New York A 9599: Establishes an educational program related to the prevention of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression

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A09599 Summary:

BILL NOA09599 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORHooks

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 38-C §§840 - 843, Gen Bus L

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Requires certain stores that accept credit or debit card payment to accept flexible benefit cards as a form of payment for eligible items; defines terms; establishes penalties for violations of such requirement to accept payment by flexible benefit card; requires the superintendent of financial services to provide education and outreach to covered stored to inform them of the such requirement.

Go to top A09599 Actions:

BILL NOA09599 

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01/21/2026referred to consumer affairs and protection

Go to topA09599 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09599 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09599 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9599

 IN ASSEMBLY

 January 21, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. HOOKS -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Consumer Affairs and Protection

 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
 certain retail stores to accept flexible benefit cards

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
 2 38-C to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 38-C
 4 FLEXIBLE BENEFIT CARDS
 5 Section 840. Definitions.
 6 841. Acceptance of flexible benefit cards.
 7 842. Enforcement.
 8 843. Education and outreach.
 9 § 840. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
 10 have the following meanings:
 11 1. "Covered store" means a retail store that primarily sells food for
 12 off-site consumption or a retail store that includes a pharmacy.
 13 2. "Eligible item" means a product that may be purchased with a flexi-
 14 ble benefit card, as determined by the issuer of the flexible benefit
 15 card.
 16 3. "Flexible benefit card" means a card provided by a health insurance
 17 provider to an insured member that may be used to purchase items covered
 18 by the insured member's health insurance policy.
 19 § 841. Acceptance of flexible benefit cards. Every covered store that
 20 accepts credit or debit card payment shall accept flexible benefit cards
 21 as a form of payment for eligible items.
 22 § 842. Enforcement. Any person that violates the provisions of this
 23 article or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto shall
 24 be liable for a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars for a first
 25 violation and five hundred dollars for any subsequent violation within
 26 eighteen months of a previous violation; provided, however, that the
 27 superintendent of financial services shall issue a warning instead of a
 28 notice of violation for any violation that occurs within one year of the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14316-01-5

 A. 9599 2

 1 effective date of this article. For purposes of assessing penalties in
 2 accordance with this section, all violations committed by the same
 3 covered store on the same day shall count as one violation.
 4 § 843. Education and outreach. The superintendent of financial
 5 services shall provide outreach and education to covered stores to
 6 inform such stores of the requirement to accept flexible benefit cards
 7 pursuant to this article.
 8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the two hundred seventieth day
 9 after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
 10 amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
 11 implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be
 12 made and completed on or before such effective date.

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