NY State Senate Bill 2025-S9932

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications 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
Apr 16, 2026	referred to energy and telecommunications

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §66, Pub Serv L

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the department of public service to assign an administrative law judge to oversee the process in policy proceedings before the public service commission; provides that the department of public service shall be considered a party in policy proceedings.

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9932

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring an
administrative law judge to oversee the process in policy proceedings
before the public service commission

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To improve the transparency, consistency, and efficiency of Public
Service Commission policy proceedings by requiring the assignment of a
trained administrative law judge to oversee procedural aspects of such
proceedings.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill amends section 66 of the public service law by adding a new
subdivision requiring that, in all existing and newly instituted policy
proceedings before the Public Service Commission, the Department of
Public Service assign one or more administrative law judges trained in

mediation and facilitation to oversee the process.

The assigned judge or judges will manage procedural aspects of the
proceeding, including coordinating schedules, facilitating meetings and
technical conferences, resolving discovery disputes, and encouraging
open communication among parties. At the request of any party, the judge
may also act as a mediator on specific issues unless another party
objects.

The bill further clarifies that the Department shall be considered a
party in Such proceedings and that all parties are subject to discovery
under existing rules. It also defines key terms, including "process
administrative law judge," "policy proceeding," and "party," while
explicitly excluding individual consumer complaint matters from the
definition of policy proceedings.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Policy proceedings before the Public Service Commission address complex,
high-impact issues such as utility system planning, affordability, and
industry-wide practices. These proceedings often involve numerous stake-
holders, including utilities, consumer advocates, municipalities, and
state agencies, and can significantly influence energy and utility poli-
cy across New York State.

Despite their importance, these proceedings can lack uniform procedural
structure, leading to inefficiencies, inconsistent practices, and barri-
ers to meaningful participation. Without a clearly designated procedural
lead, parties may face challenges navigating discovery, scheduling, and
dispute resolution, which can delay outcomes and reduce transparency.

By requiring the assignment of a trained administrative law judge to
oversee these proceedings, this bill ensures a more organized, fair, and
predictable process. A dedicated procedural judge can streamline oper-
ations, reduce conflicts, and foster constructive engagement among
stakeholders. This reform will enhance the integrity of the decision-

making process and help ensure that policy outcomes are informed by a
full and fair record.

Establishing clearer procedural oversight aligns with best practices in
administrative adjudication and strengthens the Public Service Commis-
sion's ability to address complex policy challenges effectively.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become law. The Department is authorized to promulgate any
necessary rules and regulations prior to the effective date.

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9932
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 16, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public service law, in relation to requiring an
   administrative law judge to oversee the process in policy  proceedings
   before the public service commission

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 33 to read as follows:
   33. (A) IN REGARD TO EXISTING POLICY PROCEEDINGS, AND UPON ISSUANCE OF
 A COMMISSION ORDER INSTITUTING A NEW POLICY PROCEEDING,  THE  DEPARTMENT
 SHALL  ASSIGN  AN  ADMINISTRATIVE  LAW JUDGE OR JUDGES WHO HAVE RECEIVED
 TRAINING IN MEDIATION AND FACILITATION FROM AN ORGANIZATION CERTIFIED TO
 PROVIDE SUCH TRAINING TO OVERSEE THE PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF THE  PROCEED-
 ING.  THE  PROCESS ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE OR JUDGES SHALL PRESIDE OVER
 ALL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE PROCEEDING FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  ENSURING  AN
 ORDERLY, FAIR, AND EFFICIENT PROCESS BY ESTABLISHING STRUCTURE FOR MEET-
 INGS,  TECHNICAL  CONFERENCES, DISCUSSIONS, AND FILINGS, REDUCING IMPED-
 IMENTS TO PARTICIPATION, AND ENCOURAGING OPEN COMMUNICATION.  AMONG  THE
 TASKS  PERFORMED  BY  THE  JUDGE  OR JUDGES ARE COORDINATING SCHEDULING,
 RESOLVING DISCOVERY DISPUTES, AND FACILITATING ALL  MEETINGS,  TECHNICAL
 CONFERENCES,  AND DISCUSSIONS. AT THE REQUEST OF ANY PARTY, THE JUDGE OR
 JUDGES MAY FUNCTION AS A MEDIATOR IN REGARD TO A PARTICULAR TOPIC UNLESS
 ANOTHER PARTY THAT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME TOPIC OBJECTS.
   (B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PARTY IN POLICY  PROCEEDINGS.
 ALL PARTIES IN POLICY PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY PURSUANT
 TO THE DEPARTMENT'S RULES AND REGULATIONS.
   (C)  AS  USED  IN THIS SUBDIVISION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE
 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I) "PROCESS ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE" OR "JUDGE" SHALL MEAN AN ADMIN-
 ISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE ASSIGNED BY THE  DEPARTMENT  TO  OVERSEE  PROCEDURAL
 ACTIVITIES IN POLICY PROCEEDINGS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15467-01-6

 S. 9932                             2
 
   (II)  "POLICY PROCEEDING" SHALL MEAN ANY PROCEEDING OTHER THAN UTILITY
 RATE PROCEEDINGS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER OR MATTER NUMBER INVOLVING ELEC-
 TRICITY, GAS, STEAM, OR WATER SYSTEM PLANNING, INDUSTRY-WIDE ASPECTS  OF
 THE  PROVISION  OR  FURNISHING  OF ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM, OR WATER, OR
 THAT MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON INDUSTRY-WIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR AFFORDABIL-
 ITY. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, THE TERM "POLICY PROCEED-
 ING"  SHALL  NOT INCLUDE COMMISSION INQUIRIES TRIGGERED BY AN INDIVIDUAL
 CUSTOMER COMPLAINT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION FORTY-THREE OF  THIS  ARTI-
 CLE.
   (III) "PARTY" SHALL MEAN ANY PARTY TO A COMMISSION POLICY PROCEEDING.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S9932

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Leroy Comrie

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9932 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments