Senate Bill S8898

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to requiring venues of public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with federal law

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance 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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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 13, 2026	referred to finance

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §170-k, Exec L

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires venues of public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with federal law; establishes penalties and enforcement mechanisms for the division of human rights and local governments.

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8898

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring venues of
public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with
federal law

 
PURPOSE:

To ensure consistent compliance with federal accessibility standards for
parking at large public venues in New York State by requiring annual
certification, state oversight, and clear enforcement mechanisms.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 sets forth legislative findings emphasizing the importance of
accessible parking for individuals with disabilities and the need for
consistent enforcement beyond existing federal requirements.

Section 2 adds a new § 170-j to the Executive Law to require:  Defi-

nitions: Establishes "venue" as arenas, stadiums, convention centers, or
similar facilities with occupancy of 500 or more, and "accessible park-
ing" as defined under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Requirements: Venues must maintain accessible parking in full compliance
with federal law, ensuring spaces are properly located, signed, striped,
unobstructed, and priced at no more than the lowest available rate.
Annual certification: Venues must file with the Division of Human Rights
(DHR) a yearly certification, including diagrams and attestation by a
licensed architect, engineer, or certified accessibility specialist.
Enforcement: DHR may investigate complaints, conduct random audits of at
least 59,5 of certified venues annually, and impose civil penalties (up
to $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for subsequent offenses within two
years). Municipalities have concurrent enforcement authority, including
fines up to $250 per day after 30 days' notice. Public registry: DHR
will maintain an online database of certified venues and compliance
status. Anti-retaliation: Protects complainants from retaliation, making
such conduct an unlawful discriminatory practice under Article 15.

Section 3 provides that the act takes effect 180 days after enactment,
with DHR authorized to promulgate rules within 90 days.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Accessible parking is fundamental to ensuring that individuals with
disabilities have equitable access to public venues. While the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates such accommodations, enforcement
has proven inconsistent at large facilities, leaving many New Yorkers
without reliable access. This bill strengthens compliance by creating a
clear state-level oversight framework. By requiring annual certif-
ications, independent professional attestations, and random audits, the
legislation ensures that large venues cannot ignore or delay compliance
with federal accessibility standards. The bill also empowers munici-
palities to play a role in enforcement, provides meaningful but reason-
able penalties for non-compliance, and offers protections against retal-
iation for individuals who report violations. By codifying these
requirements, New York will set a strong standard for accessibility,

reduce barriers to participation in public life, and reaffirm the
state's commitment to equity and inclusion for all residents.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None for the State beyond modest administrative costs to the Division of
Human Rights to manage certifications and audits, which may be offset by
civil penalties.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8898
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to  requiring  venues  of
   public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with
   federal law
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares  that  accessible
 parking  is  essential  to  ensuring equitable access to public accommo-
 dations for individuals with disabilities. While federal law  under  the
 Americans with Disabilities Act requires accessible parking, enforcement
 at  large  venues  has proven inconsistent. This legislation establishes
 state oversight, annual certification, and a fair enforcement  structure
 to  ensure consistent compliance without jeopardizing business licensure
 unrelated to accessibility.
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  170-k  to
 read as follows:
   §  170-K.  ACCESSIBLE  PARKING  COMPLIANCE  AT  PUBLIC  VENUES. 1. FOR
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "VENUE" SHALL MEAN ANY ARENA,  STADIUM,  AMPHITHEATER,  CONVENTION
 CENTER, OR SIMILAR FACILITY THAT:
   (I) IS LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK;
   (II) HAS A MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY OF FIVE HUNDRED PERSONS OR MORE; AND
   (III)  HOSTS  PUBLIC  PERFORMANCES, SPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS, EXHIBI-
 TIONS, OR OTHER LARGE PUBLIC GATHERINGS.
   (B) "ACCESSIBLE PARKING" SHALL  MEAN  OFF-STREET  PARKING  SPACES  AND
 RELATED  FACILITIES  THAT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 2010 AMERI-
 CANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STANDARDS FOR  ACCESSIBLE  DESIGN  INCLUDING,
 BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO  SIZE,  SIGNAGE, SURFACING, VAN ACCESSIBILITY, AND
 ROUTE TO ENTRANCE.
   2. (A) EVERY VENUE  SHALL  PROVIDE  AND  MAINTAIN  ACCESSIBLE  PARKING
 FACILITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL STANDARDS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13508-02-6
 S. 8898                             2

 
   (B)  ACCESSIBLE  SPACES  SHALL  BE  LOCATED ON THE SHORTEST ACCESSIBLE
 ROUTE FROM PARKING TO THE PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE,  BE  PROPERLY  SIGNED  AND
 STRIPED, AND BE FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS.
   (C)  ACCESSIBLE  SPACES  SHALL  BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE SAME PRICE OR
 LOWEST RATE OFFERED FOR ANY PARKING ON THE SAME DATE.
   3. (A) EACH VENUE SHALL SUBMIT TO THE  DIVISION  OF  HUMAN  RIGHTS  AN
 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF ACCESSIBLE PARKING COMPLIANCE.
   (B) SUCH CERTIFICATION SHALL INCLUDE:
   (I) A DIAGRAM OF DESIGNATED ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES AND ROUTES;
   (II) A SIGNED ATTESTATION BY A LICENSED ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, OR CERTI-
 FIED ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST THAT SUCH SPACES CONFORM TO FEDERAL STAND-
 ARDS; AND
   (III)  ANY CHANGES MADE DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR AFFECTING THE AVAIL-
 ABILITY OR CONFIGURATION OF ACCESSIBLE PARKING.
   4.  (A)  THE  DIVISION  OF  HUMAN  RIGHTS  SHALL  INVESTIGATE  ALLEGED
 VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION AND MAY CONDUCT RANDOM AUDITS OF NO LESS THAN
 FIVE PERCENT OF CERTIFIED VENUES ANNUALLY.
   (B)  ANY  VENUE  FOUND  TO BE IN VIOLATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL
 PENALTY AS FOLLOWS:
   (I) NOT MORE THAN TWO  THOUSAND  FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  A  FIRST
 OFFENSE; AND
   (II)  NOT  MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE
 OCCURRING WITHIN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
   (C) MUNICIPALITIES SHALL HAVE CONCURRENT AUTHORITY TO  INSPECT  VENUES
 WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION AND ISSUE CORRECTIVE ORDERS OR CIVIL FINES NOT
 TO  EXCEED  TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS PER DAY FOR ONGOING NON-COMPLIANCE
 AFTER THIRTY DAYS' NOTICE.
   5. (A) THE DIVISION SHALL MAINTAIN A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ONLINE  REGIS-
 TRY OF CERTIFIED VENUES AND THEIR COMPLIANCE STATUS.
   (B) ANY PERSON MAY FILE A COMPLAINT UNDER THIS SECTION WITHOUT FEAR OF
 RETALIATION.  RETALIATION  SHALL  CONSTITUTE  AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY
 PRACTICE UNDER ARTICLE FIFTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. The division of human rights  shall  promul-
 gate  any  rules  and regulations necessary to implement this act within
 ninety days of its enactment.

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Senate Bill S8898

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Actions

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Actions

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8898 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments