S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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11050
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 24, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to keep-
ing professional sports franchises in their home communities
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The arts and cultural affairs law is amended by adding a
new title H to read as follows:
TITLE H
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES
ARTICLE 27
HOME TEAM ACT
SECTION 27.01. DEFINITIONS.
27.03. PROHIBITION ON MOVING AND TERMINATING CERTAIN FRANCHISES.
27.05. APPRAISAL.
27.07. ENFORCEMENT.
§ 27.01. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. THE TERM "COMMUNITY", WITH RESPECT TO A FRANCHISE, MEANS THE METRO-
POLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, AS DETERMINED BY THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF MANAGE-
MENT AND BUDGET, IN WHICH THE FRANCHISE PLAYS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WITHIN ITS LEAGUE OR, WHERE A FRANCHISE DOES
NOT PLAYS ITS GREATEST NUMBER OF REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WITHIN ITS
LEAGUE WITHIN A METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE
FRANCHISE PLAYS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WITHIN
ITS LEAGUE.
2. THE TERM "CONSORTIUM" MEANS A GROUP OF PRIVATE INVESTORS CREATED
SPECIFICALLY FOR A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION OF ACQUIRING A SPORTS FRAN-
CHISE.
3. THE TERM "FRANCHISE" MEANS A MEMBER PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OF A
LEAGUE.
4. THE TERM "FRANCHISE OWNER" MEANS A PERSON WHO OWNS A FRANCHISE.
5. THE TERM "HOME COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE", WITH RESPECT TO A FRANCHISE,
MEANS AN AUTONOMOUS ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS UNITED VOLUNTARILY TO MEET
THEIR COMMON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15483-01-6
A. 11050 2
THROUGH A JOINTLY OWNED AND DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED ENTERPRISE THAT IS
BASED IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE FRANCHISE PLAYS THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WITHIN ITS LEAGUE.
6. THE TERM "LEAGUE" INCLUDES THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THE
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, THE NATIONAL
HOCKEY LEAGUE, MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER, THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE, AND ANY OTHER PROFES-
SIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES DESIGNATED AS SUCH BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
7. THE TERM "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY", WITH RESPECT TO A FRANCHISE,
MEANS ANY UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH JURISDICTION OVER LAND USE DECI-
SIONS IN THE LOCATION IN WHICH THE FRANCHISE PLAYS THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES WITHIN ITS LEAGUE, INCLUDING THE STATE.
8. THE TERM "NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION" MEANS ANY ORGANIZATION REGISTERED
AS A PUBLIC CHARITY OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL
LAW.
9. THE TERM "PRIVATE COMPANY" MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THE SECURITIES
OF WHICH DO NOT TRADE ON PUBLIC MARKETS.
10. THE TERM "PROPER NOTICE", WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSED RELOCATION OR
ELIMINATION OF A FRANCHISE, MEANS NOTICE THAT IS PROVIDED NOT LATER THAN
ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON IN WHICH THE FRANCHISE
IS TO PLAY HOME GAMES IN THE PROPOSED NEW LOCATION OR THE DATE OF FRAN-
CHISE ELIMINATION TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, THE NEWS MEDIA, AND ON ALL
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OF THE FRANCHISE, AND INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMIT-
ED TO:
(A) IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED NEW HOME LOCATION, IF APPLICABLE;
(B) A SUMMARY OF THE REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED RELOCATION OR FRANCHISE
ELIMINATION; AND
(C) THE DATE ON WHICH THE PROPOSED RELOCATION OR FRANCHISE ELIMINATION
WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
11. THE TERM "SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM" MEANS A WEBSITE OR INTERNET MEDI-
UM THAT:
(A) PERMITS A PERSON TO BECOME A REGISTERED USER, ESTABLISH AN
ACCOUNT, OR CREATE A PROFILE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING USERS TO
CREATE, SHARE, AND VIEW USER-GENERATED CONTENT THROUGH SUCH AN ACCOUNT
OR PROFILE;
(B) ENABLES ONE OR MORE USERS TO GENERATE CONTENT THAT CAN BE VIEWED
BY OTHER USERS OF THE WEBSITE OR MEDIUM; AND
(C) PRIMARILY SERVES AS A MEDIUM FOR USERS TO INTERACT WITH CONTENT
GENERATED BY OTHER USERS OF THE WEBSITE OR MEDIUM.
