Georgetown Law
Georgetown Law Library

New York Resources

This State Guide provides an in-depth look at sources of law in New York.

Legislative History

"Legislative history" refers to the documents created by the legislature in the course of the legislative process. Legislative histories are usually consulted to investigate the legislative intent behind a statute. The following publications contribute to the understanding of how New York courts use legislative history:

Relatively little explanatory material is available for New York legislation.

  • The table in this guide serves only as a starting point to conduct a New York legislative history research. It lists the more common legislative documents that may help you understand the intent of a law and potential locations to find them. But it is not an exhaustive list.
  • The legislative history research guides offered by N.Y. state and academic law libraries (found further along on this page) offer more exhaustive lists of legislative documents and their locations, and more detailed research steps.
Document Locations
Bills Check Finding Bills section on Bills & Session Laws page on this guide.
Introducer's memoranda (also known as "sponsor's memoranda," or "legislative memoranda")

In print: New York State Legislative Annual: Law Library Call Number: State 1st Floor KFN5014 .N48. The most comprehensive source. Compiles sponsor's memoranda for all chapter (session) laws of the given year, with all governor's approval and veto messages.

In print: McKinney's Session Laws of New York, at Library of Congress. Selected memoranda are available in Volume 2 of the annual set from 1977 onwards.

Legislative Session Information (N.Y. St. Legis.)

Governor's Memoranda (which include "approval memoranda" and "veto memoranda")

New York State Legislative Annual 

In print: McKinney's Session Laws of New York, at Library of Congress. Governor's Memoranda on Approval of Bills are available in Volume 2 of the annual set from 1977 onwards.

In print: New York Consolidated Laws Service: Law Library Call Number: State 1st Floor KFN5030 1976 .A23, currently updated at Law Library.

Bill Jackets: For explanation of this document, review

N.Y. St. Libr.'s guide on Bill, Veto and Recall Jackets

N.Y. St. Archives' About Bill and Veto Jackets

N.Y. Pub. Libr.'s "NY Bill Jackets - Legislation Uncloaked"

Approval Jackets:

Veto Jackets:

Recall Jackets:

Transcripts of Debates and Hearings

Senate Debates: Referenced by the bill number, subject, and the day the bill was debated

  • Current session at New York State Senate Journal Office: Telephone: (518) 455-2245; Room 323M, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12247
  • 1960 - prior year at New York State Office of Microfilm and Records: Telephone: (518) 455-3200; Room 500GA, State Capital, Albany, NY 12247
  • 1974-1976 at New York State Archives

Assembly Debates: Referenced by bill number, subject, and the day the bill was debated

Check also Debates & Journals page on Brooklyn Law Library's N.Y. Legislative History guide

Senate and Assembly Hearings

Check also Hearings & Reports page on Brooklyn L. Libr.'s NY Legislative History guide.

Governor's Annual Messages

In print: McKinney's Session Law News of New York, at Library of Congress.

In print: McKinney's Session Laws of New York, at Library of Congress.

In print: New York Consolidated Law Service Session Laws: Law Library Call Number: State 1st Floor KFN5030 1976 .A23, currently updated at Law Library.

Governor's website

New York Enacted Legislation (Session Laws) on Westlaw (current legislative session)

New York Historical Enacted Legislation (Session Laws) on Westlaw

Research Guides & Readings

A number of New York law libraries have published research guides that provide background information on the New York legislative process, list documents that may be produced in the course of the legislative process, specify the sources for legislative documents, and give recommendations in compiling a legislative history. There are also published articles that provide similar information.

Databases

Legislative History Research Service