Relates to enacting the "keep police radio public act"

Latest action Dec 19, 2025

Enacts the "keep police radio public act"; ensures that, except for sensitive information, all radio communications are accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Rejected by the executive.

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

Vetoed

New York State Senate

Same as A3516, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A3516, the matching Assembly bill.

Amends the Executive Law.

Committee

Finance · New York State Senate

Also referred to Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To ensure that professional journalists and emergency services organiza- tions maintain real-time access to law enforcement radio communications.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 5, 2025Result: passedSenate vote on A3516, the matching Assembly bill.
(38) (22) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesMay 29, 2025Result: passed
(13) (7) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

Brian Cunningham, Gustavo Rivera and 13 more on Agora

Democratic15

Show all 15 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Michael Gianaris says this is needed

Across the nation, law enforcement agencies have slowly begun encrypting their radio transmissions. This move not only prevents the public from having access to important information about police activity, but dangerously inhibits news organizations from tracking and reporting on police actions. The public has a right to transparency of its law enforcement agencies. Though agencies may need to at times protect sensitive information that may be conveyed over the course of these communications, a balance can be struck. This bill responds to the recent uptick in police radio encryptions by requiring law enforcement agencies that encrypt any part of their radio communications to continue granting real-time access to members of the press and emergency services organizations, with an exception made for communications containing sensitive information. Similar initiatives to keep police radio transmissions public have been proposed in two states, California and Illinois, and 4 enacted in Colorado.

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

Dec 19, 2025
Tabled
TABLED
NY Assembly
Dec 19, 2025
Vetoed
VETOED MEMO.125
NY Assembly
Dec 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Assembly
Jun 5, 2025
3RD Reading CAL.1460
3RD READING CAL.1460
NY Senate
Jun 5, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly

Show full history (11 earlier events)

Jun 5, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 5, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 5, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED BY A3516
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1460
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1460
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Rules Report CAL.308
RULES REPORT CAL.308
NY Assembly
May 27, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Jan 28, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO FINANCE
NY Senate

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 21, 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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