Senate Judiciary Committee advances 11 measures to the floor, including bills on court access and tenant protections

The Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary advanced 11 bills on Feb. 11, 2025, moving measures on audiovisual coverage of court proceedings, compensation for interpreters in town and village courts, tenant protections for rent-stabilized units and several other judiciary-related proposals to the Senate floor or to referral committees.

The actions came during a regularly scheduled committee meeting chaired by Senator Brad Poilman Siegel. Most measures were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Several senators recorded objections or without-recommendation positions on individual bills; in a few cases senators asked for follow-up information or voiced legal concerns before voting.

Among the measures reported to the floor or other committees were:

- Senate Print 413 (sponsor: Senator Gernardis): “Enacts to amend the general obligation fraud in relation to the release of certain claims by certain employees.” The bill was moved by Senator Liu and seconded by Senator Gernard (the sponsor seconded his own bill in committee). Senators Palumbo and Fitzpatrick registered negative votes; the bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 462A (sponsor: Senator Royceman Siegel): “Enacts to amend the judiciary law in relation to audio visual coverage of judiciary proceedings by the media and to repeal section 218 of the judiciary law and section 52 of the civil rights law related thereto.” The bill was moved by Senator Lueb (mover recorded as Senator Lueb in the transcript) and seconded by Senator Granada; it was reported to finance.

- Senate Print 916 (sponsor: Senator Sean Ryan): “Amends the judiciary law in relation to requiring town and village courts to compensate temporary interpreters for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons.” The bill was moved by Senator Gernardis and seconded by Senator Ryan; Senator Fitzpatrick recorded a without-recommendation position and the bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 952 (sponsor: Senator Kavanaugh): “Acts to amend the general obligations law in relation to making rent-stabilized dwelling units eligible for certain protections.” Moved by Senator Gernardis and seconded by Senator Lou, the bill was reported to the floor; Senator Fitzpatrick recorded a negative vote.

- Senate Print 1142 (sponsor: Senator Gernardis): “Amends the civil practice law and rules in relation to the statute of limitations for actions based upon unlawful discriminatory practice in employment.” The bill was moved by Senator Liu and seconded by Senator Ryan and reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 2422 (sponsor: Senator Royleman Segal): “Repeals section 470 of the judiciary law relating to allowing attorneys on offices in the state to reside in an internal state” (as read into the record). Moved by Senator Liu, seconded by Senator Ryan; Senator Fitzpatrick recorded a without-recommendation position. The bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 2546 (sponsor: Senator Myrie): “Enacts to amend the real property actions and proceedings law in relation to title to an abandoned multiple dwelling in a city, town, or village.” Moved by Senator Ryan and seconded by Senator Liu; Senators Fitzpatrick and Cuomo recorded negative votes. The bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 2597 (sponsor: Senator Mayer): “Enacts to amend the Family Court Act in relation to establishing standards for public access to family court.” Moved by Senator Liu and seconded by Senator Ryan, the bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 3660 (sponsor: Senator Hoyland Siegel): “Amends the Family Court Act in relation to referrals for child support enforcement for foster care maintenance payments.” Committee members asked for clarification about the scope and policy rationale for the change; staff said they would provide answers after the meeting. The bill was moved by Senator Ryan, seconded by Senator Lou. Senator Cuomo and Senator Fitzpatrick recorded without-recommendation positions; the bill was reported to the floor.

- Senate Print 3799 (sponsor: Senator Conley): “Amends the real property actions and proceedings law in relation to access to adjoining properties, use improvements, or repairs.” Moved by Senator Liu and seconded by Senator Ryan, the bill was reported to the floor; Senator Fitzpatrick recorded a without-recommendation position.

- Senate Print 3807 (sponsor: Senator Oyleman Siegel): “Amends the general obligations law in relation to changing what needs to be proven in an action for negligent supervision.” Several senators voiced substantive concerns about the bill’s reach, including whether it would extend employer liability for off-premises conduct and that applying the change to pending actions could be onerous for defendants. Despite those concerns, Senator Ryan moved the bill and Senator Lou seconded; Senator Fitzpatrick recorded a negative vote and Senator Palumbo recorded a without-recommendation position. The bill was moved to the floor.

The committee concluded its business and adjourned after the final vote.

Notes on procedure and recorded positions: many measures were advanced by voice vote. Where the transcript records specific negative or without-recommendation positions, those are noted above by senator name as recorded in the committee transcript. When the committee referred a bill to another committee (for example, reference to finance), that referral is noted with the committee reference as read into the record.