2007 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for new regulations that require coal-fired power plants to reach a 90% minimum reduction of pollution from mercury, a heavy metal that can impair a childšs ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. NYPIRG wins a victory for consumers and the environment when the Governor announces a historic energy plan to reduce electricity use by 15% by 2015 and global warming pollution by 12.8 million tons per year ‹ conserving energy, saving New Yorkers money and protecting them from the very real threat of climate change. Additionally, NYPIRG launches the CyberStreetSmart.org website, which helps visitors avoid identity theft, phishing, work-at-home scams and social networking cons.

2006 - NYPIRG wins a record $225 million for the statešs Environmental Protection Fund, up from $150 million the previous year, including $17.5 million for municipal and other critical recycling. NYPIRG leads the push, along with other good government groups, for a law in New York City to prohibit gift giving and campaign contributions from lobbyists to New York City Council Members and strengthen the city's lobbying laws by providing more resources for enforcement and heftier fines for violators. NYPIRG also wins a victory for the residents of Western New York and the Hudson Valley when Erie and Ulster counties permanently opt in to New York State's Pesticide Neighbor Notification law.

2005 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for the Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards Act, which saves consumers and municipalities money on their energy costs, cuts power plant pollution, reduces our reliance on foreign oil, and diminishes the likelihood of summer blackouts and brownouts by easing the burden on New York's power grid. NYPIRG also works to pass legislation that exempts the sale and installation of residential solar energy systems from sales tax, providing economic incentives for the increased use of solar energy. NYPIRG spearheads the effort in New York City to enact a law that will begin restricting hazard pesticide use on all city land, protecting the health of millions of New Yorkers. NYPIRG fights to pass legislation that will strengthen the Freedom of Information Law by requiring state agencies to respond to requests for public records within 20 days. NYPIRG also supports legislation that requires private and public agencies to notify consumers when there has been a breach of financial or private databases that puts them at an increased risk of identity theft. Additionally, NYPIRG successfully lobbies for legislation that requires the state to post pharmacies' prescription drug prices on the Internet, making it easier for New Yorkers without insurance coverage for prescription drugs to save money.

2004 - NYPIRG safeguards the Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires that 24% of the electricity sold in the state will come from renewable sources like wind, solar and small-hydro by 2013. After building public pressure to expand New York's commitment to renewable energy, NYPIRG successfully blocks attempts by the power industry to include garbage incineration as a source of renewable energy. NYPIRG successfully lobbies for fire-safe cigarette legislation, which requires that only cigarettes that meet fire safety standards will be sold in the state.

2003 - NYPIRG successfully fights to replenish the state's Superfund, which is used to finance the clean-up of toxic waste sites, without weakening remediation standards. Because of NYPIRG's work, both Erie and Tompkins County "opt in" to the Pesticide Neighbor Notification bill, which requires commercial lawn applicators to provide written notice to abutting properties at least 48 hours prior to most lawn pesticide applications. NYPIRG organizes the 561-mile long "No Tuition Hike" relay march across New York State, which helps prevent hundreds of dollars in tuition increases and blocks cuts in financial aid and opportunity programs proposed by Governor Pataki. NYPIRG helps spearhead an effort to pass the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act to comprehensively and cost-effectively prevent lead hazards in New York City.

2002 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for legislation that provides new protections for health care whistleblowers and stops legislation that would have drastically weakened oversight of physicians. NYPIRG also supports legislation that will allow SUNY and CUNY to decide whether the apparel they purchase is made under substandard working conditions. NYPIRG blocks legislation proposed by the governor that would have weakened the Freedom of Information Law.

2001 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for legislation that helped expand New York's health surveillance-system by tracking injuries and diseases treated in hospital emergency rooms. The bill was a top priority of asthma activists. NYPIRG-supported legislation passed that requires that tobacco products must be sold from behind merchant's counters and not be made available on store shelves. NYPIRG also supported legislation that will allow public school districts to decide whether the apparel they purchase is made under substandard working conditions. NYPIRG stopped legislation that would have weakened cleanup and liability standards at Superfund toxic sites. NYPIRG also supported legislation that created an incentive for power plants to reduce pollution and increase electrical output by shortening the timeline of the review process compared to other proposals.

