WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 7956

Prohibits the sale and display of symbols of hate by state funded entities or at state funded events

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chantel Jackson

Prohibits sale and display of symbols of hate by state-funded entities or at state-funded events, affecting agencies, campuses, and contractors.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 7956

Summary of New York Assembly Bill A 7956

Overview

A 7956 is a New York State Assembly bill introduced on April 16, 2025 and currently referred to the Governmental Operations committee. The primary aim, as indicated by the title, is to prohibit the sale and display of symbols of hate by state-funded entities or at state-funded events. The bill has a Senate companion identified as S 7523.

Purpose and Intent

  • To restrict the promotion or presentation of symbols associated with hate by government-related entities and at events funded or supported by the state.
  • The underlying policy goal appears to be reducing the dissemination or public display of hate symbols within state programs, facilities, and programs that rely on state funding.

Key Provisions (as stated by the bill’s title)

  • Prohibition on the sale of symbols of hate by state-funded entities.
  • Prohibition on the display of symbols of hate at state-funded events.

Note: The provided information does not include the full text, so definitions, scope, exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or effective dates are not specified here. The actual bill text would detail these elements.

Scope and Definitions (Unknowns from the provided material)

  • What constitutes a “symbol of hate” (e.g., specific emblems, logos, or iconography) and how it is defined in practice.
  • What entities qualify as “state-funded” (state agencies, public universities, public hospitals, contractors, vendors, etc.) and what constitutes a “state-funded event.”
  • Any exemptions (educational, historical exhibits, artistic expression, religious contexts, emergency situations, etc.).
  • Enforcement, penalties, and remedies for violations.
  • Effective date and any transition periods.

Affected Parties

  • State agencies, departments, and public authorities.
  • Public institutions and programs funded by the state.
  • Vendors, contractors, vendors at state-funded events, and organizations participating in state-funded activities.
  • Individuals employed by or engaging with state-funded entities or events.

Legislative History and Related Actions

  • Introduced: April 16, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to Governmental Operations.
  • Primary sponsor: Chantel Jackson.
  • Companion: S 7523 (listed as the Senate companion; noted twice in the provided information).

Timeline and Next Steps

  • As of now, the bill is in committee referral (Governmental Operations).
  • If advanced, it would proceed to hearings, potential amendments, and floor votes in the Assembly, with a companion path in the Senate for S 7523.
  • Any enacted version would include an effective date and any needed implementing regulations or guidance.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Policy impact: Could limit the sale and display of certain imagery at state-funded venues and programs.
  • Legal considerations: Possible constitutional questions regarding government restrictions on symbols; potential need for clear definitions to avoid overbreadth.
  • Operational impact: Changes to vendor agreements, campus bookstore policies, and event planning procedures at state-funded sites.

Open Questions

  • What exact definitions, exceptions, and enforcement mechanisms would accompany the prohibition?
  • What is the effective date and is there a phased implementation?
  • How will “symbols of hate” be identified and adjudicated in practice?

For a complete understanding, the full bill text will be necessary to review specific definitions, exemptions, enforcement provisions, and timing.

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

Sign in to ask a question.