Senate Judiciary Committee reports a dozen measures to the floor; most advanced by voice vote

The Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary met May 28 and reported more than a dozen measures to the full Senate floor, largely by voice vote.

Committee Chair State Senator Brad Wenland Siegel guided the meeting through a sequence of bills covering civil practice rules, real property, family court appeals, and corporate jurisdiction. For most items the committee recorded the motion, heard any brief comments, and advanced the bill.

Notable items reported to the floor in the transcript include:

- Senate Print 7-27 (Senator Sanders): amend Civil Practice Law and Rules relating to time limitations for filing claims for certain injuries — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 3,394 (Senator Gennaris): amend Civil Practice Law and Rules, the Penal Law, and the Criminal Procedure Law in relation to anti-stalking orders — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 3,845 (Senator Wilma Siegel): amend Real Property Law and General Obligations Law to prohibit residential landlords from charging tenants a fee for a dishonored rent check in excess of actual costs — reported to the floor. (Committee discussion included a parliamentary question about whether a second is required; the clerk noted there is nothing in the committee rules regarding motions.)

- Senate Print 07/1955 (Senator Williams Zulu): concurrent resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to Section 25 of Article 6 — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 7,600 (Senator Bynum): direct condominium and cooperative housing associations to complete capital reserve studies — reported to finance.

- Senate Print 8,118 (Senator Kavanaugh): amend Real Property Law and Public Service Law prohibiting utility service terminations in multiple dwellings — reported to the floor (transcript records at least one nay vote and senators recorded as without recommendation).

- Senate Print 8,175 (Senator Sepulveda): allow certain methods for service of process — reported to the floor (see separate article for discussion).

- Senate Print 08/1976 (Senator Versace): amend Family Court Act for time limits on appeals and objections to support magistrate determinations — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 08/1985 (Senator Salazar): amend Civil Practice Law and Rules to prohibit certain entities from negotiating contracts or settlements that release liability within 30 days of a tortious act — reported to the floor (seconded by Senator Sepulveda per transcript).

- Senate Print 8,186 (Senator Jean Arce): amendments concerning consent to jurisdiction by foreign business organizations authorized to do business in the state — reported to the floor (moved by Senator Mayer; seconded by Senator Acosta).

- Senate Print 8,187 (Senator Cooney): relating to the effectiveness of a 2022 law authorizing special proceedings to convey title to abandoned commercial and industrial property — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 8,192 (Senator Clare): amend the Judiciary Law regarding sufficiency of the number of judges and justices in districts and courts — reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 8,195 (Senator Ronald C. Guenther): amend Civil Practice Law and Rules concerning affirmations in civil actions — reported to the floor.

Where the transcript recorded individual positions, several senators were noted as "without recommendation" on particular bills, including senators listed in the record as Fitzpatrick, Colombo, Palumbo, Ramirez, and O'Mara on various items. The committee used voice votes for nearly all actions and did not provide full roll-call tallies in the excerpted transcript.

The committee adjourned after completing the agenda. Reported bills will proceed according to the Senate's floor schedule.