A 4354: Reduces the cost of textbooks and course materials for students of institutions of higher education by requiring every institution of higher education to adopt policies that allow the use of innovative pricing techniques and payment options for textbooks, supplemental materials, and other course materials or textbooks.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4354 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 4, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to reducing the cost of textbooks for students of institutions of higher education The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 725 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 725. Reduction of cost of textbooks and course materials. 1. Every 4 institution of higher education as defined in this article is authorized 5 to adopt policies that allow the use of innovative pricing techniques 6 and payment options for textbooks, supplemental materials, and other 7 course materials or textbooks in accordance with 34 CFR 668.164(c)(2). 8 2. Policies adopted pursuant to subdivision one of this section may 9 include, but are not limited to, bulk pricing arrangements that enable 10 students to purchase textbooks or other instructional materials that are 11 delivered: (a) digitally; (b) through technology that is required to be 12 used within a course; or (c) in print format. 13 3. Innovative pricing techniques and payment options adopted pursuant 14 to this section shall include an opt-out provision for students. 15 4. Innovative pricing techniques and payment options adopted pursuant 16 to this section shall be adopted only if there is documented evidence 17 that the proposed options would result in the textbooks or other 18 instructional materials being made available to students at below 19 competitive market rates. 20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08789-01-5