New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York S9603: Requires members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law
Status: In committee, June 5, 2026
Requires members of a public body to complete a minimum of two hours of training, with one hour on the state's open meetings law and one hour on freedom of information law; requires certain local, city, county, town and village public body members to complete such training as well.
What the bill says
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law.
From the introduced text, March 27, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section 79-a to read as follows: § 79-A. PUBLIC OFFICERS REQUIRED TRAINING. EACH LOCAL OFFICER, AS DEFINED BY ARTICLE ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, SHALL COMPLETE NO LESS THAN TWO HOURS OF TRAINING ANNUALLY, WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR OF SUCH TRAINING BEING ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AND WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR OF SUCH TRAINING BEING ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. ALL VILLAGE CLERKS, TOWN CLERKS, CITY CLERKS, LEGISLATIVE CLERKS TO A COUNTY LEGISLATURE OR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, VILLAGE ATTORNEYS, TOWN ATTORNEYS, CITY ATTORNEYS, COUNTY ATTORNEYS OR OTHER DESIGNATED ATTORNEYS FOR A PUBLIC BODY, AND ALL DESIGNATED RECORDS ACCESS OFFICERS AND FOIL APPEAL OFFICERS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SUCH TRAINING. SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINE OF THIS CHAPTER AND MAY …
Sponsors
- Shelley Mayer (D, 37) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : COMMITTED TO RULES
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
- : 2ND REPORT CAL.
- : 1ST REPORT CAL.1248
- : REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- : REFERRED TO ETHICS AND INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
Votes
- Senate Local Government Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (May 19, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Local Government Committee Vote (May 19, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Ethics And Internal Governance Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (April 28, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Ethics And Internal Governance Committee Vote (April 28, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Public Officers Law
Common questions
- What is S9603?
- S9603 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Requires members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law.
- What does S9603 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law.
- What is the status of S9603?
- In committee as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: COMMITTED TO RULES (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S9603?
- Shelley Mayer (D, 37).
- Where is the official record for S9603?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9603
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.