New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York S6599: Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law
Status: In committee, June 5, 2026
Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law when either the person has substantially prevailed, or if the agency failed to respond within the statutory time.
What the bill says
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to permitting assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law.
From the introduced text, March 18, 2025:
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to permitting assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 89 of the public officers law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows: (c) The court in such a proceeding: (i) may assess, against such agency involved, reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred by such person in any case under the provisions of this [section] ARTICLE in which such person has substantially prevailed, [and when] OR IN WHICH the agency failed to respond to a request or appeal within the statutory time; and (ii) shall assess, against such agency involved, reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred by such person in any case under the provisions of this [section] ARTICLE in which such person has substantially prevailed and the court finds that the agency had no reasonable basis for denying access. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO ABRIDGE OR DENY ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY AVAILABLE UNDER ARTICLE EIGHTY-SIX OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES. § 2. This …
Sponsors
- Robert Jackson (D, 31) · primary sponsor
- Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D, 47)
Latest actions
- : COMMITTED TO RULES
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
- : 2ND REPORT CAL.
- : 1ST REPORT CAL.531
- : REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
- : COMMITTED TO RULES
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
- : 2ND REPORT CAL.
- : 1ST REPORT CAL.1443
- : REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Votes
- Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (March 10, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Investigations And Government Operations Committee Vote (March 10, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (May 28, 2025): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Investigations And Government Operations Committee Vote (May 28, 2025): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR Vote (May 28, 2025): 44 yea, 16 nay, passed
Subjects: Public Officers Law
Common questions
- What is S6599?
- S6599 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law.
- What does S6599 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to permitting assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law.
- What is the status of S6599?
- In committee as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: COMMITTED TO RULES (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S6599?
- Robert Jackson (D, 31), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S6599?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6599
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.