Exempts certain veterans service organizations from taxes on the sales of beer, wine and soda.

New York Assembly Bill A05849, introduced on February 24, 2025, aimed to exempt certain veterans service organizations from taxes on the sales of beer, wine, and soda. Specifically, the bill sought to add a new paragraph to subdivision (a) of section 1115 of the tax law, defining "veterans service organizations" as those chartered by the United States Congress under 38 USC 5902. The bill was sponsored by Assembly Members Kwani O'Pharrow and Alicia Hyndman. After being referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the bill was amended and recommitted on April 21, 2026, but did not progress further and died in committee. ([legiscan.com](https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A05849/2025?utm_source=openai))

While there is no direct media coverage of Assembly Bill A05849, similar legislative efforts to support veterans have been positively received. For instance, in 2024, New York State included $90 million in payroll tax credits in its fiscal year 2025 budget to support local journalism, a move considered a historic milestone. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/21/ny-state-budget-local-journalism-tax-credits?utm_source=openai)) This indicates a trend of legislative initiatives aimed at supporting specific community groups, which could suggest potential support for veterans service organizations.

There is no direct media coverage of Assembly Bill A05849. However, similar legislative efforts have faced challenges. For example, a bill to legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in New York faced significant opposition from religious groups and some lawmakers, who argued it promoted state-sanctioned suicide and advocated for better palliative care instead. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/5bc8288ebcaf194f8a655c8549153ce0?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that initiatives like A05849 could encounter resistance from groups concerned about tax exemptions and their broader implications.