What's happening
This bill amends penalties for third-party restaurant reservation services that make unauthorized reservations with food service establishments.
Why it matters
Narrows the scope of violations. By removing language about violations of rules "promulgated pursuant thereto," the bill limits penalties strictly to violations of the statutory provision itself, rather than any additional rules or interpretations that agencies might issue later. This could reduce the risk of unexpected or expanded future enforcement against third-party reservation services.
Clarifies who can enforce penalties. The bill eliminates the provision allowing any state agency to bring proceedings for civil penalties or restitution, potentially centralizing or limiting which government entities can enforce the law. This may impact how vigorously or consistently the law is enforced across the state.
Maintains substantial daily penalties. The law continues to impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per day, per restaurant. This preserves a strong deterrent against unauthorized reservations, signaling that the state is committed to protecting restaurants from disruptive third-party practices, but now with more clearly defined boundaries for what constitutes a violation.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Stop Unauthorized Restaurant Reservations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.27
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- 3rd reading cal.51
- Substituted for S777
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.14
- Rules report cal.14
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
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 Unauthorized Restaurant Bookings
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Nathalia Fernandez
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
843
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. BORES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to violations of provisions prohibiting third-party restaurant reservation services from arranging unauthorized restaurant reservations with food service establishments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 391-w of the general business law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the general business law relating to prohibiting third-party restaurant reservation services from arranging unauthorized restaurant reservations with food service establishments, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9365-A and A. 10215-A, is amended to read as follows:
3. Any person who violates, or causes another person to violate, a provision of this section [or any rule promulgated pursuant thereto], shall be subject to a civil penalty that shall not exceed one thousand dollars for each violation. Violations by third-party restaurant reservation services under this section shall accrue on a daily basis for each day and for each food service establishment with respect to which a violation of this section [or any rule promulgated pursuant to this section] was committed. [A proceeding to recover any civil penalty or restitution authorized pursuant to this section may be brought within any agency of the state designated to conduct such proceedings.]
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the general business law relating to prohibiting third-party restaurant reservation services from arranging unauthorized restaurant reservations with food service establishments, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9365-A and A. 10215-A, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02932-01-5
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.