Senate adopts multiple bills including facial recognition and lithium-ion battery study measures

The New York State Senate used its March 13 floor session to advance a range of measures, adopting a number of bills by recorded roll call.

The chamber passed the Facial Recognition Technology Study Act (calendar No. 431, Senate print 3699), which the clerk reported as carrying 58 ayes and 2 nays. The act orders a study of facial recognition technology and related uses.

The Senate also approved a bill authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention (calendar No. 456, Senate print 257). Multiple senators explained their votes during the roll call. One senator said he supported the study but warned it was “ironic or dangerous” to proceed with electric school bus mandates without decisive answers on battery fire risks, citing rural-route operational concerns. Sen. White said he supported the study while reiterating concerns about mandates that require districts to purchase and operate electric buses before fire-suppression and stabilization protocols are established. The clerk announced the lithium-ion study bill passed with 60 ayes.

The chamber approved additional measures across education, public authorities, public authorities law amendments and statutory updates; where the clerk read final sections the bills were recorded as passed and effective dates were noted in several instances (some measures to take effect immediately, other measures with future effective dates).

Most calendar items were noncontroversial and were adopted as read; a small number were laid aside for the day. The Senate returned later in the day to consider a contested calendar item directing relocation of the Central New York Welcome Center to Auburn, which it ultimately passed.