2000 - NYPIRG helps spearhead a multi-year effort in support of the Pesticide Neighbor Notification bill, which allows counties to pass local laws requiring commercial lawn applicators to provide written notice to abutting properties at least 48 hours prior to most lawn pesticide applications. Unprecedented legislation that requires fire-safety standards for cigarettes sold in New York State is passed after years of pressure by NYPIRG. NYPIRG helps prevent telemarketing fraud by supporting legislation to outlaw courier pick-ups for payments arranged on the phone, require that telemarketers be bonded and licensed, and oblige callers to disclose the nature of the call and the cost of the goods or services being sold at the beginning of the sales pitch. The maximum TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) award is increased to $5,000, the family income eligibility is increased to $80,000 per year, and the 90% cap on the maximum amount of the award is eliminated. NYPIRG also helps college students by supporting the Internship Credits Applied to Workfare Requirements allowing students receiving public assistance to apply time spent on internships to their public assistance workfare requirements. NYPIRG stops the "Wrongdoers Escape Act," a so-called "tort reform" bill, after releasing more than 50 pages of industry documents demonstrating that big tobacco has funded, coordinated and sponsored legislation to limit the ability of injured consumers and their families to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable in court. NYPIRG supports legislation phasing out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether(MTBE), a gasoline additive that contaminates groundwater, by January 1, 2004. NYPIRG crushes the "toxic tin cans" bill, which would have allowed excess amounts of mercury, lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium in metal containers, including those used in food packaging.

1999 - NYPIRG successfully fights to increase medical coverage for the uninsured using the first $900 million payment of the state's settlement of tobacco litigation and by doubling cigarette excise tax. The state's lobbying law is strengthened for the first time in 20 years. Governor Pataki announces that he will order New York's power plants to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide substantially below the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act.

1998 - NYPIRG works for the successful passage of a law that will allow consumers locked in a medical dispute with their insurers to appeal to an impartial panel of health experts. In an effort to reduce air pollution, NYPIRG fights for passage of legislatio n that requires the inspection of large trucks and buses for proper tailpipe maintenance. Consumer protections for hearing aid purchases is dramatically overhauled and strengthened.

1997 - NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign won a historic agreement when Governor Pataki announced a plan for unlimited discount passes for New York City subway and bus riders. NYPIRG supports passage of a law that mandates the computerization of state campaign contributions. NYPIRG works to secure legislation which grants $2.5 million to improve enforcement of local tobacco prevention laws. NYPIRG helps negotiate a $1.4 billion agreement to improve drinking water quality for 10 million residents of New York City and Westchester County.

1996 - NYPIRG plays a key role in passing two major environmental laws: the first prevents New York City's proposed Brooklyn Navy Yard garbage incinerator from opening and closes the world's largest garbage dump - the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island by 2002; the second creates a Pesticide Use Registry to help the public and health researchers address environmental links to breast cancer and other illnesses. NYPIRG also helps shape and works to enact the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. Consumers are als o protected by laws requiring banks to provide safety measures at all ATMs. NYPIRG makes it easier for candidates to get on the ballot, helping to create major changes in New York State's notoriously restrictive ballot access laws. NYPIRG works with the state Medical Society to develop legislation that makes it easier for the state Health Department to discipline doctors guilty of malpractice.

1995 - Consumers win victories through a prohibition on merchants' use of social security numbers written on the backs of checks as proof of consumers' identification; extension of New York's anti-ticket scalping law; and allowance for a 3-day "cooling off* period after making certain credit card purchases via phone.

1994 - NYPIRG adds key consumer protections to a banking deregulation bill. The bill protects consumers who lease cars, sets up a credit card information hotline to help consumers compare credit cards, and requires that banks provide inexpensive "lifeline" bank account services. NYPIRG leads the successful effort to ban tobacco use on all school grounds in New York State.

1993 - NYPIRG helps pass the Clean Air Compliance Act. An Environmental Protection Fund is established to provide money for recycling and other environmental projects. Voter registration forms are simplified to make registering easier. NYPIRG pushes for pass age of a $10 billion, five-year program to rebuild transit systems around the state.

