New Law: Laws Passed by the Legislature and Signed By the Governor
Every year, lawmakers introduce thousands of bills and laws that change the way State government operates. Once they are passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, these laws become the law of the land. The process of creating a law begins with an idea for a policy change. That idea can come from a senator’s constituents, an organization that calls for a law or from a State official.
Once the legislation has been introduced, a committee will be assigned to take the proposal through the legislative process. The committee will work through several rounds of amendments before the bill is ready to be voted on by the full Senate. If it passes, it will then be sent to the House of Representatives where it will go through the same process again before being sent back to the Senate.
Eventually, the Senate will adopt the bill and it will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. The House will also have the opportunity to amend the legislation. The House and the Senate will both have to agree on any changes before the bill can be voted on again. If the bill is voted on again and passed, it will be sent to the president for approval. The president has 60 days to review the bill before signing it into law.
Laws passed by the State legislature can have a significant impact on citizens of the State and its cities. For instance, a new law could raise the minimum wage in New York City and Westchester to $15 per hour. Other legislation may make it easier for victims of crime to qualify for compensation and ensure that NYCHA tenants receive information about water quality issues. Another law is aimed at increasing security in apartment buildings. It would require that landlords obtain residents’ written consent before installing keyless security devices in the building’s common areas.
The public’s right to know the process of governmental decision-making and the documents and statistics that lead to those decisions is fundamental to our democracy. It is unthinkable that the people of the State should be denied access to these records under the guise of confidentiality or privacy.
This article is part of a series on “New Law.” To learn more, read the introduction and articles on “New Law.” Also, visit Laws of New York, NYS Statutes at Large, the NYC Code and NY Rules.