Should your lunch burrito cost more at noon than at 2 pm? Why does your favorite street vendor have to wait years or even decades to get a license to run their own business? And why can you see a restaurant’s health grade on its storefront window but not when you order food for delivery?
The New York City Council is wrestling with these questions and more as it considers a sweeping set of food policy proposals that could impact the way New York residents eat, order, and access meals. The proposals range from requiring health grades on delivery apps and banning dynamic pricing based on how crowded restaurants are to expanding mobile food vendor licenses, mandating minimum meal budgets in homeless shelters, and even piloting a pet food assistance program, to name just a few.
The proposals fall into three broad categories: consumer protection and digital transparency, public health and food access, and infrastructure and oversight. Some have attracted dozens of cosponsors and are moving through committees, while others have been laid over indefinitely, with no scheduled vote in sight. Here’s a closer look at what’s being debated at City Hall
A note on “laid over” bills: Several bills discussed below have been “laid over” by the City Council, meaning they’ve been postponed for future consideration rather than voted on immediately. This is standard legislative procedure. Council members defer bills to allow more time for review, negotiate amendments, or build support. Being laid over doesn’t mean a bill is dead, but it does mean there’s no clear timeline for if or when it might advance.
Consumer Protection & Digital Transparency
The way New Yorkers order and pay for food has been revolutionized in less than a decade. Ordering through apps has become commonplace, credit cards and mobile wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay) have largely replaced cash, and some restaurants are quietly testing algorithms that change prices based on demand. But the rules governing this digital ecosystem haven’t kept pace with technology, creating blind spots related to health transparency, worker protections, and pricing practices. These bills attempt to address these issues.
Introduction 1187 would require delivery apps and restaurant websites to prominently display Department of Health inspection grades, those familiar A, B, or C ratings. The letter grades have been required on storefront windows since 2010, but they do not appear when you order online, even though a huge number of orders now get placed through apps. Restaurants and platforms that don’t comply would face fines starting at $100. Council Member Farah N. Louis introduced the bill with three cosponsors, and it is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection.
Introduction 1182 would mandate that restaurants and fast-food establishments build tipping options into their card readers, payment tablets, and other electronic payment systems. As tipping has moved from cash left on tables to digital interfaces, service workers have seen gratuities decline, in part because tipping prompts are often absent or difficult to navigate. The bill would also ensure that tips go directly to employees rather than being redirected by management. Council Member Shahana K. Hanif sponsored the bill with nine cosponsors, and it is being reviewed by the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection.
Introduction 1311 would ban restaurants from using dynamic pricing that increases prices based on how crowded the restaurant is at any given moment. The practice is borrowed from ride-sharing apps and is technically legal right now. Under dynamic pricing, the price of your lunch could be determined by an algorithm counting customers rather than the menu price. The same burger might cost more during a busy lunch rush than during a slow afternoon, even at the same time of day. Both independent restaurants and larger chains nationwide are already starting to experiment with dynamic pricing. Council Member Julie Menin sponsored the bill with eight cosponsors, and it has been laid over in the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection.
Introduction 1332 would create protections for delivery app workers whose accounts get deactivated. Currently, gig workers rely on apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats to receive delivery assignments—when they’re logged into the app, they can accept jobs and earn income. But companies can suddenly cut off a worker’s access to the platform without any explanation or way to appeal, leaving workers unable to receive jobs and suddenly without income. This bill would require companies to provide written reasons for deactivation and give workers advance notice (14 days in most cases, 120 days if cutting workers due to business slowdowns). Workers who have completed a 30-day probation period could only be deactivated for valid reasons like poor performance or misconduct, or due to legitimate economic hardship. The bill also establishes a formal appeals process. Council Member Justin L. Brannan introduced the bill with 10 cosponsors, and it has been laid over in the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection.
Public Health, Nutrition & Food Access
From menu warning labels to stolen food stamp benefits to pets surrendered because their owners can’t afford kibble, these proposals tackle the question of who gets to eat what in New York City, and whether they have the information and resources to feed themselves and their families.
Introduction 1177 would extend sodium and added sugar warning requirements to every food establishment in the city. Currently, warnings are only required at chain restaurants with 15 or more locations nationwide (sodium warnings started in 2015, and the landmark Sweet Truth Act adding sugar warnings just took effect on October 4, 2025). This bill would require independent restaurants and small establishments to post warning symbols, both on printed menus and online, next to menu items with at least 2,300 milligrams of sodium (roughly a full day’s recommended limit) or added sugars that exceed the daily recommended limit.. Council Member Althea V. Stevens introduced the bill with 13 cosponsors, and it is currently being reviewed in the Committee on Health.
