ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Throughout 2025, New York will roll out even more new laws, with notable changes taking effect from April through December. From limousine safety to social media regulations to electronic hunting licenses, here’s a selection of laws coming your way in 2025, and when. Check out which laws kick in on January 1, and another spate of legislation throughout the first quarter of the year. April Starting April 1, S2413C/A4613C requires yearly cost-of-living adjustments, tied to inflation, for state reimbursements to veterans' organizations for funeral expenses, capped at $2,000 per burial. S9424/A10198 lets family court handle name changes for minors under 18 as part of related cases, like custody or paternity disputes. It also requires consent from all parties involved to approve the name change. As of April 12, S5969A/A3674A lets medically fragile young adults stay in pediatric nursing facilities until age 36, with Medicaid continuing to pay for treatments like hospital stays at the same rate as before they turned 21. These are people who can't live independently because they need continuous, specialized nursing care for serious and complex health conditions. NYS Senator Dan Stec hopes to run for 21st Congressional District On April 17, S2629A/A286A requires schools to adopt safer building designs by developing five-year plans. It supports community planning and school violence prevention by funding safety equipment like metal detectors. S4598D/A4917D changes Omnibus School Violence Prevention Grant program criteria that funds school anti-violence programs for students affected by gun violence. The programs—including education, trauma counseling, and youth empowerment—must be evidence-based and can't use firearms for training or demos. While the bill outlines eligibility criteria, it doesn't control funding levels. Budget bill S8306C/A8806C clarified provisions of the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Act. Starting April 20, it's a crime for businesses to let someone with a suspended license drive a company vehicle. Violators would face $5,000 to $25,000 in fines, plus other penalties. NY Climate Change Superfund Act signed into law And per budget bill S8308C/A8808C, limos will have to meet new safety standards, including inspection rules, driver training, safety briefings for passengers, and equipment like window breakers, rollover protection, and fire extinguishers. It bans limos over 10 years old or with over 350,000 miles. S6584C/A6219B directs state agencies to integrate a new demographic category for people who identify as Middle Eastern or North African (MENA). The law requires specific subcategories within the broader MENA category. As of April 21, S9361/A8557 mandates seat belts on charter buses for passengers 8 to 16. Violators face fines, and charter buses must meet specific seat belt standards set by the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. New York short-term rental regulations start in 2025 May As of May 19, S2039B/A2870B requires health care providers to screen for maternal depression throughout pregnancy and postpartum. S895B/A6789B or the Stop Hiding Hate Act requires social media companies to post clear terms of service for each platform, disclose actions they may take against users or content, and submit reports to the Attorney General. S8760A/A9369A automatically enrolls people who are elderly and covered by pharmaceutical insurance into HEAP. On May 20, S8119C/A8837C helps military members, veterans, and their families navigate immigration and citizenship. Hochul grants clemency to 22 Starting May 21, S3610/A5576 requires hospitals and birth centers to give more information about safety drills, emergency transfer policies, racial disparity plans, autopsy options, and bereavement support to maternity patients. S2739A/A8275A requires pre-licensing course providers—organizations or people who teach people to drive—to give students information on registering as an organ and tissue donor. It also includes new training for instructors on topics like road rage, school bus safety, and alcohol. S8958/A8374 gives regional planning councils the power to apply for federal and state grants. New law cracks down on cell phone theft S7810/A8410 requires food service establishments—anywhere that serves individual portions, like restaurants and grocery stores—to provide food allergy and intolerance information. They have to post notices for staff and customers and include warnings on menus and online systems. S6504A/A3122A creates an Alzheimer's disease outreach program. It covers identifying dementia in healthcare facilities, caregiver support, and resources for those affected. On May 22, S8662A/A9269B requires electronic benefit transfer systems (EBT)—which delivers government benefits like food assistance to eligible recipients—to let cardholders cancel, lock, or unlock their cards through an interactive voice system. It also allows locking cards for out-of-state or online purchases to prevent fraud. Hochul signs law to stop restaurant scalpers June through July As of June 1, 2025, S5081C/A8907A requires employers to work on reducing jobsite injuries through evaluations, training, and better enforcement of updated safety standards S5815A/A6205A requires education and outreach programs to raise awareness about the dangers of drowning, focusing on water safety. Starting June 11, S204/A4957 requires free routine mammogram screenings every two years for people who are incarcerated. It also mandates education in correctional facilities about preventive healthcare, including breast self-examinations. Cuomo sues harassment accuser for defamation On June 20, S7695B/A8149A establishes the New York Child Data Protection Act, requiring online services to protect kids' personal data, including getting consent before collection. It also limits data sharing and mandates deleting data for users who are under 18 or request it. As of July 1, S9018A/A9855A lets school districts name at least one student as an ex officio, non-voting member of the school board to attend public meetings. S1865B/A6563A mandates that colleges run campaigns educating students, faculty, and staff about the 9-8-8 suicide phone number and text line. It also requires either distributing contact info for these services every year or printing the info on student ID cards. Task force releases child poverty report, $9B recommendations S9292A/A9238A lowers the maximum lease period for zero-emission school buses from 12 to eight years, which affects school district accounting year-over-year. It also requires school districts to get voter approval for leases over one year, and to follow specific rules for expense reporting. Starting July 11, S9419/A7628A requires police to report all crashes involving motor vehicles—including motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, and e-bikes. It also mandates reports on the type of vehicles involved and requires more detailed data when it's a serious accident. August through December On August 1, S8644A/A10565 lets hunters report harvest details and carry hunting licenses, tags, and deer or bear harvest reports electronically, instead of physically. As of September 1, S3397A/A9011A requires schools to implement heat mitigation plans that trigger at 82 degrees, and requires evacuations if temperatures hit 88 degrees New Yorker pleads guilty to running secret Chinese police station Starting November 1, S2922/A1774 defines sex between someone on probation cannot and their supervising probation officer as nonconsensual. On December 17 S3112A/A1588A requires public buildings and institutions to stock opioid overdose medications train staff to use them. Starting December 21, S7543B/A9430B or the LOADinG Act requires state agencies to assess and implement ongoing human reviews of any automated decision-making in public assistance programs. As of December 22, S942A/A219A creates a system and list of requirements for licensing athletic trainers working under a physician, a role that previously required a certification, not a license. The law also makes athletic trainers mandatory reporters of child abuse. Advocates to Hochul: Fix FOILs in 2026 budget As of December 31, the Fair Access to Compensation Act—S214A/A2105A—expands access to crime victim compensation by giving them more time to file claims. It also protects the confidentiality of records and removes reporting to police as a requirement. Instead, the bill accepts evidence corroborating the crime like testimony from counselors, shelters, or legal aid, or the existence of past restraining orders. This is not an exhaustive list of every single law taking effect in New York in 2025. It’s not even a full list of all the laws taking effect from April through December. Find out which laws take effect on New Year's Day, followed by more changes throughout January, February, and March. 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