Relates to actions or practices that establish or maintain a monopoly, monopsony or restraint of trade, and authorizes a class action lawsuit in the state anti-trust law

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Gallagher and 4 co-sponsors

Expands New York anti-trust law by allowing class-action suits against monopolies, monopsonies, or restraints of trade, boosting private enforcement and deterrence.

REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Overview

** bill number:** A 2015

Title: Relates to actions or practices that establish or maintain a monopoly, monopsony or restraint of trade, and authorizes a class action lawsuit in the state anti-trust law

Introduced: January 14, 2025

Status: Referred to the Economic Development committee

Classification: Bill

Sponsors: Crystal Peoples-Stokes (primary); Sarahana Shrestha (cosponsor); Tommy Schiavoni (cosponsor); Emily Gallagher (cosponsor); Anna Kelles (cosponsor)

Related bills: S 335 (companion; also listed), S 933 (prior-session), A 10323 (prior-session)

Purpose and Intent

The bill appears to strengthen New York’s anti-trust framework by focusing on actions or practices that create, sustain, or reinforce monopolies, monopsonies, or restraints of trade.

It would authorize a class action lawsuit under the state anti-trust law, enabling private groups of plaintiffs to pursue antitrust claims collectively.

Key Provisions (as indicated)

Targeted conduct: The bill explicitly addresses actions or practices that establish or maintain monopoly power, monopsony power, or restraints of trade.

Private enforcement: It authorizes a class action mechanism under the state anti-trust law, allowing multiple plaintiffs with common interests to sue as a group.

The specific definitions, standards of proof, remedies, exact scope of conduct covered, statute of limitations, and procedural rules are not detailed in the provided summary.

Note: The exact text of provisions (e.g., definitions of monopoly/monopsony, what constitutes impermissible conduct, damages, attorney’s fees, and any exemptions or defenses) is not included in the information provided.

Affected Parties and Impact

Potential plaintiffs: Individuals, businesses, or entities harmed by anti-competitive practices that create or sustain market power could join a class action under the new framework.

Defendants: Entities alleged to engage in monopolistic, monopsonistic, or restraint-of-trade practices.

Broader impact: By enabling class actions, the bill could increase private antitrust enforcement and potentially raise deterrence against anti-competitive conduct, while also affecting litigation dynamics, insurance costs, and corporate compliance programs.

Legislative Process and Timelines

Current stage: Referred to Economic Development (as of January 14, 2025).

The bill has several related or companion measures (S 335; S 933; A 10323), indicating cross-chamber and prior-session interest in antitrust reform.

No specified implementation date is given; typical next steps would include committee hearings, potential amendments, floor votes, and consideration by the other chamber.

Additional Context

The presence of companion and related bills suggests alignment with ongoing discussions on modernizing state antitrust tools and expanding private rights of action.

Stakeholders may include consumer and business advocates, competition policymakers, and industries with exposure to antitrust litigation risk.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill’s framework to existing New York antitrust provisions or map out a potential impact assessment once the full text is available.

Bill