S405

The New York State Senate passed Senate Print 405, sponsored by Senator Myrie, an act to amend the Tax Law, on a roll call vote of 55-1. Senator Walczyk cast the sole vote in opposition. The bill, which carried Calendar Number 745, takes effect immediately upon passage. No floor debate on the measure was recorded.

The New York State Senate passed legislation amending the Public Service Law to provide ratepayers with resources to intervene in utility rate cases, with a 41-18 vote along largely partisan lines. Senate Print 405, sponsored by Sen. Parker, would fund intervenor participation in Public Service Commission proceedings at an estimated cost of $2-3 million annually. Parker, chair of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee, argued the measure is necessary to help ratepayers combat utilities that spend tens of millions on legal fees to raise rates. "It is interesting to me that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who beat the drum about how much things are going to cost now allow utilities...to raise their constituents' utility bills, don't want to spend a couple of million dollars to allow those constituents to be able to fight back," Parker said. Sen. Martins led opposition, contending the bill is too broad and will create a "cottage industry" of special interest groups and lobbyists funded by ratepayers. He argued that existing state mechanisms—including the Public Service Commission itself, the Attorney General's office, and the Utility Intervention Unit—already adequately protect ratepayers. Parker countered that the $2-3 million cost is negligible compared to utility budgets and that the bill cannot raise rates since utilities can only pass costs through approved rate cases. The bill passed with support from Democratic senators and opposition from Republicans.