What's happening
This bill requires utilities in New York to study and report on the potential health risks of smart meters.
Why it matters
Potential for Direct Health Policy Impact. By requiring utilities to assess health risks associated with smart meters, the bill could influence future regulations or restrictions on their installation and use, depending on the findings.
Heightened Consumer Awareness and Safety. The inclusion of “recommended safe practices” means the study’s results may lead to new guidelines or public information designed to reduce any identified risks for households and businesses.
Increased Accountability for Utilities. Utilities must not only investigate possible health effects but also publicly report their findings, increasing transparency and potentially holding companies accountable for the health impacts of their technology.
Time-Limited Mandate with Legislative Follow-Up. The law is temporary (expires after two years), but it creates a clear timeline for study and reporting, ensuring that the issue is addressed promptly and that state leaders have comprehensive information for future decision-making.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Health Risks of Smart Meters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1550
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, HARCKHAM, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT directing utilities to study the potential health risks and effects of smart meters; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Public health study of smart meters. 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "smart meter" shall mean a meter that records electrical or natural gas consumption in real-time or over short intervals and communicates such information to a utility through a two-way information exchange.
2. Utilities operating in the state and offering smart meters shall conduct a study of the potential health risks and effects of smart meters including, but not limited to, the risks and effects of the installation of such smart meters, and recommended safe practices associated with the use of smart meters.
3. Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, each utility shall report to the public service commission on its findings. Not later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act, the public service commission shall prepare a comprehensive report to the governor and the legislature setting forth and evaluating the findings of such utilities.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04530-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act directing utilities to study the potential health risks and effects of smart meters; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
This bill will direct utilities and the public service commission to study the effects, and potential health risks associated with smart meters.
Summary of provisions
1. This act will be directing all utilities operating in the state of New York and offering smart meters shall conduct a study of the poten- tial health risks and effects of smart meters.
2. Each utility shall submit their report to the public service commis- sion, no later than a year after the effective date of this act. More- over, the public service commission shall prepare a comprehensive report to be sent to the governor, and the legislature, no later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act.
3. The act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The health risks posed by smart meters has been the subject of studies by many different governments around the world. This is because of the known radio frequencies emitted by these devices. There are many of These devices were installed all across the state of New York. Hence, it is imperative to have a study, which gives New Yorkers a comprehen- sive result on how these devices will affect their health and wellbeing.
Legislative history
2023-24: S2587- REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2021-22: S5578 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2019-20: S6692 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.