What's happening
This bill requires that, except for certain budget bills, all legislation introduced or passed in New York must address only one subject.
Why it matters
Reduces "omnibus" or "logrolling" bills. , making it harder for unrelated or controversial measures to be bundled together, which can improve transparency and allow lawmakers and the public to better track what is actually being voted on.
Could slow down the legislative process. , as lawmakers would need to introduce and pass separate bills for each topic, possibly increasing the volume of bills and requiring more time for debate and analysis.
Empowers citizens and watchdog groups. , making it easier to hold legislators accountable for their votes and positions on specific issues, rather than allowing unpopular measures to be hidden within larger bills.
Maintains flexibility for budget legislation. , recognizing that appropriations bills often need to cover multiple subjects for practical reasons, but otherwise enforces a stricter standard for all other types of legislation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
One Subject Per Bill
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6857
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
August 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to requiring bills to include a single object or purpose
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 49 to read as follows:
§ 49. Bills to include a single object or purpose. No bill, with the exception of budget bills for appropriation or reappropriation submitted by the governor pursuant to article seven of the constitution and amendments thereto, shall be introduced or passed by the legislature which embraces more than one subject.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13361-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to requiring bills to include a single object or purpose
Purpose
To require that all bills other than appropriation and reappropriation budget bills submitted pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution contain only one subject
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - adds a new section 49 of the Legislative Law.
Section 2 - Effective date.
Justification
Currently, legislative bills are submitted from time to time, particularly during the budget process, that cover a number of different and totally unrelated subjects. Such bills often deal with policies and issues that have no relationship to each other and that should be reviewed and considered on their own individual merits. Such multi-subject bills are confusing to members of the public, and often lead to confusion or misinterpretation by the people who will be affected by the changes envisioned in the legislation. This bill will provide more transparency and clarity to the legislative process so that the residents of our state can better understand and comment on proposals before the Legislature.
Legislative history
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
None.
Effective date
This act will take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.