The Overview

If you've ever stayed at a Suffolk County hotel, a slice of the tax on your room will now help keep the Montauk Lighthouse standing. New York's Assembly Bill 11552, which increases the distribution of revenue from the Suffolk County hotel and motel tax, became law when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed it July 6. Suffolk County's hotel and occupancy-tax collections reached about $21.6 million in 2023, up 53 percent from the prior year, and the revenue is used to promote the region as a tourism destination, according to Newsday. ​

What the Law Does

The law earmarks $250,000 of Suffolk County hotel and motel tax revenue for the not-for-profit organization that manages and owns the Montauk Lighthouse, the first lighthouse built in New York and a national historic landmark. That money comes out of a pool that already funds regional tourism promotion, so the lighthouse now has a dedicated, recurring line in the county's tourism budget.

The East Hampton Star reported that a $30.7 million project to reinforce the Montauk Point Lighthouse's shoreline with large armor stones began in 2021. The law changes how the hotel and motel tax revenue may be spent, according to Long Island Life and Politics.

Legislative Status

Asm. Tommy John Schiavoni's office said the signed hotel-motel tax bill was his legislation. Cosponsors included Asm. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-NY-8), Asm. Joe DeStefano (R-NY-3), Asm. Jodi Giglio (R-NY-2), Asm. Rebecca Kassay (D-NY-4), and seven other Assembly members. The bill drew support from both parties, with Republican and Democratic cosponsors signing on alongside the lead sponsor.

Both chambers passed the bill on the same day, June 4: the Assembly voted 117 to 24 and the Senate voted 58 to 2. Those margins, better than four to one in each chamber, signal broad legislative backing for redirecting a portion of the county's tourism tax to the landmark. Gov. Hochul signed it 32 days later.

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