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Senate Commerce Committee advances 11 bills on business support, local media and liquor licensing
Summary
The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator April Baskin, voted to report 11 bills to finance or the calendar, including a gas-stove labeling measure, a local-media support program and proposals to change alcohol licensing rules for small retailers.
The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, chaired by Senator April Baskin, advanced 11 bills during a short floor-style session, reporting most measures to the finance committee or the legislative calendar.
"I'm chair senator, April Baskin," Baskin said at the opening. The package ranged from consumer-labeling proposals and a program to bolster local news to changes in alcoholic beverage licensing and economic development incentives.
On Senate Bill 1280, which would require labeling for gas stoves, Senator Monica Martinez said she had practical concerns about enforcement, stating, "I just for the life of me, I can't really find ... having the attorney general or Department of State to look over a labeling bill, I just don't see that as practical." Senator Krueger, the bill sponsor, responded that "the intent of the bill, senator, is to increase transparency, increase, like, public awareness and health impacts." The committee voted to report the bill out of committee.
Senate Bill 1658, described by Senator Monica Martinez as a response to declining local journalism, would create a 'Lift Our Communities' program to support locally advertised media. Martinez said the bill had been "a long time coming" and highlighted concern about "media deserts" as part of the rationale; the committee reported the measure to finance.
Legislation to alter eligibility for the Excelsior Jobs program, create a public transportation expansion fund, and establish a public registry for vacant commercial storefronts were among other bills moved and referred to finance. Where noted, several bills were reported to the legislative calendar for further consideration.
The committee heard extended remarks on Senate Bill 7909, which would relax rules for off-premise retail liquor license holders. Senator Burrell, who identified himself during debate as a liquor-license holder, criticized the current framework as outdated: "...our laws are incredibly outdated," and called it "fundamentally unfair" that small retailers face limits while large grocery chains can sell alcohol at scale. The bill was moved, seconded and reported to finance.
Votes were taken by voice and recorded motions; the transcript records some dissent (for example, two "nay" votes during the SB1280 discussion and one member recorded "without rec" on another item). The meeting closed after the chair reminded members to submit voting sheets and a motion to adjourn was approved.
Votes at a glance: SB563 (hold requested); SB1280 (gas-stove labeling) — reported out (2 recorded nays); SB1658 (Lift Our Communities) — reported to finance; SB2384 (Excelsior eligibility) — reported to finance; SB5060 (transportation fund) — reported to finance (one "without rec" recorded); SB66268 (vacant storefront registry) — reported to finance; SB7837 (Buy American Buy Union grants) — reported to finance; SB7909 (off-premise liquor license reform) — reported to finance; SB8248 (Empire State Development awareness campaign) — reported to finance; SB8711 (hospitality eligible for Excelsior) — reported to the calendar; SB9543 (alcohol exemption near church) — reported to the calendar.
The committee adjourned after routine closing remarks; no additional hearings were scheduled in the transcript.
