New York Assembly Bill A00847

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25

Caption

Requires each public body to live stream and post video recordings of all open meetings and public hearings; requires each public body to post such recordings for a period of not less than five years.

Summary

This bill would amend the New York Public Officers Law to require public bodies, to the extent practicable, to live stream all open meetings and public hearings on their websites in real time. It also requires those bodies to post video recordings of those meetings and hearings on their websites within five business days after the event. The bill further requires public bodies to keep those recordings available online for at least five years. The measure is aimed at expanding public access to government proceedings and creating a longer-term digital record of meetings and hearings.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new transparency requirement to Section 104 of the Public Officers Law and apply to public bodies across New York State. It would obligate agencies, boards, and other covered entities to provide real-time streaming when practicable, upload recordings promptly, and maintain an archive for five years, potentially requiring new technology, staffing, and website capacity. The bill would primarily affect state and local public bodies and would strengthen public access to open government proceedings.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a transparency and public-access initiative, which typically draws support from open-government advocates and members concerned with accessibility. At the same time, the bill’s “to the extent practicable” language suggests awareness of implementation limits, which may reflect anticipated administrative concerns.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be the practical burden on public bodies, especially smaller municipalities or entities with limited technical resources, because the bill requires live streaming, timely posting, and long-term archiving. Another possible issue is the bill’s use of the qualifier “to the extent practicable,” which may raise questions about how strictly the requirement would be enforced and what counts as impracticable. Supporters would likely emphasize transparency, public access, and accountability, while opponents or cautious stakeholders may focus on cost, staffing, and compliance challenges.