The New York State Legislature is fast tracking A.7138 and S.795, a pair of bills expected to radically expand the power of the plaintiffs’ bar and the New York Attorney General to punish unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices.

The proposed laws would revise New York General Business Law section 349. That section currently prohibits the more limited universe of “[d]eceptive acts or practices” in a business context, and it allows private actions for only injunctive relief and paltry $50 statutory damages.