New York State Legislative Agenda

The City Bar’s 2023 New York State Legislative Agenda is rooted in our mission to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest. The agenda focuses on positions relevant to the current legislative debate or of particular importance to the City Bar, as well as legislative proposals drafted by our committees. The City Bar’s committees generate dozens of reports over the course of each legislative session and this agenda represents only a portion of those positions.  For a full directory of City Bar reports, including positions on regulatory changes and our federal and international work, please visit our website.

Download the agenda: Overview | Full PDF

#NYCBarNYSAgenda

THE JUDICIARY, THE PROFESSION & THE FAIR, EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 

• Support adequate funding for civil legal services in the Judiciary budget 
• Increase the rates paid to 18-b attorneys 
• Simplify New York State’s Courts through restructuring 
• Reform and modernize the administration of class actions in New York’s courts 
• Permit nonresident attorneys to practice in New York without maintaining a physical office in state 

GOOD GOVERNMENT 

• Raise and reset expectations about State ethics enforcement in New York 
• Election Law enforcement reform 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM 

• Enact the Second Chance Amendment 
• Enact the Clean Slate Act 
• Enact the Rap Music on Trial Bill 
• Clarify registration requirements for individuals convicted of level one sex offenses from out of state 

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS 

• Expand the Right to Counsel for tenants facing eviction statewide 
• Provide internet access to individuals living in temporary housing throughout New York State 
• Increase public assistance benefits 

CIVIL RIGHTS & EQUAL PROTECTION 

• Applauding second passage of the New York Equality Amendment 
• Reform “Qualified Immunity” to ensure accountability for civil rights violations 
• Protect children during custodial police interrogation 
• Enact the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER AFFAIRS 

• Require a personal financial literacy course in State high schools 
• Regulate the use of noncompete agreements for lower-salary employees 
• Support long-established practices of business-to-business arbitration proceedings 
• Recommended modifications to the Twenty-First Century Anti-Trust Act 

Download the agenda: Overview | Full PDF

Contact:

Elizabeth Kocienda | Director of Advocacy
212-382-4788, ekocienda@nycbar.org

Maria Cilenti | Senior Policy Counsel
212-382-6655, mcilenti@nycbar.org

Mary Margulis-Ohnuma | Policy Counsel
212-382-6767, mmargulis-ohnuma@nycbar.org