Assembly Member Grace Lee and Senator Liz Krueger Introduce STOP Act to End Unlimited Taxpayer-Funded Legal Fees for Politicians

Albany --  Today, Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator Liz Krueger introduced the State Taxpayer Oversight and Protection (STOP) Act (A05883/S06490) to protect taxpayer dollars and set reasonable limitations on the state’s reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses. The bill aims to ensure that New Yorkers are no longer forced to foot the bill for politicians’ costly and unrestrained legal defenses. The legislation is a response to the $60 million of taxpayer money that has already been spent in relation to Andrew Cuomo’s legal troubles. .

Key Provisions of the STOP Act: 

• State Comptroller to assess whether the legal fees are reasonable in lawsuits brought against state employees in their official capacity when they are represented by an outside attorney. 

• Expands the power of the Comptroller to determine if the fees are reasonable in proportion to the needs of the case, and consistent with similar cases. 

• Establishes a presumption of unreasonableness if more than one law firm is hired, unless there is a clear need for specialized expertise.

• Clarifies that the state will not pay your legal fees if you sue the state.

“At a time when Donald Trump has turned Washington into a cesspool of corruption and is using our government to go after his enemies, here in New York, we have to be clear about our values,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “We will not allow politicians to use taxpayer money for unreasonably aggressive litigation tactics. The STOP Act puts an end to the blank checks and restores accountability to the use of taxpayer funds.” 

“The state should not be in the business of financing legal vendettas or unreasonably aggressive litigation tactics,” said Senator Liz Krueger. “Public service is a privilege, not a free pass to funnel unlimited taxpayer money into legal defenses. This bill is about ensuring fairness and restoring trust in our government.”

The STOP Act sends a clear message: taxpayer funds should serve the public, not powerful politicians. Over the past few years, New Yorkers have watched in frustration as millions of their hard-earned dollars have been diverted from essential services—such as schools, housing, and healthcare—to pay for legal battles that do not serve the public interest.

“New Yorkers deserve better,” said Assemblymember Lee. “The STOP Act ensures that we invest in our communities—not in cleaning up the messes of embattled politicians.”

“With federal threats to programs like Medicaid looming, we need to be crystal clear about our priorities,” added Senator Krueger. “Sixty million dollars could have provided relief for struggling families, funded vital services, and strengthened our state. Instead, it’s been used to protect one man’s self-sullied reputation and further his ongoing political ambitions. That has to stop.”