NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8375

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 09, 2025	print number 8375a
Jun 09, 2025	amend and recommit to rules
Jun 06, 2025	referred to rules

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S8375 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Cannabis Law
Laws Affected:: Add §68-c, Cannabis L

2025-S8375 - Summary

Establishes the "small cannabis farmer relief act" to allow certain cultivators to expand their canopy.

2025-S8375 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8375

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to establishing the "small
cannabis farmer relief act"; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to allow cannabis "distress farmers"
to temporarily increase their cannabis canopy in order meet the expanded
needs of the market.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Names the act as the "small cannabis farmer relief act".

Section 2: The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 68-c.

Section 3: Establishes the effective date and the sunset date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As the New York State cannabis market becomes more developed the need
for allowing cannabis farmers to increase their canopy size has become
more apparent and necessary to supply the market.

This legislation would allow cannabis "distressed farmers" to expand
their canopy size up to double the size for a few growing seasons.  This
adjustment is needed to provide the State's small cannabis cultivators
with an economic opportunity as they are still recovering from losses
associated with the slow roll out of the legal market.

As the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) begins to implement the track
and trace program, the level of inversion in the marketplace will become
more apparent. The MRTA included distress farmers as social and economic
equity applicants keeping with the original intent of the law, their
temporary expanded canopy allowance is justified.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is new legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

This legislation will have no fiscal implications for State or Local
Governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shalt sunset December 81,
2028.

2025-S8375 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8375
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation to establishing the "small
   cannabis farmer relief act"; and providing  for  the  repeal  of  such
   provisions upon expiration thereof

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as  the  "small
 cannabis farmer relief act".
   §  2. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 68-c to read
 as follows:
   §  68-C.  LIMITED  CANOPY  EXPANSION.  1.    (A)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 PROVISION  OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY LICENSEE WHO DURING THE TWO THOU-
 SAND TWENTY-TWO OR TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-THREE  CALENDAR  YEAR  SHALL  BE
 ELIGIBLE TO EXPAND THEIR CANOPY AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B)  LICENSEES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO EXPAND THEIR CULTIVATION CANOPY TO
 UP TO TWICE THE MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE CULTIVATED IN TWO THOUSAND  TWEN-
 TY-TWO  OR  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-THREE, PROVIDED THAT THE EXPANDED AREA
 SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LIMITS  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  CORRESPONDING
 CULTIVATION TIER.
   (C)  VERIFICATION  OF  CANOPY CULTIVATED IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO OR
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE  OFFICE  IN  A  FORM
 PRESCRIBED BY THE OFFICE. DENIALS OF APPLICATIONS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION
 MAY BE APPEALED TO THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD.
   (D) NO ADDITIONAL FEES SHALL BE ASSESSED FOR CANOPY EXPANSIONS AUTHOR-
 IZED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS SUBDIVISION, INCLUDING STANDARD LICENSE RENEWAL
 FEES.
   (E) MICROBUSINESS LICENSEES WHO PREVIOUSLY HELD  AN  ADULT-USE  CONDI-
 TIONAL  CULTIVATOR  LICENSE  SHALL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANOPY EXPANSION
 UNDER THIS SECTION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13242-02-5
 S. 8375                             2

 
   2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, NO  LICENSEE  SHALL
 BE  AUTHORIZED  TO  EXPAND  THEIR  CANOPY BEYOND THE MAXIMUM CULTIVATION
 CANOPY SIZE CURRENTLY PERMITTED UNDER THIS  CHAPTER  AND  ANY  RULES  OR
 REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.
   3.  ANY CANOPY EXPANSION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL REMAIN SUBJECT
 TO COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL, SECURITY,  AND  TESTING
 REGULATIONS.
   §  3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December
 31, 2028 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be  deemed
 repealed.

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Cannabis Law
Laws Affected:: Add §68-c, Cannabis L

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the "small cannabis farmer relief act" to allow certain cultivators to expand their canopy.

