New York Assembly Bill A05214

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the "Not on our dollar!: Ending New York funding of Hamas violence act" to prohibit not-for-profit corporations from engaging in unauthorized support of Hamas and nations known to fund middle-eastern terrorist group activity; allows for recovery of a civil penalty by the state attorney general; creates a private right of action for violations.

Summary

A05214 would add a new section to New York’s Not-for-Profit Corporation Law creating the “Not on our dollar!: Ending New York funding of Hamas violence act.” The bill declares that unauthorized support of Hamas and certain foreign governments or entities described in the bill as supporting middle-eastern terrorist activity is against public policy and inconsistent with charitable purposes. It defines the prohibited conduct broadly to include aiding or abetting acts tied to Hamas violence, forced transfer or kidnapping, and destruction or confiscation of property and infrastructure in Israel, as framed by reference to international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. The bill authorizes the New York Attorney General to sue not-for-profit corporations, and their trustees, directors, managers, officers, or agents, for knowingly engaging in prohibited conduct and to recover a civil penalty of at least $1 million. It also creates a private right of action for injured individuals to seek injunctions, actual damages, and attorneys’ fees, and it allows charitable corporations to be dissolved for violations. The bill further amends the definition of “charitable purposes” so that conduct violating the new section cannot qualify as charitable activity.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would significantly expand state oversight of not-for-profit corporations by making certain foreign-policy- and conflict-related conduct a basis for civil penalties, private lawsuits, and dissolution of charitable entities. It would amend the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law to exclude such conduct from the definition of charitable purposes and give the Attorney General explicit enforcement authority, while also exposing nonprofit officers and agents to liability. The measure would affect both domestic and foreign nonprofits operating in New York, especially organizations alleged to support Hamas or entities associated with terrorism or violence in the Middle East.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill has not advanced smoothly, as it was held for consideration in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on a 20-15 vote. That split indicates meaningful support but also substantial hesitation or opposition. No committee transcript is available, so the broader discussion record is limited, but the committee vote implies the proposal is politically charged and not yet consensus legislation.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely the bill’s breadth, its use of foreign-policy and terrorism-related definitions, and whether it appropriately targets nonprofit activity without overreaching into protected advocacy, charitable work, or humanitarian aid. Opponents may view the language as expansive and potentially vague, especially the references to “nations known to fund middle-eastern terrorist group activity” and conduct tied to international treaties. Supporters are likely focused on preventing New York nonprofit funds from being used to support Hamas or related violence and on giving the state stronger enforcement tools against such conduct.