New York Assembly Bill A00576

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the "division of research and analysis" which is a part of the legislative library and assists members of the legislature by providing research and analysis on policy.

Summary

This bill creates a new nonpartisan “division of research and analysis” within the legislative library to support the New York Legislature. The division would provide research support, policy analysis, memoranda, and reference materials to members of both houses, with an emphasis on independent, timely, and unbiased assistance. It also directs the legislative librarian to promote the division’s work and grant it the greatest practicable administrative independence consistent with its mission. The bill establishes a formal appointment structure for the division’s director, who would be selected by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Majority Leader from a list of three nominees generated by a committee chaired by the SUNY chancellor and including the presidents of several SUNY and CUNY institutions. The director would serve a four-year term, be eligible for reappointment, and could be removed only by agreement of the chamber leaders and a two-thirds vote of both houses. Staffing decisions would be made by the legislative librarian and director, subject to appropriation, and must be based solely on merit and not political affiliation.

Impact

The bill would amend the Legislative Law to add a separate research and analysis unit to the legislative library and to define its duties, governance, staffing standards, and reporting obligations. It would affect the internal operations of the Legislature rather than the public at large, but it could change how lawmakers obtain policy research, confidential member-specific memoranda, and publicly available issue briefs. It also reinforces that legislative library employees are employees of the Legislature and creates a new annual reporting requirement on the division’s activities.

Sentiment

The bill’s stated purpose and structure suggest generally favorable sentiment toward strengthening legislative capacity and providing lawmakers with independent, nonpartisan analysis. The text emphasizes efficiency, transparency where possible, and equal service to both houses, indicating an institutional reform framed as improving the quality of lawmaking. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented recorded opposition or support beyond the bill’s own framing.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are the creation of a new legislative unit, the cost and staffing implications, and the degree of independence granted to the division and its director. The appointment process—especially the role of university leaders in nominating candidates and the high removal threshold—could raise questions about accountability and control. Another possible issue is the balance between confidentiality for member-specific requests and the bill’s preference for making products public when feasible, which may concern members who want private research support or, conversely, greater transparency.