Technology

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8576: Provides public assistance for home internet service

This bill amends New York's social services law to include home internet service payments as a covered expense in public assistance programs. It directly affects low-income individuals and families receiving state aid by allowing them to use their monthly benefits to cover home internet costs, alongside existing items like shelter and heating. The key mechanism adds "home internet service" to the list of allowable expenses in the standard of need, ensuring these costs are factored into assistance calculations without requiring additional income. This change expands existing public assistance to address digital access needs for eligible households.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly adds home internet to public assistance expenses, expanding access for low-income households and advancing digital equity goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3356: Relates to enacting the "advanced artificial intelligence licensing act"

Enacts the "advanced artificial intelligence licensing act"; providing for regulation of advanced artificial intelligence systems (Part A); requires registration and licensing of high-risk advanced artificial intelligence systems and related provisions regarding the operation of such systems (Part B); establishes the advanced artificial intelligence ethical code of conduct (Part C); prohibits the development and operation of certain artificial intelligence systems (Part D).

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits certain AI development and mandates licensing for high-risk systems, restricting AI innovation in specific areas per Part D and Part B.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Emerging Technology

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1545: Relates to instituting internet service neutrality

Relates to instituting internet service neutrality; provides the public service commission with jurisdiction over monitoring broadband internet service providers; requires a certification for internet service neutrality in certain state contracts.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates net neutrality regulations for ISPs, requiring public oversight and certification to protect open internet access and consumer rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7509: Enacts the omnibus telecommunications reform act

Enacts the "omnibus telecommunications reform act"; reforms the competitive cable service; promotes the wide-spread development of high-capacity broadband internet access; increases the availability and quality of services in this key economic development area; ensures the safety, reliability and affordability of telecommunications services.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPromotes high-capacity broadband development and service quality, directly advancing internet access infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7456: Authorizes the creation of broadband union districts

Authorizes two or more contiguous municipalities to create a broadband union district for the creation, administration, and maintenance of broadband infrastructure and services within such district; provides for governance, funding, powers, limitations, and related provisions for broadband union districts.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAuthorizes broadband infrastructure creation, expanding internet access - directly aligns with technology topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4489: Creates an excise tax on the collection of consumer data by commercial data collectors

S 4489 imposes a monthly tax on commercial data collectors that gather consumer data from more than one million New York residents each month. The tax rate increases based on the number of New York consumers affected, starting at $0 for under 1 million, then tiering up to $2.25 million plus 50 cents per consumer for collections exceeding 10 million. It directly affects large for-profit data brokers (not small businesses or those collecting only basic contact info like email or phone numbers), requiring them to pay based on their scale of New York consumer data collection. The tax applies regardless of how the data is collected (electronically or otherwise) and includes specific rules for counting consumers and handling multi-entity ownership.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new excise tax on large data collectors to generate state revenue, directly contributing to budget funding through tiered tax structure.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill imposes tax on large data brokers collecting consumer data, directly regulating data collection practices to strengthen privacy protections for New York residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6874: Relates to installing fiber optic utility along certain highways

Requires the commissioner of transportation to install and maintain fiber optic utility along all highways and thruways in the state for access to fiber optic and broadband services.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates fiber optic installation along highways to expand broadband access, directly advancing internet infrastructure and connectivity.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates fiber optic installation along highways (transportation infrastructure), enhancing infrastructure use for broadband access, aligning with infrastructure improvement indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications Roads & Highways

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6874: Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act

Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act which establishes an artificial intelligence literacy in the digital equity competitive grant program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes AI literacy grant program under digital equity, enhancing curriculum and student digital access in education through dedicated funding.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill integrates AI literacy into digital equity grant program, directly promoting tech education and access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2185: Requires e-mail service providers to implement a procedure to authenticate an individual's identity when such individual creates an e-mail account

Requires e-mail service providers to implement a procedure to authenticate an individual's identity when such individual creates a new e-mail account.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires email identity authentication to enhance cybersecurity, aligning with data protection and security indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · New York · Senate May 15, 2026

S 8102: Relates to requiring manufacturers of internet-enabled devices to conduct age assurance to determine a user's age category

Requires manufacturers of internet-enabled devices to conduct age assurance to determine a user's age category and provide all websites, online services, online applications and mobile applications on such user's internet-enabled device and/or application store manufactured by the covered manufacturer with a digital signal that such user is a covered minor as well as the age category of such covered minor via a real-time application programming interface (API).

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates age verification for minors' devices to protect data privacy via API signals, aligning with consumer protection regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Online Safety Social Media

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