If you sell packaged goods into New York and you’ve been bracing for a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) law, you can exhale for now — but not for long. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act passed the state Senate in 2024 and again in 2025, only to die in the Assembly each time. A reworked 2026 version got through Senate committees but never even got a floor vote: it was parked in the Senate Rules Committee in June and has sat there since.
This guide covers the bill’s actual legal status right now, what it would require if it eventually passes, and the practical steps worth taking today so you’re not scrambling if New York joins the growing list of states with packaging EPR rules.
Quick Answer
No — New York’s packaging EPR bill (the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, S.1464-A / A.1749-A) is not law as of October 2026. The Senate passed it in 2024 and again on May 28, 2025, but the Assembly never brought it to a floor vote either year. A re-amended version moved through Senate committees in spring 2026, but instead of getting a Senate floor vote, it was committed to the Senate Rules Committee on June 5, 2026, and has sat there since — it never reached the Senate floor in 2026, let alone the Assembly.
Where the Bill Actually Stands
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is sponsored by Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick. The Senate first passed a version of the bill (S.4246) on June 7, 2024 by a 37-23 vote, but the Assembly ran out of time to act before that session ended. The bill was reintroduced as S.1464 for the 2025-2026 session, passed the Senate again on May 28, 2025 by a 33-25 vote, and was delivered to the Assembly — where it again stalled. It died when the Assembly adjourned without a floor vote, and the bill was formally returned to the Senate on January 7, 2026.
Sponsors didn’t let it go. In spring 2026 they introduced nearly 150 amendments, producing the current S.1464-A, aimed at aligning the bill’s definitions and compliance timelines more closely with the EPR laws already in effect in Minnesota and California. That amended version cleared the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee on May 5, 2026 and the Senate Finance Committee on May 19, 2026, and advanced to third reading on May 21, 2026 — but instead of getting a floor vote ahead of the legislature’s early-June deadline, it was committed to the Senate Rules Committee on June 5, 2026, where it has remained since. Unlike 2024 and 2025, the bill did not pass the Senate floor in 2026.
If you’ve seen headlines calling this the ‘New York EPR law,’ that’s shorthand journalists use for the bill itself, not a sign it’s in effect. There is currently no packaging EPR program, registration requirement, or producer fee operating in New York. Because 2026 is the second year of the 2025-2026 legislative session, this version of the bill will die when the session formally closes; it would need to be reintroduced in the 2027-2028 session and pass both chambers before it could go to the governor for signature.
What the Bill Would Require If It Passes
As amended, the bill would apply to larger producers above revenue and packaging-tonnage thresholds set in the legislation. Covered producers would need to register with a producer responsibility organization (PRO) and fund a statewide packaging reduction and recycling plan.
The bill sets packaging-reduction targets that phase in over a period of years, along with separate recycling-rate requirements for plastic and non-plastic packaging. It would also restrict certain ‘chemical recycling’ or ‘advanced recycling’ processes from counting toward recycling targets, and it includes a phase-out of PFAS (so-called ‘forever chemicals’) in packaging materials. Fees collected from producers would help fund municipal recycling infrastructure, shifting more of that cost away from taxpayers.
These provisions reflect the current amended version; expect further changes if and when the bill is reintroduced, since the Senate and Assembly versions still weren’t fully reconciled before the 2026 session stalled out. Check the bill text directly for current thresholds and target percentages rather than relying on older summaries.
Tips / Common Mistakes
Don’t wait for a ‘law is law’ headline to start preparing — New York has signaled this is coming back, and the direction of travel (higher reduction targets, PRO registration, PFAS limits) is consistent with laws already live in Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington. If you already report under one of those programs, most of that data-gathering work transfers directly.
A common mistake is assuming EPR only affects large CPG brands. The thresholds in the New York bill (and in states that have already passed EPR laws) are often low enough to catch many mid-sized and growing businesses — check your actual packaging volume, not just your company size.
Track the bill by its number (S.1464-A in the Senate, A.1749-A in the Assembly) rather than by news coverage alone, and watch the Senate Rules Committee specifically — that’s where the bill is parked now, and a release from Rules would be the first real sign of renewed momentum. The New York State Senate’s legislation tracker shows real-time status for free.
If you’re already building EPR compliance processes for other states, document your packaging inventory, material types, and weights now — that groundwork is reusable no matter which state’s reporting portal you eventually file through.
Explore more: More packaging compliance guides.
New York’s packaging EPR bill FAQs
Is New York’s packaging EPR bill law as of 2026?
No. The Senate passed it in 2024 and again on May 28, 2025, but the Assembly never held a floor vote either year. A 2026 amended version stalled in the Senate Rules Committee in June 2026 and didn’t get a Senate floor vote that session either.
When could New York’s packaging EPR bill become law?
The earliest realistic path is the 2027-2028 legislative session, since the current version would need to be reintroduced and pass both the Senate and Assembly before going to the governor.
Which businesses would the bill cover if it passes?
As currently amended, it would apply to producers above certain revenue and annual packaging-tonnage thresholds set in the bill text — check the current bill language for exact figures, since they’re subject to change before any final passage.
Does New York have any packaging requirements right now?
New York has existing recycling and waste rules, but no statewide packaging EPR program, producer registration requirement, or producer fee is currently in effect.
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