NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6065
SPONSOR: Hunter TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring a
weigh-in to take place the day of a combative sports event
PURPOSE:
To end the common practice of severely cutting body weight before a
weigh-in in order to ensure that athletes are competing in their proper
weight class the day of an event
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the general business law by adding a new section 1023
requiring that weigh-ins occur on the day of a combative sports event.
Section 2 establishes an effective date of 90 days after becoming law
and allows for the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule in
order for the new requirements to be implemented on or before the effec-
tive date.
EXISTING LAW:
Weigh-ins typically occur before the day of the event, allowing athletes
to cut bodyweight to a level that they do not typically compete at in
order to be in a favorable weight class.
JUSTIFICATION:
Current weigh-in practices for combative sporting events incentivize
unhealthy event preparation practices, allow athletes to compete below
their appropriate weight class, and contribute to a higher likelihood of
injury during combative sporting events. Athletes often shed weight
quickly by dehydrating and fasting before a weigh-in in order to lose as
much weight as possible. This dehydration and fasting is unhealthy, but
is encouraged in order to maintain a level playing field.
Since everyone is expected to engage in this weight loss practice, an
athlete must participate in this preparation in order to go down a
weight class and thus compete with an opponent that has a similar weight
or risk competing against a heavier opponent. If an athlete does not
shed weight before a weigh in and is competing in a weight class that
reflects the athlete's usual weight, there is a high chance that the
opponent will quickly regain weight after a weigh-in and have a signif-
icant advantage. If this occurs and the opponents are mismatched, the
athlete competing in the appropriate weight class is more likely to be
injured.
By requiring a weigh-in on the day of a combative sports event, athletes
will be unable to engage in the practice of cutting weight while simul-
taneously being physically prepared. Few athletes would want to be
significantly dehydrated on the day of an event in order to classify for
a lower weight class. Eliminating the practice of cutting weight will
lead to safer competitions both before and during the event.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020: A.8735
2021-22: A.6272
2023-24: A5385
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect ninety days after becoming law. The addition,
amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for imple-
mentation on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6065
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 26, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Energy
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring a
weigh-in to take place the day of a combative sports event
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 1023 to read as follows:
3 § 1023. Weigh-ins. The commission shall establish parameters and limi-
4 tations on the weigh-in of all amateurs and professionals. Such parame-
5 ters and limitations shall include, but not be limited to, a requirement
6 that a weigh-in of all participants shall occur on the date of a comba-
7 tive sports event.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
9 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
10 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
11 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
12 completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09824-01-5