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8375A

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to establishing the "small
cannabis farmer relief act"; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to allow cannabis "distress farmers"
to temporarily increase their cannabis canopy in order meet the expanded
needs of the market.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Names the act as the "small cannabis farmer relief act".

Section 2: The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 68-c.

Section 3: Establishes the effective date and the sunset date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As the New York State cannabis market becomes more developed the need
for allowing cannabis farmers to increase their canopy size has become
more apparent and necessary to supply the market.

This legislation would allow cannabis "distressed farmers" to expand
their canopy size up to double the size for a few growing seasons.  This
adjustment is needed to provide the State's small cannabis cultivators
with an economic opportunity as they are still recovering from losses
associated with the slow roll out of the legal market.

As the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) begins to implement the track
and trace program, the level of inversion in the marketplace will become
more apparent. The MRTA included distress farmers as social and economic
equity applicants keeping with the original intent of the law, their
temporary expanded canopy allowance is justified.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is new legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL:

This legislation will have no fiscal implications for State or Local
Governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shalt sunset December 81,
2028.

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8375--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation to establishing the "small
   cannabis  farmer  relief  act";  and  providing for the repeal of such
   provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This  act  shall  be known and may be cited as the "small
 cannabis farmer relief act".
   § 2. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 68-c to  read
 as follows:
   §  68-C.  LIMITED  CANOPY  EXPANSION.  1.    (A)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 PROVISION OF LAW TO THE  CONTRARY,  ANY  LICENSEE  WHO  QUALIFIES  AS  A
 DISTRESSED  FARMER  AND LEGALLY CULTIVATED CANNABIS DURING THE TWO THOU-
 SAND TWENTY-TWO OR TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-THREE  CALENDAR  YEAR  SHALL  BE
 ELIGIBLE TO EXPAND THEIR CANOPY AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B)  LICENSEES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO EXPAND THEIR CULTIVATION CANOPY TO
 UP TO TWICE THE MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE CULTIVATED IN TWO THOUSAND  TWEN-
 TY-TWO  OR  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-THREE, PROVIDED THAT THE EXPANDED AREA
 SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LIMITS  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  CORRESPONDING
 CULTIVATION TIER.
   (C)  VERIFICATION  OF  CANOPY CULTIVATED IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO OR
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE  OFFICE  IN  A  FORM
 PRESCRIBED BY THE OFFICE. DENIALS OF APPLICATIONS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION
 MAY BE APPEALED TO THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD.
   (D) NO ADDITIONAL FEES SHALL BE ASSESSED FOR CANOPY EXPANSIONS AUTHOR-
 IZED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS SUBDIVISION, INCLUDING STANDARD LICENSE RENEWAL
 FEES.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13242-03-5
 S. 8375--A                          2

 
   (E) MICROBUSINESS LICENSEES WHO PREVIOUSLY HELD  AN  ADULT-USE  CONDI-
 TIONAL  CULTIVATOR  LICENSE  SHALL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANOPY EXPANSION
 UNDER THIS SECTION.
   2.  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, NO LICENSEE SHALL
 BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPAND THEIR  CANOPY  BEYOND  THE  MAXIMUM  CULTIVATION
 CANOPY  SIZE  CURRENTLY  PERMITTED  UNDER  THIS CHAPTER AND ANY RULES OR
 REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.
   3. ANY CANOPY EXPANSION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL REMAIN  SUBJECT
 TO  COMPLIANCE  WITH ALL APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL, SECURITY, AND TESTING
 REGULATIONS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire  December
 31,  2028 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
 repealed.

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Senate Bill S8375

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S8375 - Details

2025-S8375 - Summary

2025-S8375 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8375 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Senate Bill S8375

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Sponsored By

Michelle Hinchey

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S8375 - Details

2025-S8375 - Summary

2025-S8375 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8375 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8375A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments