Senate bill · S9348 (2025-26)

Prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers from charging a subscription fee for certain functions of a motor vehicle after the vehicle is sold

PassedLatest action Jun 4, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A10411, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A10411, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor

James Skoufis

State Senator, District 42 · Democratic

Summary

Prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers from charging a subscription fee for certain functions of a motor vehicle after the vehicle is sold; provides that any manufacturer, dealer, or agent of a manufacturer or dealer that fails to comply with such requirements shall be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars per point of sale for each violation.

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 23, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section 1: Stipulates that no manufacturer, dealer, or agent of a manufacturer or dealer can offer to a consumer a subscription service or charge a post-purchase fee for any motor vehicle feature that: 1) uses components and hardware already installed on the vehicle at the time of purchase, or 2) functions after activation without ongoing cost to the dealer, manufacturer, or any third-party service provider. This section does not prohibit a dealer or manufacturer from producing any software update to a consumer as long as the software update does not remedy a safety-related defect that is required to be provided to the consumer. It also provides exclusions for certain software-based features offered by manufacturers and third parties, such as navigation system updates, infotainment features, satellite radio, and in-vehicle WiFi. Finally, it ensures that manufacturers and dealers cannot charge for software-based safety recall repairs. States that the Department of State may promulgate such rules and regulations to effectuate and enforce the provisions of this section. Section 2: Sets Effective Date.

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

Where it stands

Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.

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

Committee

Consumer Affairs and Protection · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Consumer Protection · New York State Senate.

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

Car companies are increasingly charging consumers a subscription fee to access certain features on their vehicles, such as heated seats, enter- tainment options, enhanced navigation, and hands-free driving, even though the components necessary for such features to function are already installed on the vehicle at the time of sale. The New York Post reported that BMW recently began charging car owners in several countries $18 per month to turn on their heated seats. In September of 2023, Axios reported that Ford recently announced new options for accessing its top-rated BlueCruise hands-free highway driv- ing technology; buyers can activate BlueCruise at the time of purchase for three years by rolling the $2,100 cost into the financing, or they can activate it later for $800 a year or $75 a month. Toyota and General Motors are also making similar. moves, with GM telling investors it aims to generate a significant amount of profit from charging these subscription fees. During this time of rising consumer prices, it is essential to guard against these business practices that hurt New York consumers. By restricting the offering of subscription services or post-purchase fees for features that do not present an ongoing expense for dealers or manufacturers, this bill seeks to enhance transparency in pricing for consumers. This bill aims to establish clear rules prevent exploitative practices as vehicles become more technologically advanced, and prevent post-purchase fees as a future automotive business model.

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 4, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A10411, the matching Assembly bill.
(57) (3) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Consumer Protection
Senate Consumer ProtectionMay 12, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 4, 2026
3RD Reading CAL.1107
3RD READING CAL.1107
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S9348A
NY Senate
May 19, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
May 19, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly

Show full history (11 earlier events)

May 19, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
NY Senate
May 14, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 13, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 12, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1107
1ST REPORT CAL.1107
NY Senate
May 7, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.481
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.481
NY Assembly
May 5, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Apr 21, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Apr 15, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Consumer Protection
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
NY Senate
Apr 14, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Consumer Affairs and Protection
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
Mar 4, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
NY Senate
Mar 3, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly