New York Assembly Bill A08525

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/20/25
• Refer: 5/20/25
• Report Pass: 6/12/25
• Refer: 6/12/25
• Report Pass: 6/16/25
• Engrossed: 6/16/25
• Refer: 6/16/25

Caption

Relates to the use of foreign fire insurance premium taxes by the Ridge volunteer exempt firefighter's benevolent association.

Summary

This bill amends a 2001 special law governing the Ridge volunteer exempt firefighter’s benevolent association in Suffolk County. It changes how the association may use foreign fire insurance premium tax revenues collected under sections 9104 and 9105 of the Insurance Law. Under the bill, those tax receipts would no longer be restricted to the care and relief of disabled or indigent volunteer and exempt firefighters and their families; instead, the funds must be used by the corporation in furtherance of the purposes set out in section 3 of the act. The bill applies to premium taxes due on premiums received on and after January 1, 2026, while taking effect immediately upon enactment. In practical terms, it preserves the association’s authority to collect the fire insurance premium tax share tied to the Ridge fire district and any territory it serves, but broadens or redirects the permissible use of those funds to the association’s general statutory purposes rather than a narrow relief function.

Impact

The bill amends a local special act affecting the Ridge volunteer exempt firefighter’s benevolent association in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, and modifies the use restrictions on foreign fire insurance premium taxes under the Insurance Law. It does not change the statewide tax collection framework itself, but it changes the local beneficiary’s authorized spending purposes for tax proceeds collected under sections 9104 and 9105, beginning with taxes due on premiums received on or after January 1, 2026.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support in committee and on the Assembly floor, with no recorded opposition: 34-0 in Ways and Means, 29-0 in Rules, and 144-0 on final passage. There are no committee transcript excerpts provided, but the vote pattern suggests the bill was viewed as noncontroversial and technical in nature.

Contention

No explicit opposition or controversy is reflected in the provided materials. The only notable policy change is the shift away from a narrow earmark for disabled or indigent volunteer and exempt firefighters and their families toward broader use by the corporation for its statutory purposes. Any potential concern would likely center on whether this reduces a direct relief benefit, but no member or stakeholder objection is documented in the record provided.