New York Senate Bill S06249

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/7/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires a period of unstructured physical play for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades one through five.

Summary

S06249 would amend the New York Education Law to require daily recess for elementary school students in kindergarten through grade 5. Each elementary school would have to provide either one uninterrupted recess period of at least 30 minutes each school day or two separate recess periods of at least 15 minutes each. The bill defines recess as a regularly scheduled, supervised period of unstructured physical activity, preferably outdoors when reasonable. The measure also specifies that recess time cannot be counted as lunch time or as scheduled physical education time. It would take effect 90 days after becoming law and would apply to school years beginning on or after the following July 1. In practical terms, the bill creates a statewide minimum recess requirement for elementary schools and limits schools’ ability to substitute recess with other parts of the school day.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new section 813-a to the Education Law and impose a uniform recess mandate on elementary schools serving kindergarten through grade 5. Schools would need to adjust daily schedules to ensure compliance, and districts that currently do not provide a guaranteed recess period would have to create one. The bill would also clarify that recess must be separate from lunch and physical education, affecting how schools structure student time and staffing.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable support for the bill’s purpose, as reflected by its straightforward caption and introduction by multiple senators. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no documented opposition or debate in the provided materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be framed as a student wellness and physical activity measure rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is operational rather than ideological: schools and districts may object to the mandate because it reduces scheduling flexibility and could require changes to staffing, instructional time, or lunch/recess logistics. Another possible issue is whether the bill’s minimum time requirements are feasible for all elementary schools, especially those with constrained schedules or limited outdoor space. No specific opponents or supporters are identified in the provided record.