Senate bill · S10193 (2025-26)

Relates to the ability of government agencies in New York to claim copyright protection

New York State Senate

Same as A5008, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

Sponsor: Siela Bynoe (State Senator, District 6, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

Summary

Waives the ability of government agencies in New York to claim copyright protection except where the record reflects artistic, creative or scholarly works of authorship, academic course materials, or scientific or academic research, or if the copyright owner intends to distribute the record of derivative work based on it to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Officers Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the ability for New York State's government agencies to claim copyright protection.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Investigations And Government Operations · New York State Senate.

Your position on this bill

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Cosponsors

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic2

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The sponsor's argument

Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed

The Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 105) states that copyright protection is NOT available for any work of the United State Government. It is impor- tant that the same apply to our state and local governments. Currently, New York State, and its local governments and agencies, can seek copy- right protection on work that was commissioned as a fundamental duty of government. It is important that this loophole be closed. Copyright and similar protections (such as patents) are justifiable to safeguard artistic creativity or academic or scientific research. However, copy- right should not be claimed or applied to works by an agency that is obligated by law to produce a record.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Investigations And Government Operations
Senate Investigations And Government OperationsMay 18, 2026Result: passed
(6) (1) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 5, 2026
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 20, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 19, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 18, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1136
1ST REPORT CAL.1136
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
NY Senate

Show full history (4 earlier events)

Apr 23, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.354
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.354
NY Assembly
Apr 21, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Feb 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.