Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 19, 2026Result: passed
(58) (1) (0) (4)
Senate bill · S8848 (2025-26)
Enacts the "Clock Should Stop Act"
Latest action May 19, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A8984, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Requires the state board of law examiners to establish protocols for addressing emergencies that occur during the administration of the bar examination, and to provide testing accommodations for persons who have applied for examination for admission to practice and are the subject of, or a witness to, or are affected by the emergency.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Judiciary Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To require the New York State Board of Law Examiners to adopt emergency protocols-including stopping the exam clock and offering accommodations when emergencies arise before or during the bar exam, in order to protect examinee welfare and uphold the fairness and integrity of the examination process.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Judiciary · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Judiciary · New York State Senate.
Cosponsors
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Democratic2
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
The sponsor's argument
Why John Liu says this is needed
On July 30, 2025, during the administration of the New York State bar exam at Hofstra University, a young woman suffered a serious medical emergency, a heart attack. Reports indicate a delay in medical response and, notably, that the exam was not paused during the incident-raising concerns about examinee safety, mental distress, and fairness to all present. The bar exam is a high-pressure, career-determining test. Yet, unlike most professional or academic settings, current protocols offer no relief or guidance in the event of real-time emergencies. This bill acknowledges that unexpected, life-threatening, or traumatic events may arise during exam administration, and it mandates reasonable, humane responses that protect examinees without compromising the exam's rigor or integrity. Additionally, the examiners must stop the clock. The legal profession is rooted in fairness, justice, and due process - values that should be evident not only in the courtroom but also in the systems that license those who serve in it. The "Clock Should Stop Act" ensures our examination processes reflect those values.
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 · Judiciary
Senate JudiciaryMay 12, 2026Result: passed
(19) (0) (0) (0)
Full history
- May 19, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- May 19, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- May 19, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Assembly
- May 14, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- May 13, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (4 earlier events)Show less history
- May 12, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1019
1ST REPORT CAL.1019
NY Senate
- Jan 9, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Assembly
- Aug 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Assembly