A 9387 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Repeals the criminal fortune telling statute; repealer

This bill repeals New York's Section 165.35 of the Penal Law, which previously criminalized fortune telling. It removes a specific statute that made offering fortune-telling services a punishable offense. The repeal takes immediate effect, eliminating this outdated legal restriction. The bill directly affects individuals who might have been subject to prosecution under this law, though no new provisions or mechanisms are created.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 19, 2025 Last action Jan 21, 2026

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What changed between versions

A9387 → A9387A · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly amended to remove all new provisions related to regulating spiritual or metaphysical services. The original version added a new section to the executive law creating protections against deceptive practices in fortune-telling and psychic services, while repealing an existing penal law section. The amended version only repeals the penal law section and adds an immediate effective date, eliminating the new regulatory framework entirely.

Scope change

The bill's scope was substantially reduced from creating new consumer protections for spiritual services to only repealing an existing penal law provision.

SCOPE

Removed new Section 63-e of the executive law that would have regulated deceptive practices in spiritual, metaphysical, and divinatory services

DEFINITION

Removed definitions for 'spiritual, metaphysical, or divinatory services' and 'provider' that would have governed the new regulatory framework

ENFORCEMENT

Removed attorney general enforcement powers including ability to seek injunctive relief, restitution, damages, disgorgement, and civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation

ELIGIBILITY

Removed private right of action allowing injured persons to sue for damages, attorneys' fees, and punitive damages

TIMELINE

Added provision that the act takes effect immediately rather than on the ninetieth day after becoming law

REQUIREMENT

Removed prohibitions on providers making false representations, using coercive conduct, threatening harm, or claiming licensure they don't possess

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 9387A

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CODES

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

Dec 19, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors