New York Assembly Bill Would Prohibit Kratom Advertising Within 1,500 Feet of Schools

Why it matters

If enacted, New York's targeted advertising restriction would create a new precedent in kratom policy — protecting children from marketing exposure without triggering the sweeping bans that have drawn legal and public health controversy in other states.

The big picture

State legislatures across the U.S. are grappling with how to regulate kratom, with most bills focused on age restrictions, scheduling as controlled substances, or outright bans. New York's approach is more surgical: restrict kratom advertising near schools rather than prohibit the product itself, mirroring strategies used for tobacco and alcohol.

Key findings

• Assembly Bill A10482 introduced March 6, 2026, referred to the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee
• Would ban kratom product advertisements within 1,500 feet of schools (500 feet within New York City)
• Violators face civil penalties of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations
• A companion bill, S9445, exists in the New York State Senate
• The bill restricts kratom advertising only — not the sale or possession of kratom products

What they say

Assemblymember Steck, the bill sponsor, has framed the measure as protecting children from exposure to marketing of a substance with documented addiction and health risks.

Bottom line

**New York's novel kratom bill skips the total ban and targets advertising near schools instead — a more targeted public health approach that could serve as a model for other states.**