Extends certain provisions authorizing an occupancy tax in the town of Skaneateles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rachel May

Extends Skaneateles occupancy tax authority to impose and collect lodging taxes, directing revenues to current uses, affecting hotels, guests, and local tourism programs.

SIGNED CHAP.280

What the bill does (purpose)

The bill extends existing statutory provisions that authorize an occupancy tax in the town of Skaneateles. An occupancy tax is a lodging tax applied to the rental of hotel/motel-type accommodations and related lodging within the town. By extending these provisions, the town maintains the authority to impose, collect, and administer such a tax and to use the resulting revenues as provided by law.

Legislative history and status

Primary sponsor: Sen. Rachel May.

Companion bill: A 7901.

Key milestones:

Referred to Investigations and Government Operations: March 4, 2025.
Referred to Ways and Means: May 27, 2025.
Passed the Senate: May 27, 2025.
Delivered to the Assembly: May 27, 2025.
Assembly actions: Advanced to third reading; passed Assembly (June 13, 2025); returned to Senate; home rule request; substituted for A 7901; readied for Governor.
Delivery to Governor: August 4, 2025.
Signed into law: August 7, 2025.
Enacted as Chapter 280 (SIGNED CHAP. 280) on August 7, 2025.

Key provisions and changes (as implied by the title)

Extends the occupancy tax authority for the town of Skaneateles—i.e., continues the ability of the town to impose and collect a lodging occupancy tax from guests staying in lodging establishments within the town.

Maintains the framework for collection, administration, and distribution of tax revenues under existing state law (the extension presumably preserves current rates, scopes, and uses unless otherwise specified in the bill text).

The companion bill (A 7901) suggests parallel action in the Assembly, ensuring consistency across chambers.

Who is affected

Lodging providers in Skaneateles (hotels, motels, inns, bed-and-breakfasts, short-term rental properties, and other establishments collecting occupancy taxes).

Guests and visitors staying in those accommodations will be subject to the occupancy tax as administered under town and state law.

Town government and related local administrative bodies that collect, allocate, or audit occupancy tax revenues.

Local tourism-related programs and services funded by occupancy tax revenues (e.g., tourism promotion, infrastructure, events), subject to the town’s use of the proceeds.

Fiscal and timeline notes

The bill preserves the local tax authority and revenue stream associated with occupancy taxes in Skaneateles.

Total fiscal impact depends on current tax rate, revenue collected, and uses approved by the town under existing law; those specifics are not provided in the summary.

Effective date: The act became law upon signing on August 7, 2025 (Chapter 280).

Additional context

The bill’s passage across both chambers and the existence of a companion measure (A 7901) indicate cross-chamber alignment on extending the occupancy tax authority for Skaneateles.

Sponsor: Sen. Rachel May.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison with the companion A 7901 or translate this into a plain-language brief for local stakeholders.

Bill