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Senate Consumer Protection Committee reports nine consumer-related bills to first reading
Summary
At its fifth meeting of the 2025 legislative session, the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection reported nine bills to first reading on the Senate calendar, covering towing cleanup, toxic substances in toys, wheelchair-repair rights, vehicle subscription fees and other consumer issues.
Sen. Rachel May, chair of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection, presided over the committee’s fifth meeting of the 2025 legislative session in Albany and reported nine bills to first reading on the Senate calendar.
The measures considered cover a range of consumer issues, including requirements for cleanup after tows, prohibitions on certain substances in toys and child-care products, a Consumer Wheelchair Repair Bill of Rights, limits on post-sale vehicle subscription fees, hair-relaxer labeling, prohibitions on repossession clauses in pet purchase or financing contracts, accessible licensing documents from the Department of State, mobile barbershop owner licenses and limits on sales of xylazine by weight.
The committee moved and seconded each bill and, where recorded in the transcript, there were no recorded nays. Committee members registered “AWR” (as noted in the record) on a small number of items; the transcript does not define that abbreviation.
Among the items discussed, Sen. May called attention to the Consumer Wheelchair Repair Bill of Rights as a new measure brought forward by Sen. Fahey and said she was "excited that we were able to bring it forward." The committee also considered a bill that would prohibit motor-vehicle manufacturers and dealers from charging subscription fees for certain vehicle functions after sale, a proposal the chair described with the example of heated seats later being charged through an app subscription.
A bill by Senator Fernandez to restrict the sale of xylazine above a specified weight was likewise reported to first reading; a member who spoke in favor said she co-sponsored a separate bill to make xylazine a controlled substance and called the committee measure "a great bill." Several bills had prior actions noted in the transcript: some measures previously passed one house in 2023 or 2024 and were before the committee for the Senate calendar.
Votes at a glance (committee action): - Senate Bill 1172 (sponsor: Sen. Matera) — Amends General Business Law to require towing companies to clean up debris in the surrounding area resulting from vehicles they tow. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 2540 (sponsor: Sen. Myrie) — Amends General Business Law to prohibit manufacture, distribution and sale of toys and child-care products containing specified prohibited substances. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Consumer Wheelchair Repair Bill of Rights (Senate Bill 3XXX, sponsor: Sen. Fahey; bill labeled in transcript as a new bill) — Enacts consumer protections for wheelchair repair. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 5708 (sponsor: Sen. Skidless) — Amends General Business Law to prohibit motor-vehicle manufacturers and dealers from charging subscription fees for certain functions after the vehicle is sold. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 6723 (sponsor: Sen. Baskin) — Hair relaxer labeling requirements. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 822A (sponsor: Sen. Generis) — Prohibits contracts for purchase or financing of a dog or cat from including provisions allowing repossession of the animal. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 7483 (sponsor: Sen. May) — Requires the Department of State to make renewed appearance-enhancement licenses and barber licenses available in an accessible document format on its website. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 7585 (sponsor: Sen. Clear) — Authorizes owners of mobile barbershops to obtain barbershop owners’ licenses. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar. - Senate Bill 7668 (sponsor: Sen. Fernandez) — Amends General Business Law to prohibit sale of xylazine above a certain weight. Outcome: reported to first reading on the calendar.
The committee clerk and counsel were thanked by the chair for their work during the meeting; no final floor votes on the measures were recorded in committee beyond reporting to first reading. The meeting concluded after the nine bills were moved, seconded and reported.
