Bill > S08145

This bill, known as the "Prohibiting Elevation of Notorious Names (PENN) Act", establishes new rules for naming state and local public facilities (buildings or real property owned by the state or its political subdivisions). Under the proposed legislation, a public facility cannot be named after a currently serving public officer, which includes elected officials and state or local government employees. Additionally, the bill prohibits naming facilities after any public officer who has been convicted of a felony, mandating that such names must be removed immediately upon conviction, regardless of whether a replacement name has been identified. The law allows facilities already named for a person who was not a public officer at the time of naming to retain that name even if the person later becomes a public officer. Existing facility names in place before this law's effective date can also remain unchanged, with the exception of those belonging to individuals convicted of felonies. The bill aims to prevent potential conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of public facility naming conventions by ensuring that current or convicted public officers are not commemorated through building names.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8145