What's happening
This bill creates a task force to review and recommend improvements to the New York State Administrative Procedure Act.
Why it matters
Comprehensive Review of Regulatory Process. The task force is charged with evaluating whether New York’s administrative rulemaking, adjudication, and licensing procedures are efficient, consistent, and not unduly burdensome—this could lead to significant changes in how state agencies develop and enforce rules, potentially streamlining government operations and reducing red tape for businesses and individuals.
Diverse Stakeholder Input. The task force will consult not only with government officials but also with representatives from small businesses, agriculture, regulated industries, and citizens from across the state. This inclusive approach increases the likelihood that any recommended reforms will reflect a broad range of perspectives and real-world impacts.
Emphasis on Data, Transparency, and Oversight. The legislation directs the task force to prioritize principles such as using the best-available science for risk assessment, conducting thorough cost-benefit analyses for major regulations, ensuring peer and public review, and reinforcing legislative and judicial oversight. These changes could increase accountability and transparency in the regulatory process.
Potential for Meaningful Policy Change. The task force’s recommendations—due by the end of 2026—could lead to legislative amendments that reshape regulatory practices in New York, affecting how agencies interact with the public, businesses, and other stakeholders for years to come.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review State Rulemaking Process
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
930
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, BORRELLO, MURRAY, OBERACKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
AN ACT to amend the state administrative procedure act, in relation to establishing a task force for the review of the state administrative procedure act
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state administrative procedure act is amended by adding a new article 6 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6
TASK FORCE FOR REVIEW OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT Section 601. Legislative intent.
602. Task force for the review of the state administrative
procedure act.
§ 601. Legislative intent. The state administrative procedure act was first enacted in nineteen hundred seventy-five to create a uniform, consistent process to administrative rulemaking, adjudication and licensing. Since nineteen hundred seventy-five this act has been amended numerous times but there has never been a comprehensive review of the efficacy of the act in its entirety. The legislature hereby finds and declares that it is in the public interest to have such a comprehensive review to ensure that administrative rulemaking, adjudication and licensing is consistent, uniform, and not unnecessarily burdensome for regulated entities.
§ 602. Task force for the review of the state administrative procedure act. 1. There shall be established a task force for the review of the state administrative procedure act ("task force"). Such task force shall examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the efficiency of the rulemaking process, whether this act ensures the establishment of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02843-01-5
consistent, uniform rules and whether the statutory process results in rules, regulations and licenses that are overly burdensome on regulated entities.
2. The task force shall be composed of nine members appointed as follows: three members appointed by the governor, at least one of whom shall be chosen from among the commissioners of agencies with significant regulatory oversight; two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one of whom shall be the senate chair of the administrative regulatory review commission; two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one of which shall be the assembly chair of the administrative regulatory review commission; one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The governor shall designate the chair of the task force. All appointed members of the task force shall have experience in regulatory or administrative law, or experience in a field regulated by multiple state agencies, or a representative of organized labor in a regulated field.
3. The task force shall hold public hearings throughout the state and shall have the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law. The task force shall consult with members of the small business and agricultural communities and regulated entities and citizens from every region of the state.
4. On or before December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-six, the task force shall provide a written report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, and the chair of the administrative regulatory review commission. The report shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations for specific amendments to this act as well as any additional recommendations the task force deems relevant. Any recommendations shall incorporate the following principles: (a) agencies should conduct risk assessments based on the best-available data and science; (b) agencies should ensure that a full cost benefit analysis is undertaken for major regulations; (c) the rulemaking process must include an objective, transparent peer and public review; (d) regulations should be subject to legislative and judicial oversight and review; and (e) agencies should prioritize compliance over enforcement.
5. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this section.
6. To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall be entitled to request and receive and shall utilize and be provided with such facilities, resources and data of any court, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or agency of the state or any political subdivision or public authority thereof as it may reasonably request to carry out properly its powers and duties pursuant to this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state administrative procedure act, in relation to establishing a task force for the review of the state administrative procedure act
Purpose
Amends the state administrative procedure act, in relation to establish- ing a task force for the review of the state administrative procedure act to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning the effi- ciency of the rulemaking process, whether this act ensures the estab- lishment of consistent, uniform rules, and whether the statutory process results in rules, regulations, and licenses that are overly burdensome on regulated entities.
Summary of provisions
This bill would establish the Task Force for Review of the State Admin- istrative Procedure Act (SAPA) that would be tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the efficacy of SAPA. The Task Force would be required to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning the efficiency of the rulemaking process, whether this act ensures the establishment of consistent, uniform rules, and whether the statutory process results in rules, regulations, and licenses that are overly burdensome on regulated entities. The Task Force would-be comprised of 9 members, three of whom would be appointed by the Governor, two of whom would be appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate, two of whom would be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, one of whom would be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and one of whom would be appointed by the minority leader of the Assembly. The Task Force would be required to issue a report on or before December 31, 2026.
Justification
The State Administrative Procedure Act was first enacted in 1975 to create a uniform, consistent process to administrative rulemaking, adju- dication, and licensing. Since 1975, this act has been amended numerous times but there has never been a comprehensive review of the efficacy of the act in its entirety. It is in the public interest to have such a comprehensive review to ensure that administrative rulemaking, adjudi- cation, and licensing is consistent, uniform, and not unnecessarily burdensome for regulated entities.
Legislative history
2023-24: S.191/A.4632 Referred to Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business/Referred to Governmental Oper- ations
2021-22: S.1700/A.8195 Reported to 3rd Reading/Held in Governmental Operations
2019-20: S.717/A.5276 Referred to Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business/Referred to Governmental Operations
2017-18: S.2133/A.5342 Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations
2015-16: S.401-A Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations
2013-14: S.5657-B/A.7935-B Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Oper- ations
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.