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Assembly Bill A7399

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to moments of silent meditation in public schools

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Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

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2025-A7399 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Education
Law Section:
Education Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §3029-a, Ed L

2025-A7399 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires teachers to offer students the option to participate in a one-minute period of silent meditation at the beginning of each school day.

2025-A7399 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7399
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 25, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to moments of silence  in
   schools
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Section 3029-a of the education law, as  added  by  chapter
 1204 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
   § 3029-a. Silent  meditation  in  public  schools.   1. In each public
 school classroom, the teacher in charge [may, or  if  so  authorized  or
 directed  by  the board of education by which he is employed,] shall, at
 the opening of school upon every school day, [conduct  a  brief]  PERMIT
 STUDENTS  TO  OBSERVE  A ONE MINUTE period of silent meditation with the
 participation of all the [pupils] STUDENTS therein assembled. SUCH PERI-
 OD OF SILENT MEDITATION SHALL BE UTILIZED  AT  THE  DISCRETION  OF  EACH
 INDIVIDUAL STUDENT.
   2. The silent meditation authorized by [subsection] SUBDIVISION one of
 this [act] SECTION is not intended to be, and shall not be conducted as,
 a religious service or exercise, but may be considered as an opportunity
 for silent meditation on a religious theme by those who are so disposed,
 or  a  moment  of silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the
 day.  As used in subdivision one of  this  section,  the  term  "partic-
 ipation"  shall  be  construed to permit seated participation and not to
 require any [pupil] STUDENT to stand.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10874-01-5

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