Senate bill · S6599 (2025-26)

Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law

New York State Senate

Same as A9340, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

Sponsor: Robert Jackson (State Senator, District 31, Democratic/Working Families)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data

Summary

Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law when either the person has substantially prevailed, or if the agency failed to respond within the statutory time.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Officers Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill is intended to clarify certain provisions in the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) thereby demonstrating a continued affirmation by the state to the principles of open government and public accountabil- ity.

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

Democratic1

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Robert C. Carroll

The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Jackson says this is needed

FOIL provisions advance the premise that people have a right to know the process of governmental decision making. This bill enforces such a right by discouraging public agencies from denying public access to records unless a reasonable basis in law exists. The enactment of this bill would provide the court with broader discretionary authority to award fees thereby discouraging public bodies from arbitrarily or capriciously denying access to records. People should not be forced to spend money and time on judicial proceedings, to gain access to records that agen- cies should have disclosed in the first place.

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 OperationsMar 10, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Investigations And Government Operations
Senate Investigations And Government OperationsMay 28, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 5, 2026
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Mar 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Mar 17, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Mar 12, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)

Mar 10, 2026
1ST Report CAL.531
1ST REPORT CAL.531
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
Dec 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1443
1ST REPORT CAL.1443
NY Senate
Mar 18, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
NY Senate

Read the record

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