What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the governor from issuing messages of necessity for budget and related appropriation bills.
Why it matters
Reduces Executive Power Over Budget Timing. By prohibiting the governor from issuing "messages of necessity" for budget and related appropriation bills, this amendment limits the governor’s ability to fast-track these critical bills, ensuring the legislature retains more control over the process.
Promotes Legislative Review and Transparency. The change would guarantee that budget bills remain on lawmakers’ desks for at least three days before a final vote, allowing for more thorough review, public scrutiny, and potential debate, which could lead to more informed policymaking.
Could Slow Down Budget Negotiations. Removing the governor’s option to expedite budget bills may lead to slower budget negotiations and passage, especially during periods of fiscal urgency or gridlock, potentially impacting government operations and services if budgets are not passed on time.
Aims to Prevent Last-Minute Deals. This amendment could help curb the practice of pushing through large, complex budget bills with little notice, reducing the likelihood of last-minute legislative surprises and increasing legislative accountability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No Immediate Budget Votes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Defeated in judiciary
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- Defeated in judiciary
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
No Fast-Track Budget Votes
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor William A. Barclay
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
48
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. WALCZYK, ASHBY, BORRELLO, MATTERA, MURRAY, OBERACK- ER, O'MARA, ROLISON, WEBER, WEIK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to prohibiting the governor from issuing a message of necessity for budget related bills
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 14 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 14. No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall have been printed and upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the governor, or the acting governor, shall have certified, under his or her hand and the seal of the state, the facts which in his or her opinion necessitate an immediate vote thereon, in which case it must nevertheless be upon the desks of the members in final form, not necessarily printed, before its final passage, provided, however, such immediate vote shall not be permitted for budget bills or appropriation bills relating thereto; nor shall any bill be passed or become a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the legislature; and upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereof shall be allowed, and the question upon its final passage shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the ayes and nays entered on the journal.
For purposes of this section, a bill shall be deemed to be printed and upon the desks of the members if: it is set forth in a legible electronic format by electronic means, and it is available for review in such format at the desks of the members. For purposes of this section "electronic means" means any method of transmission of information between computers or other machines designed for the purpose of sending and receiving such transmissions and which: allows the recipient to reproduce the information transmitted in a tangible medium of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89001-01-5
expression; and does not permit additions, deletions or other changes to be made without leaving an adequate record thereof.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to prohibit- ing the governor from issuing a message of necessity for budget related bills
Purpose or general idea of bill
A resolution proposing an amendment to section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to prohibiting the governor from issuing a message of necessity for budget related bills.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Amends section 14 of article 3 of the constitution. Section 2 Establishes the effective date.
Justification
This bill would prohibit the use of a message of necessity for budget related bills. This measure would give legislators the full three-day aging process to review the proposed final budget.
Legislative history
A7336/S8199 (2019): Referred to Judiciary
A4808/s2029 (2021)
Referred to Judiciary
A5996/s4285 (2023)
Referred to Judiciary
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE_AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
Effective date
The first regular legislative session convening after the next succeed- ing general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.