ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The government will implement several new statewide laws on January 1, 2025, followed by several more throughout January, February, and March. From moped registrations to doulas to flu shots, check out a selection of what goes into effect and when throughout the first quarter of the New Year.
New York City implements congestion pricing on January 5.
On January 7, S7703B/A8450B requires the buyer and seller of a limited-use motorcycle—a moped or motor scooter—to register the vehicle with the state.
S7503B/A1910B requires operating manuals to come with lithium-ion batteries, electric bikes, scooters, and related devices that explain, in various languages, how to use and store them safely.
S7744D/A8310C requires stores and dealers to put safety stickers on electric bikes and micromobility devices like scooters, telling riders to obey traffic laws, yield to pedestrians, and not to ride on the sidewalk when it's not allowed locally.
S6649/A2882 requires gun dealers to post warnings about the risks of using guns—like suicide or accidental deaths—and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. Licensing officers also have to provide this warning to people with permits.
Starting January 12, S8865/A5790B makes assisted living facilities transparently share quality reports and pricing details, both online and on-site. It lets top-performing facilities earned “advanced standing”—meaning fewer inspections—and lets facilities get accredited.
S2464B/A6957A requires car washes to clearly share expiration dates for promotions, related costs, and how often the costs apply in ads, online, and on-site or risk a $500 fine per violation.
S9283/A7516A requires hospitals and birth centers to include information about congenital heart defect births, treatments, and other details in the leaflets given to maternity patients.
S9420/A10344 defines “parametric insurance” as coverage for weather-related events and requires insurers to communicate that it can't substitute for property or flood insurance, and that mortgagees cannot accept it.
Starting January 16, S7833A/A8467A expands the definition of “drug adulterant testing supplies” to include products that test for substances like xylazine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogs.
As of January 21, S8348A/A8365A creates a public awareness campaign about oral health, the causes and prevention of oral disease, and the availability of local oral health services.
On February 6, S3340/A5873 creates a computerized statewide registry for extreme risk protection orders, making them easier to track and enforce by sharing them with the right agencies.
Starting February 9, S7544/A7173 requires all state agencies to appoint at least one employee as a veterans' liaison to help veterans with services, keep communication flowing, and make sure their needs are met across different agencies.
As of February 11, S7462B/A10529 lets retired teachers who return to public service combine their service credit earned before and after retirement if they’ve worked at least two years. They must pay back their previous pension or accept a reduced benefit.
Around February 17, S9365A/A10215 requires a contract between a restaurant and a third-party platform granting them permission to arrange reservations, with daily fines for unauthorized listings.
On February 20, S4199/A2866 requires the superintendent of the Department of Financial Services to set rules for hurricane windstorm insurance deductibles, making them more uniform. It also mandates clear notices for homeowners explaining when and how deductibles apply to their policies.
S7177B/A5984B lets doctors and nurse practitioners who work in emergencies rooms at hospitals that don't have a full-time pharmacy give their patients a 24-hour supply of controlled substances, or longer if the drug has federal authorization for treatment like detox.
S9550/A9886 requires hospitals to offer flu shots to patients age 50 and up and pneumococcal vaccines to those 65 and up, unless there's a shortage, the patient has already received it, or if their health status, allergies or medical conditions could make the shot dangerous.
As of February 23, S932D/A4667B requires health clubs—like gyms, spas, and martial arts studios—to cancel memberships via email, phone, and websites, and expands the reasons a member can cancel. It also shortens cancellation and refund deadlines.
Starting February 24, S7739B/A8994A requires wireless companies to disable or not activate stolen devices like phones.
And the Retail Worker Safety Act—S8358C/A8947C—also takes effect on February 24. It requires retailer employers to create and enforce programs that prevent workplace violence, like training, a written policy, and panic buttons.
As of March 11, S5992A/A6168A requires maternal healthcare facilities to let expecting and new mothers have access to their designated doulas during delivery and inpatient care.
On March 13, S7781A/A9169A requires New York prisons—through the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision—to create yearly plans to protect inmates and staff from extreme heat, mandating access to fans, water, ice and cooling stations.
S4674A/A5803B creates a statewide registry to track Parkinson's disease cases, requiring doctors to report diagnoses while letting patients opt out of sharing detailed information.
S5502/A4199 requires courts and district attorneys to give crime victims and their families or guardians detailed information about their rights, including free copies of parole hearing transcripts.
S5808A/A3498A increases how much sheriffs can charge for legal services like serving papers, conducting evictions, and making arrests.
Starting March 22, S940/A6637 blocks employers, schools, and government agencies from requiring people to show copies of their own criminal history records, though they can still conduct background checks.
As of March 25, S509B/A28C makes food delivery apps and websites—including everything from a restaurant's own site to third-party delivery services—to add visible links to official health department inspection records and grades, with fines up to $100 for violations.
And around March 25, 2025, S885C/A4130C requires short-term rental hosts to add their properties to a registry.
This is not an exhaustive list of every single law taking effect in New York in 2025. It's not even a full list of all the laws taking effect in the first three months. A roundup of new laws taking effect on January 1 is already available, and another roundup of new laws taking effect throughout the rest of the year will be available soon.
