What's happening
The "lawn litter law act" makes businesses automatically liable for violations if their information appears on unsolicited advertising materials.
Why it matters
Expands liability for unsolicited ads. The bill makes any business whose identifying information appears on unsolicited advertising materials automatically presumed liable for violations—regardless of how many properties received the materials. This means even a single instance could trigger liability.
Removes the "two or more premises" requirement. Under current law, liability only applies if ads are placed at two or more locations; this bill eliminates that threshold, making it easier for authorities to hold businesses accountable for lawn litter.
Strengthens enforcement against unwanted advertising. By making it easier to prove responsibility, the bill aims to reduce lawn litter and discourage businesses from distributing unsolicited materials, potentially keeping neighborhoods cleaner and reducing nuisance litter.
Potential impact on small businesses and advertisers. Businesses may need to be more cautious about their advertising practices, as even one improperly distributed flyer could result in legal or financial consequences.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Stop Unwanted Lawn Flyers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Stop Unwanted Lawn Ads
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1336
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the "lawn litter law act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "lawn litter law act".
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 397-a of the general business law, as amended by chapter 3 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
3. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person whose name, telephone number, or other identifying information appears on any unsolicited advertising materials described in subdivision one of this section [and placed at two or more premises] shall be liable for any violations of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00431-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.