The New York State Bar Association’s Government Relations department is an integral part of the core mission and activities of the Association. The department works closely with the Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Communications, and membership departments as well as the many Sections, Committees and Task Forces of the Bar.
The department interacts with the Executive and Legislative branches of state government in Albany, as well as the federal government to advocate for the legislative priorities of the Association. The legislative priorities are developed in consultation the Legislative Policy Committee, with input with the Association’s Task Forces, Sections and Committees.
NYSBA members have unique insight into the practice of law that can meaningfully shape state and federal policy. The department serves as a resource for those members looking to get involved in the legislative process in the following ways:
- Assists sections and committees in recommending a policy issue to be adopted as an Association-wide state or federal legislative priority;
- Provides key stakeholders and elected officials with memoranda drafted by sections and committees commenting on pending legislation;
- Assists sections and committees in developing affirmative legislative proposals, a new piece of legislation;
- Facilitates communication between members, and the legislative and executive branches;
- Tracks and notifies members of legislation that is relevant to their practice area, and
- Serves as a general resource regarding NYSBA’s legislative procedure and the state and federal legislative process.
State and Legislative Priorities (2024)
Fact Sheets and Flyers
Legislative Memoranda & Correspondence
Current
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of S895-B (Hoylman-Sigal)/ A6789-B (Lee): This bill would require certain social media companies to post their terms of service and to submit reports to the New York State Attorney General on their terms of service and content moderation policies and outcomes. NYSBA’s Task Force on Combatting Anti-Semitism and Anti-Asian Hate completed a report providing a number of recommendations, including support for the Stop Hiding Hate Act. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of S206A (Cleare)/ A1432A (Aubry): This bill would remove the lifetime ban on jury duty for convicted felons who have completed their sentence NYSBA’s Task Force on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law completed a report providing a number of recommendations, one of which is to permit individuals who have been convicted of a felony, and who have completed the service of any sentence related to such conviction, to be called to serve in the jury pool. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of S7524 (Hoylman-Sigal)/ A10350 (Shimsky): This bill would expand the current authority for the use of e-filing in the courts. NYSBA’s Task Force Report on E-Filing of Court Documents, along with a 2007 report, assesses the impact and benefits e-filing may have on different types of courts: supreme and county, specialized, appellate and federal. NYSBA’s Task Force on the Modernization of Criminal Practice 2023 Report also details the benefits of a state-wide e-filing system. These reports stress the importance of uniform and mandatory e-filing across the NYS court system, as well as the efficiency and equity such a method could provide. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of S9839 (Hoylman-Sigal)/ A10540 (Dais): This bill would increase the number of Family Court judges throughout the state as well as increase the number of judges of the Civil Court of the City of New York. NYSBA’s Committee on Families and the Law’s 2022 Report provided a number of recommendations for improving the family court system, including increasing the number of Family Court judges. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of S7567-A (Sepulveda)/ A9143 (Tapia): This bill would ensure state-paid judges and justices receive death benefits even if they were not retired by their time of death. In 2015, NYSBA adopted a resolution supporting the amendment of section 60 of the retirement and social security law to allow for state-paid judges and justices of the Unified Court System to elect to have their beneficiaries receive a pension in lieu of the regular death benefit, upon their death while in service, providing state-paid judges and justices with the same benefits that are provided to most other state employees. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
NYSBA President’s letter in SUPPORT of A3225 (Vanel)/ S2271 (Liu): This legislation would clarify requirements for acknowledgements, proofs, oaths and affirmations without the state, eliminating the need for a certificate of conformity for an out-of-state affidavit. We urge the Governor to approve this legislation.
Past
2024 Legislative Wrap-Ups
All links open PDFs
- Business Law
- Children and the Law
- Family and the Law
- Civil Practice Law and Rules
- Environment and Energy Law
- Elder Law and Special Needs
- Immigration
- Real Property Law
- Trust and Estates
- Torts Insurance Compensation Law
- Women in the Law
2023 Legislative Wrap-Ups
All links open PDFs
- Business Law
- Women and the Law
- Torts, Insurance, Compensation Law
- Task Force on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law
- Real Property Law
- Immigration Representation
- Elder Law and Special Needs
- Civil Practice Law and Rules
- Animals and the Law
- Children and the Law
- Trust and Estates
New York State Bar Association’s 2024 Government Relations Legislative Update
The New York State Bar Association’s 2023 Government Relations Legislative Update
Successful 2023 Legislative Session for the New York State Bar Association
2022 Legislative Wrap-Ups
Overall 2022 legislative wrap-up here
- Animals and the Law
- Civil Practice Law and Rules
- Energy and Environmental Law
- Immigration Representation
- Veterans
- Women and the Law
Click here to view the 2021 Governmental Relations Legislative Wrap-Up
Association Policy
NYSBA periodically creates and publishes policy documents with a legislative proposal that are available to the public on a broad range of issues.
The Department of Government Relations is located at the New York State Bar Center, One Elk Street, Albany, New York 12207. The Department and NYSBA’s state policy is managed by Government Relations Director Matthew Pennello. For more information, please contact our Government Relations team at:
Matthew Pennello | Director of Government Relations | [email protected] | 518.487.5748
Lena Faustel | Policy Manager | [email protected] | (518) 487-5675
Maureen (Moe) Whitcomb | Assistant to the Executive Offices | [email protected] | (518) 487-5652
Hilary Jochmans | Federal Policy Consultant | [email protected] | (202) 669-3585
David P. Miranda, Esq. | General Counsel | [email protected] | (518) 487-5524
Process for Commenting on Legislation
Sections and Committees of the Association are permitted to comment in support of or in opposition to existing legislation and may also recommend affirmative legislative proposals to the Association Executive Committee to adopt as policy of the Association. The Department of Government Relations has provided the following materials to outline this process. Please note that the sample memorandum does not have the required disclosures nor letterhead. These are added by the Department after it has reviewed and approved the draft memoranda.