Bill > A05485

This bill amends the New York Executive Law to add a new constraint on local emergency orders issued by county, city, town, or village chief executives during states of emergency. Specifically, the bill mandates that any emergency order issued during a local state of emergency cannot violate Section 291 of the Executive Law, which relates to ensuring equality of opportunity as a civil right. Under current law, local chief executives can declare a state of emergency lasting up to 30 days (with potential 30-day extensions) and issue emergency orders to protect life and property or control emergency situations. The new provision ensures that while these leaders retain broad emergency powers, they must simultaneously respect civil rights protections, preventing the creation or enforcement of orders that would discriminate against or unequally impact individuals. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage, adding an important civil rights safeguard to the existing emergency management framework.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5485