Bill > S01381

This bill amends the arts and cultural affairs law to provide protections and define standards for art authenticators, who are experts in verifying the authenticity, attribution, or authorship of fine art or visual art. The bill defines an authenticator as a recognized expert in the visual arts community who provides professional opinions about the origin or legitimacy of an artwork, excluding individuals with direct financial interests in the artwork. In civil lawsuits concerning authentication, the bill requires claimants to specify facts with particularity and prove their claims by clear and convincing evidence. Importantly, if an authenticator prevails in a lawsuit challenging their opinion, they are entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, which provides legal protection for professionals who offer expert assessments of artwork. The bill aims to create a more structured and fair process for resolving disputes about the authenticity of artworks, protecting authenticators from frivolous lawsuits while maintaining standards for professional art authentication. The law will take effect 60 days after becoming law and will apply to authentication opinions provided after that date.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1381