S 3864 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill requires New York courts to publish detailed criminal case data online in a machine-readable format. It mandates collecting and sharing defendant demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), judge names, case issues, and publication status for every criminal case, with new data updated quarterly. The information must be accessible via a free public database allowing search and bulk download for analysis. This affects courts (which must transmit data) and the public (which gains access to previously unpublished case details). The law applies to all criminal cases, including those resolved in favor of the defendant.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Assembly Passage
Jun 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Last action Jun 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S3864 S3864A · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to replace a mandate for immediate, ongoing publication of criminal court statistics with a one-time report due in January 2027. This report will evaluate the feasibility and benefits of publishing suppression rulings before any such publication program is implemented.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from requiring immediate data collection and publication to a preliminary study phase regarding suppression rulings.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement to immediately collect, compile, and publish online statistics on defendant demographics and judge activity.

Added a requirement to submit a report to the legislature and governor by January 15, 2027, evaluating the feasibility of publishing suppression rulings.

Removed detailed provisions requiring the automatic transmission of criminal court opinions to the state reporter in machine-readable format.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from an immediate implementation to the 180th day after becoming law, aligning with the new reporting timeline.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 1, 2026 · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

How they voted

4119
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 1, 2026
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
3 Yea 19 Nay
86% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Jun 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 3864A
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO JUDICIARY
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors