Bill > A01550

This bill amends Section 902 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules to prevent courts from denying class action certification exclusively because a lawsuit involves governmental operations. Specifically, the legislation modifies existing law that outlines the criteria for determining whether a lawsuit can proceed as a class action. Currently, courts consider factors such as individual plaintiffs' interests in separate actions, the efficiency of group litigation, existing related lawsuits, and potential management challenges. The proposed change adds a crucial provision that explicitly prohibits courts from using governmental involvement as the sole reason to reject class certification. This means that if a class action lawsuit addresses issues related to government activities or agencies, the court cannot automatically dismiss the case's class action status based on that factor alone. The bill aims to ensure broader access to legal remedies by preventing procedural barriers that might limit collective legal action against government entities. The amendment would take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1550