Relates to publishing records of public interest by agencies and the legislature

Latest action Mar 24, 2026

Relates to publishing records of public interest by agencies and the legislature on their websites.

Not chosen yet

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

New York State Senate

Same as A549, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Officers Law.

Committee

Finance · New York State Senate

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

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill requires each agency and house of the state legislature to publish records proactively on its internet website that are, or are likely to be of substantial interest to the public and that are already available under the freedom of information law.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Investigations And Government Operations
Senate Investigations And Government OperationsMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Investigations And Government Operations
Senate Investigations And Government OperationsApr 7, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Andrew Gounardes, John T. McDonald III and 4 more on Agora

Democratic6

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

The Electronic Freedom of Information Act of 1996, popularly known as E-FOIA, amended the federal disclosure statutes to require agencies to publish records that are frequently requested, and available to the public under the law, proactively (5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(2)(0). Federal agencies have interpreted frequently requested to mean three requests. Given the advances in technology since the Freedom of Information Act was enacted, and even since E-FOIA, state agencies now have the means to publish records proactively. While many agencies make some records available to the public without a freedom of information request, there is no standard in the law for proactive publication. By proactively publishing records on the internet that are likely to be the subject of frequent requests, agencies can refer individuals who request records to their website. According to the Committee on Open Government, it is rare for an individual who is referred to the Internet to object and request a hard copy.

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.

Full history

Mar 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
NY Senate
Apr 7, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 16, 2025
Reference Changed to Investigations and Government Operations
REFERENCE CHANGED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
NY Senate

Show full history (2 earlier events)

Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 29, 2026. About our data

Read the record

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

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