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Bill

A 11046

Requires the division for small-business to publish a small business compliance guide

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marianne Buttenschon and 1 co-sponsor

The bill establishes a yearly Small Business Compliance Guide with plain-language summaries of the previous year’s regulatory changes, plus an annual public awareness campaign.

REFERRED TO SMALL BUSINESS
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Bill Summary · A 11046

Summary of Bill A. 11046 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

  • Requires the Division for Small Business (within the Economic Development Law) to create and publish a dedicated Small Business Compliance Guide.
  • The guide is intended to inform small business owners and operators about statutory and regulatory changes that took effect in the previous calendar year, and to provide practical, plain-language explanations and resources to assist with compliance.
  • The bill also establishes a yearly public awareness campaign to promote the guide and educate small businesses about regulatory changes and available resources.

Key provisions

1) Administrative Procedure Act updates (Section 1)
- Updates to Sections 202-e(1) and 202-e(2) of the State Administrative Procedure Act:
- Agencies must, at least annually, submit to the Secretary of State for publication in the State Register a list of all guidance documents relied upon, including how the public can inspect or obtain copies.
- The Department of Environmental Conservation is exempt from these requirements.
- Guidance published under the Economic Development Law § 138-a must be published in the State Register.
- Agencies may provide access to guidance documents under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and may charge FOIL-based copying fees.
- The Secretary of State may exempt an agency from these requirements if the agency has published on its website the full text of all current guidance documents it relies on, with limited exceptions for guidance documents published under § 138-a.

2) New requirement: Small business compliance guide (Section 2)
- Enacts new Economic Development Law § 138-a:
- The Division for Small Business must compile and publish a Small Business Compliance Guide by January 31 each year, in consultation with other state agencies as needed.
- The guide must inform small business owners about statutory and regulatory changes that took effect in the previous calendar year.
- Content areas to be covered include permits, licenses, taxes, insurance, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, wages, hours, and benefits.
- The guide should present statutory and regulatory changes in plain, understandable language and minimize the use of technical terms.
- The guide must include contact information for relevant state agencies.

3) Publication and outreach (Section 2 - continued)
- The Commissioner must publish the guide on the Division for Small Business’s website.
- The Division must conduct an annual public awareness campaign to promote the guide, using forums, social media, and mass media (internet, radio, print), and include materials on the Division’s website.
- The Division must coordinate with statewide and regional business advocacy organizations.
- The campaign should educate small business owners/operators about the guide’s availability and other resources to help comply with changes.

4) Effective date (Section 3)
- The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Small business owners and operators in New York State will be the primary beneficiaries, gaining access to an annual, plain-language guide detailing regulatory changes and compliance considerations.
  • State agencies and the Division for Small Business will have new reporting, publishing, and outreach responsibilities.
  • The public and other stakeholders (e.g., business advocacy groups) may participate in the annual awareness campaign and access the guide through the Division’s website and the State Register process.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Annual cycle:
    • By January 31 each year: The Small Business Compliance Guide is compiled and published on the Division’s website.
    • The guide covers regulatory changes effective in the prior calendar year.
  • Ongoing:
    • The Division conducts an annual public awareness campaign and coordinates with external groups to promote and assist with compliance.
    • Agencies must, at least annually, list guidance documents (and provide access) in the State Register, with FOIL access as applicable; exemptions apply for ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION and for certain published guidance.
  • Immediate effect: The act would take effect as soon as enacted.

Notable details

  • Content focus areas include permits, licenses, taxes, insurance, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, wages, hours, and benefits.
  • Emphasis on plain language and reducing reliance on legal/technical jargon to improve accessibility for small businesses.
  • The State Register publishing requirement and the new § 138-a guide work in tandem to improve transparency and awareness of regulatory changes.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing or a comparison with similar prior initiatives for context.

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

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