§ 27.03. PROHIBITION ON MOVING AND TERMINATING CERTAIN FRANCHISES. 1.
(A) NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PREEMPT, DIMINISH, OR
INTERFERE WITH THE RIGHT OF EMPLOYEES TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN OVER TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.
(B) NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PREEMPT, DIMINISH,
OR INTERFERE WITH A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT IS IN PLACE ON
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. FRANCHISES WITH A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE STATE SHALL, AS A MATTER OF
PUBLIC POLICY:
(A) BE ABLE TO BE OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC; OR
(B) BE ABLE TO HAVE OWNERSHIP BE TRANSFERRED TO A GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
3. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISIONS FOUR AND FIVE OF THIS SECTION, A
FRANCHISE OWNER MAY NOT MOVE THE FRANCHISE FROM THEIR HOME COMMUNITY,
MOVE THE FRANCHISE FROM THE STATE, OR ELIMINATE THE FRANCHISE UNLESS THE
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FRANCHISE OWNER OFFERS AN ENTITY SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS
SECTION A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE SUCH FRANCHISE.
4. A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A FRANCHISE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
THREE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PROVIDED, IN DESCENDING PRIORITY, TO THE
FOLLOWING ENTITIES WHICH, AS A TERM OF SUCH PURCHASE, SHALL BE REQUIRED
TO KEEP SUCH FRANCHISE WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY:
(A) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR A HOME COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE.
(B) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES IN THE COMMUNITY OR A PUBL-
IC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY WITH A HOME
COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN SUCH
UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
(C) A PRIVATE PERSON, PRIVATE CONSORTIUM, OR COMPANY THAT RESIDES IN
THE COMMUNITY OR OPERATES IN THE COMMUNITY.
5. AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RELOCATION OR ELIMINATION OF A
FRANCHISE, THE FRANCHISE OWNER SHALL:
(A) PROVIDE PROPER NOTICE REGARDING THE PROPOSED NEW LOCATION OF THE
FRANCHISE OR PROPOSED FRANCHISE ELIMINATION TO THE COMPTROLLER, AS
DETERMINED BY THE COMPTROLLER, AND THE COMMUNITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE
SECRETARY OF STATE;
(B) OFFER THE FRANCHISE FOR PURCHASE FOR A FAIR PRICE AS DETERMINED
UNDER SECTION 27.05 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
(C) IF AN OFFER IS MADE WHICH IS AT OR ABOVE THE FAIR PRICE, ACCEPT AN
OFFER MADE BY AN ENTITY, GIVING PRIORITY AS DESCRIBED UNDER SUBDIVISION
FOUR OF THIS SECTION.
§ 27.05. APPRAISAL. 1. UPON A FRANCHISE OWNER PROVIDING PROPER NOTICE
UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION 27.03 OF THIS ARTI-
CLE, THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ESTABLISH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED
APPRAISERS TO EVALUATE A FAIR PRICE FOR A FRANCHISE.
2. THE EVALUATION OF A FAIR PRICE UNDERTAKEN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
SHALL DEDUCT FROM THE APPRAISAL AMOUNT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ANY GOVERN-
MENT PAYMENT, CREDIT, OR SUBSIDY PROVIDED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANY
STADIUM WHERE THE FRANCHISE PLAYED THE MAJORITY OF THEIR HOME GAMES.
§ 27.07. ENFORCEMENT. 1. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ASSESS AGAINST A
FRANCHISE OWNER IN VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE A FINE OF THIRTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR EACH DAY THE OWNER IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF
THIS ARTICLE IN AN APPROPRIATE DISTRICT COURT AGAINST A FRANCHISE OWNER
FOR INJUNCTIVE AND MONETARY RELIEF.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.