S 6974: Permits public schools to utilize or display indigenous names.
What S 6974 does, verified January 8, 2026
The bill aims to allow public schools in the state of New York to utilize or display indigenous names, while prohibiting the use of indigenous logos or mascots for extracurricular activities. The commissioner is tasked with adopting regulations to facilitate the use of indigenous names, and the bill repeals any inconsistent rules or regulations. The bill also prohibits the commissioner from adopting rules or regulations that prohibit the use of indigenous names for purposes of classroom instruction. The bill takes effect immediately.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO EDUCATION (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 6974
- What is the current status of S 6974?
- As of January 8, 2026, S 6974 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO EDUCATION".
- Did S 6974 pass?
- Not yet. S 6974 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 6974, and where is it now?
- S 6974 was authored by Sen. Bill Weber. Its committee of record is Senate Education. It is filed under EDN, alongside 312 other New York EDN bills this session.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION |
| Mar. 27, 2025 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, March 27, 2025 · 327 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6974 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 27, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. WEBER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to permitting public schools to utilize or display indigenous names The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 63 to read as follows: 3 63. (a) As used in this subdivision, the following terms shall have 4 the following meanings: 5 (i) "indigenous names" means a name that depicts or refers to indige- 6 nous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, customs, symbols or tradi- 7 tions, including actual or stereotypical aspects of indigenous cultures, 8 used to represent a public school's extracurricular activities, includ- 9 ing but not limited to such school's sports teams. 10 (ii) "indigenous logos or mascots" means a symbol or image that 11 depicts or refers to indigenous persons, tribes, nations, individuals, 12 customs, symbols, or traditions, including actual or stereotypical 13 aspects of indigenous cultures, used to represent a public school's 14 extracurricular activities, including but not limited to such school's 15 sports teams. 16 (b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations to allow public schools 17 to utilize or display an indigenous name and shall repeal any rule or 18 regulation inconsistent with allowing such use. Nothing in this subdivi- 19 sion shall prohibit the commissioner from adopting any rule or regu- 20 lation prohibiting public schools from utilizing or displaying an 21 indigenous logo or mascot other than for purposes of classroom instruc- 22 tion. 23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD11149-01-5
Text of S 6974 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions