New YorkS 83942025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Establishes the "county of Westchester public works investment act"

Sponsored By: Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

RULESWAYS AND MEANS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

County construction workers get wage protections

Construction under these contracts counts as public work and must follow applicable New York prevailing-wage and worker-safety rules. Federally aided work must also follow applicable federal prevailing-wage rules. Every level of contractor must follow the project labor agreement. Contracts must include monitoring and enforcement, and the agreement must require participation in apprentice training programs.

County employees keep jobs and pay protections

Covered county employees cannot lose their jobs or positions because of work under this law. Their non-overtime hours, wages, and benefits cannot be reduced, and existing union agreements and civil service rights remain protected. Existing maintenance and operations duties, and future duties normally handled by these employees, cannot be transferred to contractors. Employees in newly created job titles must be placed in the proper bargaining unit.

County contracts support minority and women owners

Contracts must meet applicable state and local participation goals for minority- and women-owned businesses. Federally aided projects must also follow applicable federal disadvantaged-business or minority- and women-owned business requirements. When participation earns numerical proposal points, state-certified and locally certified minority- and women-owned businesses are eligible. State certification need not already be in place at that time. The law guarantees no business a contract, payment, or fixed share of project spending.

County projects keep safety and review safeguards

Contracts must require licensed professionals for services covered by Education Law articles 145, 147, and 148. Those professionals must stamp and seal their work where appropriate. Projects must follow New York's environmental review law and federal environmental review rules when federal rules apply. County employees must check that contractor work is acceptable and meets the contract before accepting substantial or final completion. That review does not reduce contractors' or subcontractors' duties or liability.

Westchester contract awards get public scorecards

The county must publicly seek contractor qualifications, create a shortlist, and then request proposals from shortlisted teams. It must choose a qualified, responsible team offering the best value under stated, weighted criteria—not simply the lowest price. Criteria can cover quality, cost, efficiency, past performance, budgets, staffing, technical skills, risk, and legal compliance. Where federal law allows, the county must consider minority-owned, women-owned, and identified small-business participation. Final scores must appear on the county website, and contract awards require public notice. Contracts can use cost-plus pricing with a guaranteed maximum price, cost monitoring, and audit rights, or one lump-sum price. Maximum-price contracts require detailed scope, itemized costs, referenced drawings, completion dates, and unit prices; lump-sum contracts need no itemized breakdown. The county can negotiate final terms and price, and contractors can prepare separate specifications to meet applicable municipal contracting rules. Proposers can identify proprietary information, but trade-secret claims must be made in writing. Submitting a proposal or response, or signing an authorized contract, does not violate Education Law section 6512. Reports to state and county officials are due June 30, 2026, then annually for five years. Each report must show contract descriptions, procurement details and shortlists, total costs, estimated savings, and minority- and women-owned business participation rates and payments.

Westchester gains a new building contract option

Westchester County's Public Works and Transportation departments can use one contract for both design and construction. This option covers construction, demolition, installation, excavation, rebuilding, rehabilitation, repairs, and renovation at four sites: Labs and Research Building, 10 Dana Road, Valhalla (SBL 116.16-1-14); Public Works Maintenance Facility, Hammond House Road behind 65 Hammond House Road, Valhalla (SBL 116.12-1-14); Emergency Services Building, 4 Dana Road, Valhalla (SBL 116.16-1-1); and Public Safety Building, 1 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne (SBL 106.18-1-2). Each project must use a project labor agreement that follows state law. The law took effect immediately and expires three years after enactment. Procurements can continue under the law if their requests for qualifications were issued before repeal. The law sets no project budgets or new funding amounts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 210 • No: 0

House vote • 6/13/2025

Assembly floor vote

Yes: 133 • No: 0

committee vote • 6/10/2025

Rules Committee Vote

Yes: 19 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/10/2025

FLOOR Vote

Yes: 58 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

SIGNED CHAP.573
11/21/2025Senate
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
11/17/2025Senate
RETURNED TO SENATE
6/13/2025House
PASSED ASSEMBLY
6/13/2025House
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.732
6/13/2025House
SUBSTITUTED FOR A6428A
6/13/2025House
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
6/10/2025House
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
6/10/2025Senate
PASSED SENATE
6/10/2025Senate
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1791
6/10/2025Senate
REFERRED TO RULES
6/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

Original
6/7/2025
PDF

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