Introduction 1406 would require the city to spend at least $15 per person per day on food in shelters. This applies to all city agencies that run shelters (primarily the Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Social Services) and covers both shelters that the city operates directly and those run by private organizations receiving city money. Current spending varies widely across the shelter system, and some operators spend considerably less, leaving residents without adequate nutrition. This matters, because shelter residents typically can’t afford to supplement meals on their own. The $15 minimum would cover ingredients, preparation, and delivery if meals are made off-site, and would increase annually with food costs. The requirement would apply only to new contracts signed after the law takes effect. Council Member Julie Won sponsored the bill with two cosponsors, and it is with the Committee on Contracts for review.
Introduction 1172 would establish a pilot pet food pantry program. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would be required to create at least one pantry that provides free pet food to pet owners who need it. The department would run the pantry for at least a year, then report on how many people used it, whether it reduced the number of pets surrendered to shelters, and whether the program should be expanded. NYC animal shelters are currently overwhelmed as a record number of people are giving up their pets because they can’t afford to keep them. This summer, Animal Care Centers of NYC had to stop taking in new animals for the first time in 30 years because they were at full capacity. Council Member Robert F. Holden introduced the bill with 34 cosponsors (the most of any bill discussed here), and it has been laid over in the Committee on Health.
Resolution 0839 urges New York State to establish a compensation fund for people whose SNAP benefits (food stamps) or cash assistance is stolen through card skimming. Unlike the other measures discussed here, this is a non-binding resolution asking state lawmakers in Albany to act. It doesn’t create a new NYC law. Card skimming has surged in recent years, with criminals using devices on card readers to steal EBT card information and drain benefits. Nationwide losses have reached into the tens of millions of dollars. When someone’s EBT card is compromised, victims often wait weeks while fraud investigations proceed before receiving replacement benefits. A state compensation fund could provide immediate relief. Council Member Alexa Avilés introduced the resolution with 11 cosponsors, and it has been laid over in the Committee on General Welfare.
Infrastructure & Governance
These bills address the structural questions that don’t often make headlines but shape the way the City’s food system operates behind the scenes: how it solicits input on food policy, inspects restaurants, licenses street vendors, and determines which businesses must separate organic waste for composting.
Introduction 1383 would require the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy to hold quarterly meetings with city agencies, community organizations, community leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss issues including food equity, food justice, and food insecurity. The bill would formalize what is currently an informal practice: while the Office already conducts quarterly outreach to food advocates and community groups, there’s no requirement for structured meetings where the Office of Food Policy brings together community advocates and city agencies to discuss food policy decisions. Council Members Linda Lee and Justin Brannan sponsored the bill, and it’s under consideration by the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation.
Introduction 1181 would require health inspectors to photograph or video-record violations when they cite restaurants and food service businesses. Currently, inspectors provide only written descriptions of problems. This bill would give restaurant owners visual documentation of the specific issues inspectors identify. Council Member Amanda Farías sponsored the bill with 27 cosponsors, and it’s now under review by the Committee on Health.
Introduction 1301 would require the Department of Health to notify restaurants before conducting inspections. Restaurants would receive two alerts: the first 1-5 months in advance, and the second 3-6 weeks before the inspection. Currently, all inspections are unannounced. The notices would include preparation tips and information about free training classes on health code compliance. Council Member Amanda Farías sponsored this bill with 15 cosponsors, and it is now under review by the Committee on Health.
Introduction 1251 Introduction 1251 would help the city issue more supervisory licenses to mobile food vendors. Supervisory licenses are required to operate your own food cart or truck in NYC, and the waiting list to get one has historically been years or even decades long. Under current law, the city must make 445 supervisory license applications available each year through 2032, but not all applicants complete the process—so fewer than 445 licenses are actually issued. This bill would let the city offer more applications to hit the target of 445 issued licenses per year, reaching 4,445 new vendors by 2032. Council Member Amanda Farías sponsored the bill with four cosponsors, and it has been laid over in the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection.
Introduction 1228 would expand organic waste composting requirements to more businesses. Currently, only certain large food-related businesses that meet specific size thresholds must separate food scraps and organic waste for composting. This bill would eliminate those size requirements, extending the mandate to food manufacturers, wholesalers, retail food stores, food preparation businesses, and catering establishments of any size. It would also apply to sponsors of temporary public events such as street fairs, which are currently required to compost only if they expect more than 500 attendees per day. Council Member Shaun Abreu sponsored the bill with seven cosponsors, and it has been laid over in the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management.
What You Can Do
Most of these bills are still working their way through committees, and many have been laid over, meaning that they’ve been postponed but remain under consideration. So public input can still help to determine whether or not they move forward. New York City residents can contact their Council member directly (find yours at council.nyc.gov/districts)), testify at committee hearings, or submit written comments. To track when bills are scheduled for hearings or votes, visit legistar.council.nyc.gov and search by bill number. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about these proposals and other food policy developments as they unfold.
