Provides attorney fees to prevailing parties in human rights law cases
This bill requires courts to award attorney fees - including expert witness costs - to winning parties in discrimination lawsuits under New York's human rights laws (specifically violations of Executive Law Sections 296 and 296-a). It mandates that losing defendants cover these fees and all court costs, but explicitly prohibits the state or its agencies from collecting such fees. The law directly affects plaintiffs who win discrimination cases and defendants who lose them in court. It creates a standard mechanism for fee awards in these cases without altering existing anti-discrimination protections.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kevin Parker
DDemocratic/Working Families
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