sustained an impact.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the General Business Law.

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

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This legislation ensures that businesses such as bicycle rental shops and ski resorts provide only safe, non-compromised helmets to customers. Businesses must ask customers upon return whether a helmet sustained an impact and remove any impacted helmet from service. To support honest reporting, businesses may not charge a fee or penalty when an impact is disclosed. The bill also defines what constitutes an "impact," requires clear notice to customers about these rules, and establishes enforcement provisions.

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

Consumer Affairs and Protection · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Consumer Protection · New York State Senate.

The sponsor's argument

Why Rachel May says this is needed

Modern helmets are designed for single-impact use. They protect the wearer by absorbing force through materials that may not show visible damage after a crash. As a result, a helmet can be structurally compro- mised while appearing intact. Manufacturers, public health authorities, and consumer safety organizations consistently recommend replacing helmets after any impact, even when no damage is visible. The New York State Depailucent of Health provides similar guidance. Current rental practices do not consistently ensure that impacted helmets are removed from circulation. Without clear rules, businesses may continue to rent compromised helmets, and customers may hesitate to report impacts if they fear penalties. This creates a risk that individ- uals rely on equipment that no longer provides meaningful protection. This legislation addresses those gaps in a targeted way. It defines "impact" clearly, requires direct inquiry and basic recordkeeping, removes financial disincentives to reporting, and ensures customers are informed of their role in the process. It also provides a modest enforcement mechanism to support compliance. Together, these measures help ensure that rental helmets provide the protection users reasonably expect.

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 3, 2026Result: passed

    (54) (7) (0) (2)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Consumer Protection

    Senate Consumer ProtectionJan 28, 2026Result: passed

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

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 11, 2025Result: passed

    (53) (6) (0) (4)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Consumer Protection

    Senate Consumer ProtectionMay 28, 2025Result: passed

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

Full history

  1. Jun 3, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 3, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 3, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

    NY Assembly

  4. Apr 14, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Consumer Affairs and Protection

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

    NY Assembly

  5. Apr 13, 2026

    Amended

    AMENDED ON THIRD READING 6985A

    NY Senate

Show full history (14 earlier events)
  1. Feb 3, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 29, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  3. Jan 28, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.184

    1ST REPORT CAL.184

    NY Senate

  4. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  5. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

    NY Assembly

  6. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

    NY Senate

  7. Jun 11, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  8. Jun 11, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  9. Jun 11, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

    NY Assembly

  10. Jun 4, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  11. May 29, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  12. May 28, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.1414

    1ST REPORT CAL.1414

    NY Senate

  13. Mar 27, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

    NY Senate

  14. Feb 20, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

    NY Assembly