New York A 8856: Prevents the public service commission from raising utility rates to offset revenue loss due to energy conservation efforts by consumers

Bill Text

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A08856 Summary:

BILL NOA08856 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S08126

&nbsp

SPONSORDinowitz

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §398-ee, Gen Bus L

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Enacts the "mandatory arbitration & business licensing act"; provides that no state agency or local government shall issue or renew a covered license to any person that refuses to certify that such person will not, as the owner or operator of a business or provider of services in the state or a local government operating pursuant to such license; makes related provisions.

Go to top A08856 Actions:

BILL NOA08856 

&nbsp

06/09/2025referred to consumer affairs and protection

01/07/2026referred to consumer affairs and protection

Go to topA08856 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA08856 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA08856 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8856

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 June 9, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
 tee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the
 "mandatory arbitration and business licensing act (MABLA)"

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

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and cited as the
 2 "mandatory arbitration and business licensing act (MABLA)".
 3 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 398-
 4 ee to read as follows:
 5 § 398-ee. Mandatory arbitration and business licensing act. 1. Defi-
 6 nitions.
 7 (a) "Person" shall mean any natural person, partnership, corporation,
 8 association or any other legal entity or individual.
 9 (b) "State" shall mean the state of New York and any state department,
 10 board, bureau, division, commission, committee, public benefit corpo-
 11 ration, public authority, council, office or other governmental entity
 12 performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state.
 13 (c) "Local government" shall mean any county, city, town, village,
 14 school district, board of cooperative educational services, local public
 15 benefit corporation or other municipal corporation or political subdivi-
 16 sion of the state.
 17 (d) "Consumer" shall mean an individual person residing in this state
 18 or purchasing consumer goods or services in this state.
 19 (e) "Consumer goods or services" shall mean goods, wares, paid
 20 merchandise or services the intended use or benefit of which is intended
 21 for the personal, family or household purposes or other benefit of such
 22 consumer, including but not limited to services the provision of which
 23 requires the provider to have a covered license.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13149-01-5

 A. 8856 2

 1 (f) "Consumer dispute" shall mean a dispute arising out of a contract
 2 or agreement between a consumer and the seller or provider of consumer
 3 goods or services.
 4 (g) "Covered license" shall mean an occupational, professional, or
 5 business license issued by the state or a local government that is
 6 necessary to: (i) own, operate or provide services as part of or on
 7 behalf of: (A) a transportation network company as defined in section
 8 one thousand six hundred ninety-one of the vehicle and traffic law; (B)
 9 a taxi or for-hire vehicle or commuter van service; (C) a privately
 10 operated bus company, or (D) a rental-car company of any nature; (ii)
 11 own or operate a restaurant, store, or business located in the state
 12 that sells food or liquor to New York residents; (iii) own or operate a
 13 business located in the state that sells firearms; or (iv) provide
 14 medical, dental, chiropractic, nursing home services, or pharmaceutical
 15 products or pharmaceutical services.
 16 (h) "Employer" shall mean any employer within the state and shall mean
 17 any such person, firm, partnership, institution, corporation, or associ-
 18 ation that employs one or more persons.
 19 (i) "Employee" shall mean an individual person residing or employed to
 20 work in this state for an employer.
 21 (j) "Employment dispute" shall mean a dispu