A 4249 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Prohibits public utilities from using funds or being reimbursed by funds raised from ratepayers for certain activities

Summary

Prohibits public utilities from using funds or being reimbursed by funds raised from ratepayers for contributions or gifts to political candidates, trade associations, public charities, and lobbyists, and for certain travel, entertainment and educational expenditures.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

A4249 → A4249A · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add new sponsors and include committee action showing it was discharged, amended, and recommitted. The substantive policy changes redefine key terms to align with existing state law definitions and add a new definition for 'trade association' to clarify which organizations are covered by the lobbying restrictions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include trade associations in the definition of organizations whose contributions are prohibited from being recovered in utility rates.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'grassroots lobbying' to reference the existing Legislative Law definition of 'public official' instead of providing a custom definition.

Changed the definition of 'lobbying' to reference the existing Legislative Law definition instead of providing a custom definition.

Added a new definition for 'charity' that includes charitable foundations registered with the attorney general who submit financial disclosures.

Added a new definition for 'trade association' to clarify that business or industry associations incorporated under specific tax code provisions are covered by the bill.

FISCAL

Added explicit prohibition on recovering contributions to trade associations in utility rates, alongside existing prohibitions on political contributions and public charity contributions.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 4249A

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

lower

1 primary · 9 co-sponsors