Senate and Rules Reform

Rules Reform

We, the new Democratic majority, are cleaning up the mess the previous majority left behind – and we are committed to returning our state government to its rightful owners: the people of New York.

Over the last forty years, the previous Majority created a legislative process that stifled debate, eliminated accountability, and denied participation from elected Senators.

With the measures in this report, we will open up debate, require accountability and encourage statewide participation.

We have implemented more reform measures in the last three months than the previous majority accomplished in the last forty years.

The recommendations of the rules reform report will offer:

        •     COMPLETE MAKEOVER OF SENATE PROCEDURES: reduced committees, more ability to force a
               hearing, detailed committee reports, ability to amend bills in committee

        •     COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY IN ALL RECORDS, COMMITTEES, AND IN THE CHAMBER and implement a
              New York version of C-SPAN

        •     NEW ABILITY TO FORCE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE IN COMMITTEES INSTEAD OF VOTE ON A
              PROCEDURAL MOTION