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A 4900

Prohibits members of the legislature from obtaining funding to provide to any business entities in which such members, domestic partners or certain relatives hold official or legal positions

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dana Levenberg

Prohibits legislators from obtaining funding to a business entity where the legislator, their domestic partner, or certain relatives hold an official or legal position.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4900

Summary of New York A 4900 (2025)

Overview

A 4900, introduced February 10, 2025 and currently REFERRED to the Governmental Operations committee, would prohibit members of the legislature from obtaining funding to provide to any business entities in which the member, their domestic partner, or certain relatives hold official or legal positions. The primary sponsor is Dana Levenberg.

Purpose and intent

  • To strengthen ethical standards and reduce potential conflicts of interest by preventing legislators from directing or funneling funds to businesses in which they or close family/household members have positions of influence.
  • Aligns with ongoing concerns about impartiality in appropriations and funding decisions by lawmakers.

Key provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title)

Because the full text is not provided, the following provisions are based on the title and typical legislative framing. The actual bill text will define and clarify:
- A prohibition on legislators obtaining funding that is to be provided to a business entity in which the legislator, their domestic partner, or certain relatives hold an official or legal role (e.g., board membership, managerial or governance positions).
- Coverage likely includes state or public funds allocated for grants, contracts, subsidies, or other funding mechanisms that could be disbursed to the affected business entities.
- Scope may specify which relatives are included (e.g., spouse, domestic partner, relatives by blood or marriage) and what constitutes an “official or legal position.”

Who is affected

  • Members of the state legislature and potentially their domestic partners or specified relatives.
  • Business entities in which such individuals hold positions of influence (e.g., ownership, board seats, executive roles) and that would be the recipient of funded awards, grants, contracts, or other public funding.
  • Public agencies or program administrators that dispense funding and would need to comply with the prohibition.

Legislative process and timeline

  • Introduced: February 10, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Governmental Operations committee (sponsor: Dana Levenberg).
  • Legislative path typically would proceed through committee consideration, potential amendments, floor votes, and passage by both legislative houses before moving to the governor (if applicable). No further dates are provided.

Related context

  • Related bills from prior sessions (A 5006, A 5718, A 9864, A 6808, A 4634, A 6463, A 5491) suggest an ongoing effort to tighten ethics and conflicts-of-interest rules in relation to funding decisions.

Notes

  • The exact definitions of terms such as “funding,” “business entity,” “domestic partner,” “certain relatives,” and “official or legal positions” will be found in the body of the bill. The current summary reflects the bill’s stated objective and the information available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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