Senate Consumer Protection Committee advances eight bills on privacy, credit and safety to first reading

Senate Committee on Consumer Protection Chair Sen. Rachel May said the committee advanced eight bills to first reading on the Senate calendar after a brief session that included measures on biometric privacy, credit notifications and consumer data retention.

“Just yesterday, over a trillion dollars in student debt became eligible for involuntary collections,” Chair Rachel May said as she opened the meeting, adding that recent federal changes made the committee’s work in New York timely. She also thanked staff member Kristen Williams for raising an item related to security freezes.

The panel reported seven bills to first reading on the Senate calendar and sent one bill to the Senate Internet and Technology Committee for further consideration. Most items were moved and seconded with short remarks; only a single recorded dissent was noted on the biometric privacy measure.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 1314 (sponsor: Senator Gunnariz): An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to false representation of affiliation or approval of state or local agencies. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; no recorded opposition noted.)

- Senate Bill 1422 (sponsor: Senator Liu): An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to biometric privacy. Outcome: Reported to the Internet and Technology Committee. Recorded vote note: Senator Weber recorded in the negative; other committee members voted in favor by voice vote.

- Senate Bill 1541 (sponsor: Senator Raine): An act to require bicycles advertised for sale or resale in New York State to have an identifying serial number. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; voice vote.)

- Senate Bill 1859 (sponsor: Senator Mowery): An act to amend the General Business Law to require credit‑card issuers to give a cardholder at least 45 days’ notice before closing the cardholder’s account. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; voice vote.)

- Senate Bill 4413 (sponsor: Senator May): An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to deletion of a consumer’s financial information after cancellation of an automatic renewal or continuous service. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; voice vote.)

- Senate Bill 4879 (sponsor: Senator Kaye): An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to establishing standards for glass repair and calibration of advanced driver assistance systems. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; brief discussion acknowledging the technical nature of modern automobile glass.)

- Senate Bill 4879 (alternate transcript notation by sponsor Feige): Moved and seconded; no opposition recorded. (Transcript indicates overlapping references to glass/repair sponsors; the bill was advanced to first reading.)

- Senate Bill 5598 (sponsor: Senator May): An act amending the General Business Law and the Civil Practice Law and Rules in relation to protecting private education loan borrowers and cosigners. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Moved and seconded; voice vote.)

- Senate Bill 061946 (transcript notation): An act to amend the General Business Law in relation to requiring entities that access a consumer’s credit report to notify the consumer of their right to obtain a security freeze. Outcome: Reported to first reading on the calendar. (Chair credited staff member Kristen Williams for bringing the issue to attention; moved and seconded.)

Discussion and context

Most items received short remarks from committee members about why the measure matters to consumers. Chair May said volatility in federal rule‑making and changes affecting student loan collections made certain bills particularly timely. Members raised practical concerns in a few instances — for example, a brief exchange acknowledged that modern automobile glass can contain high‑tech components tied to driver‑assistance systems, which can affect the cost and standards for repair — but those points did not delay votes.

The biometric privacy bill was the only item the transcript records a negative vote for: Senator Weber was recorded as voting no before the bill was sent to the Internet and Technology Committee for further work. Several other items were advanced by unanimous voice votes or with “no opposition” recorded.

Next steps

All advanced bills will proceed to first reading on the Senate calendar; one bill will receive additional committee review in the Internet and Technology Committee as noted. The committee concluded its legislative business after the recorded motions and votes.