1992 - NYPIRG supports passage of health care reforms that include a law protecting "high risk" individuals from discrimination by private health insurers, a law establishing lead screening for pregnant women and children under six, and strong legislation to keep kids from smoking. NYPIRG champions creation of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) designed to provide a consumer voice to utility decision making.

1991 - NYPIRG supports passage of a law that streamlines state oversight of physicians, creates a consumer oversight panel and requires increased consumer access to disciplinary information. NYPIRG-written legislation requires the MTA to use plain English wh en informing transit riders of service changes (i.e., cutbacks). Legislation makes it easier for consumers to collect small claims court judgments.

1990 - NYPIRG works to enact passage of laws mandating the recycling of hazardous chlorofluorocarbons and expanding credit card and lemon law protections. NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign helps win passage of legislation to allow the public to speak at meeting s of the MTA. In coalition, NYPIRG wins significant protections for the lower Hudson River marine habitat.

1989 - NYPIRG victories include a two-year prohibition of the sale of irradiated foods, a law restricting cigarette smoking in public places, a two-year extension of the Item Pricing Law, and the Maternity Information Law.

1988 -NYPIRG secures passage of a federal law limiting the number of days that financial institutions can place holds on checking account funds. NYPIRG also helps persuade then-Governor Cuomo to veto legislation that might have increased milk prices.

1987 - NYPIRG presses for a major revision of ethics laws, including stricter financial disclosure of lawmakers' and top policymakers' personal financial assets. NYPIRG fights against an effort to end credit card grace periods.

1986 - NYPIRG victories include the Environmental Quality Bond Act, which provides $1.2 billion for toxic dump cleanup, and legislation giving victims of toxic exposure access to the court system. NYPIRG helps win a state law restricting contributions from t hose winning government approvals in New York City; the law leads to the 1988 passage by the New York City Council of the most comprehensive campaign finance laws in the nation.

1985 - NYPIRG defeats a bill which would have restricted the rights of medical malpractice victims.

1984 - NYPIRG supports passage of the nation's first mandatory Seat Belt Law.

1983 - NYPIRG victories include the Lemon Law, which requires manufacturers to replace or refund the money for certain defective vehicles, and "community right to know", an Executive Order that requires disclosure of corporate dumping practices. NYPIRG helps create a small claims court for homeowners to challenge their property tax assessment. NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign helps in the creation of a state-wide Public Transportation Safety Board and an independent management watchdog to oversee the MTA.

1982 -The Bottle Return Law, which establishes the 5-cent deposit on cans and bottles, is adopted after a 10-year NYPIRG campaign. A$30 million Superfund is established to expand New York's toxic dump clean-up program.

1981 - NYPIRG secures passage of a Utility Bill of Rights to provide users with various protections. NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign helps win the first of several five-year multi-billion dollar programs to rebuild the state's mass transit infrastructure.

1980 - The Private Right of Action Law, which allows consumers to sue businesses for false advertising, is passed with NYPIRG's support.

1979 - The Truth in Testing Law, requiring disclosure by standardized test manufacturers, and Small Claims Court reforms are enacted with NYPIRG's support.

1978 - NYPIRG defeats product liability legislation that would have limited consumers' rights to financial compensation for injuries caused by defective products.

1977 - NYPIRG victories include the Generic Drug Law, which allows the substitution of generic for brand name pharmaceuticals; the Plain English Law, which requires that all contracts for goods and services under $50,000 be written in non-technical language; and the Home Insulation and Energy Conservation Act (HIECA) are all passed.

1976 - NYPIRG wins passage of the Item Pricing Law, which requires that most foods sold in supermarkets bear price tags, and establishes Small Claims Court Action Centers to counsel consumers on their legal rights.

1975 - The Hearing Aid Sales Practice Act, which requires prescriptions for the sale of hearing aids to prevent consumer fraud, is adopted. NYPIRG also sues to halt pay bonuses to state legislators.

1974 - The Freedom of Information Law, which opens official records for public access, is one of three NYPIRG government reforms passed this year.

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