Relates to recovery of online accounts for mobile telephones

Latest action Apr 22, 2026

Requires that businesses that provide consumers with online accounts to access services accounts for mobile telephones using proper identification if the business has a physical presence in this state.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A8598, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the General Business Law.

Committee

Consumer Affairs and Protection · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Internet And Technology · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would require wireless telephone companies with retail outlets in the state, such as Apple, to allow consumers to prove their identity in person if they cannot access their online account.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 22, 2026Result: passed
(44) (15) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Internet And Technology
Senate Internet And TechnologyApr 1, 2026Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(45) (17) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Internet And Technology
Senate Internet And TechnologyMay 27, 2025Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Phara Souffrant Forrest

Democratic1

Phara Souffrant Forrest

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

If you lose access to your handheld wireless device, such as a cell phone, a laptop, or a tablet, and someone is able to get the password to that device, they may be able to change your master password and take over your identity. In such cases, there may be no way for you to regain access to your account without having access to the lost device. This bill will allow owners of compromised handheld wireless devices to use a photo ID to prove their identity in person at the retail stores of wireless telephone companies in the state, such as Apple, so that they can recover a compromised online account. Being able to prove one's identity in-person when a company has a brick and mortar location will be particularly useful in situations where a device is physically or virtually stolen and all your passwords are compromised, such as in cases of identity theft, robbery, or domestic violence.

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

Apr 22, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 22, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 22, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
Apr 13, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Apr 7, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (12 earlier events)

Apr 1, 2026
1ST Report CAL.683
1ST REPORT CAL.683
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
Jun 5, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1512
1ST REPORT CAL.1512
NY Senate
May 22, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
May 15, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY
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.
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 3, 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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