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
