What's happening
This bill increases civil penalties for third-party restaurant reservation services that make unauthorized reservations at food establishments.
Why it matters
Significantly increases financial consequences for violators. By setting the penalty at up to $1,000 per violation, per day, per affected restaurant, the bill creates a strong deterrent for third-party reservation platforms that might otherwise risk unauthorized bookings as a business model.
Focuses accountability on individual violations and businesses. Penalties accrue not just per incident, but for each day and for each restaurant impacted, meaning large-scale or repeated violations could quickly result in substantial fines.
Removes agency-specific enforcement language. By striking language about which state agency handles civil penalties, the bill could streamline or clarify enforcement, potentially allowing for broader or more flexible implementation across agencies.
Strengthens protections for restaurants. The changes ensure that food service establishments have more power to control their customer flow and avoid the disruptions and lost revenue caused by unauthorized reservations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Stop Unauthorized Restaurant Bookings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 34
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A843
- Ordered to third reading cal.51
- Referred to rules
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 Reservations
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Alex Bores
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
777
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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 estab- lishments
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment to L.2024, c.601, to clarify rulemaking provisions.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by removing provisions regarding unspecified agency rulemaking.
Existing law
None.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 601 of the Laws of 2024. S.9365-A and A.10215-A both passed the Senate and Assembly, respectfully, in June 2024.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
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, in relation to violations of provisions 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.