Relates to the award of reasonable attorney's fees in certain proceedings
Summary
Provides for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
A950
→
A950A
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends New York's Public Officers Law to clarify when courts can award attorney's fees to individuals who successfully challenge government record access denials. It adds specific conditions under which fees are assessable and expands the definition of a 'reasonable basis' for denying access to include reliance on appellate court opinions or Open Government Committee guidance.
Scope change
The bill expands the circumstances under which courts can award attorney's fees by adding new conditions related to voluntary record production, settlements, and judgments ordering record production, while also clarifying what constitutes a reasonable basis for denying access.
REQUIREMENT
Added specific conditions (voluntary record production, settlement, or court-ordered production) that trigger attorney's fee awards when an agency fails to respond within statutory time.
DEFINITION
Expanded the definition of 'reasonable basis for denying access' to include reliance on published appellate court opinions or Open Government Committee opinions based on substantially similar facts.
ENFORCEMENT
Reorganized the fee assessment structure to distinguish between cases where the agency failed to respond timely versus cases where the agency had no reasonable basis for denial.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 950A
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
lower
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
lower
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about A 950
Scope: NY
Hi! I can help you understand A 950. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline