Bill > A00675

This bill, known as the Empire State Licensing Act, aims to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to professional, occupational, commercial, or business licenses, permits, certificates, or related registrations regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. It achieves this by amending various laws, including the Civil Rights Law, Public Officers Law, Tax Law, and Education Law, to prohibit discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status when issuing or renewing licenses. The act defines "license" broadly to include any state or local government-issued permission to operate in New York and "issuing entity" as any public body that grants such permissions. It also mandates that issuing entities protect the confidentiality of applicant information and avoid retaining documents that prove place of birth beyond what's necessary for application review, with exceptions for lawful court orders. Furthermore, the bill removes existing requirements for U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for obtaining licenses and prohibits issuing entities from inquiring into an applicant's citizenship or immigration status, while also requiring policies to evaluate relevant experience in lieu of formal education where appropriate and making application processes accessible in other languages if English proficiency isn't essential for the license.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A675