New York Senate Bill S04983

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/25
• Refer: 2/14/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Prohibits state funding of any college if instructional staff promotes, encourages, advocates or engages in activities on campus in support of a terrorist organization as defined in federal statute.

Summary

S04983 would amend the New York Education Law to create a new article requiring colleges to address what the bill defines as “terroristic activity” by instructional staff. Under the bill, a college would become ineligible for state funding if any member of its instructional staff directly or indirectly promotes, encourages, advocates, or engages in on-campus activity in support of a terrorist organization, as defined by federal law, unless the institution takes “appropriate corrective steps” within a timeframe and manner set by the Commissioner of Education. The bill also requires the commissioner to notify colleges found out of compliance, specify the corrective steps needed, and inform the Division of Budget when a college loses or regains eligibility for state funding. It defines “instructional staff” broadly to include senior administrators, faculty, librarians, and other employees with a direct role in educating students. The measure would take effect immediately if enacted.

Impact

The bill would add a new funding compliance condition to the Education Law, tying state aid for colleges to institutional response to staff conduct related to support for terrorist organizations. In practice, it would give the Commissioner of Education authority to determine whether a college has failed to take adequate corrective action and to suspend or restore state funding eligibility accordingly. Colleges, university administrators, and covered instructional personnel would be directly affected, and the bill could have significant financial consequences for institutions found noncompliant.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the available record shows a clear punitive and security-focused intent rather than a negotiated or bipartisan compromise. The sponsors appear to frame the measure as a response to campus support for terrorism, suggesting support from those prioritizing campus safety and anti-terrorism enforcement. No contrary testimony or vote history is provided, so there is no documented opposition in the supplied materials, though the bill’s broad funding penalty implies likely concern among higher education stakeholders.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to be the breadth of the prohibited conduct, the scope of who counts as “instructional staff,” and the discretion given to the Commissioner of Education to decide what constitutes “appropriate corrective steps.” Colleges may object to the possibility of losing state funding based on the actions of individual employees, especially where the bill covers indirect promotion or advocacy and on-campus activity in support of a terrorist organization. Civil liberties, academic freedom, due process, and the definition/enforcement of “support” for a terrorist organization are likely to be the most disputed issues.