Requires the estimated cost of mandated expenditures and appropriations within the body of the bill.
Summary
This bill would amend the New York Legislative Law to require that any bill enacting or amending an expenditure or appropriation include the estimated cost of that expenditure or appropriation directly in the body of the bill. In practical terms, it creates a drafting requirement for legislation with fiscal effects, so lawmakers and the public can see the estimated cost at the point of enactment rather than relying only on separate fiscal materials or later analysis.
The measure is aimed at increasing transparency and making the fiscal impact of proposed laws more visible during the legislative process. It would apply to bills that mandate spending or make appropriations, and it would take effect on January 1 following enactment. Because the bill changes legislative drafting rules rather than substantive program law, its main effect is on how future bills are written and reviewed, not on the underlying services or benefits those bills may fund.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new section to the Legislative Law requiring cost estimates to be stated in the text of bills that create or amend expenditures or appropriations. This would affect the drafting and consideration of state legislation with fiscal implications, potentially influencing committee review, floor debate, and budget transparency. It would not directly change any program eligibility, tax rates, or agency powers, but it would impose a procedural requirement on the Legislature and bill drafters.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history provided for this bill, so no formal support or opposition can be measured from the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a transparency and accountability proposal, which typically suggests a neutral-to-positive policy intent. However, without discussion or votes, the level of legislative support or resistance cannot be determined from the supplied materials.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether requiring an estimated cost in the body of every spending or appropriation bill is practical or burdensome, especially for complex legislation where costs may be uncertain or change during negotiations. Supporters would likely emphasize transparency, fiscal discipline, and easier public review, while critics may argue that the requirement could slow the legislative process, create disputes over estimate accuracy, or be difficult to apply when costs are contingent or evolving. No specific member objections are available in the provided record.
Permits the rendering of an estimated bill from a utility corporation or municipality under certain circumstances; requires each utility corporation and municipality within six months to submit to the commission a model for the calculation of and procedures for estimated bills that incorporates best practices and technology and accounts for any barriers to the use of actual meter readings.
One Bill, One Subject Transparency ActThis bill prohibits any bill or joint resolution from addressing more than one subject and establishes related enforcement mechanisms.The bill requires bills and joint resolutions to address only one subject, which must be clearly and descriptively expressed in the bill or joint resolution's title. Appropriations bills may only contain provisions that are germane to the subject matter of the underlying bill. However, appropriations bills may limit the expenditure of appropriated funds.The bill voids any act (i.e., law) or joint resolution with a title that addresses two or more unrelated subjects;any provision of an act or joint resolution concerning a subject that is not clearly and descriptively expressed in the title;any provision of an appropriations act that contains general legislation or change of existing law provision not germane to the subject matter of the underlying bill;any provision of an appropriations act that addresses a subject outside of the jurisdiction of the relevant subcommittee of the Committees on Appropriations of the House and of the Senate.The bill also authorizes any person aggrieved by the enforcement or threat of enforcement of an act enacted after this bill that does not comply with the requirements of this bill to sue the United States.
Requires a gas and electric corporation to disclose certain information with an application for a major rate change; requires information relating to dividends paid to shareholders, capital investments, policy expenditures, commodity supply costs, and other costs not within control of the applicant; requires an inflation-indexed proposal and prohibits exceeding inflation unless the gas and electric corporation is unable to maintain the same level of operating expenses, capital expenditures, programmatic or policy expenditures without jeopardizing safety, reliability, energy affordability programs, energy efficiency programs, and cost-effective electrification upgrades.
Permits the rendering of an estimated bill from a utility corporation or municipality under certain circumstances; requires each utility corporation and municipality within six months to submit to the commission a model for the calculation of and procedures for estimated bills that incorporates best practices and technology and accounts for any barriers to the use of actual meter readings.