New York State Legislative History Research: Debates & Journals

Bills in the New York State Legislature can pass without debate.  If there will be/was debate, researchers can consult the sources below:

Legislative sessions are now broadcast live directly to the public through the Internet from the New York State Assembly and Senate web sites:

• Assembly Proceedings
• New York State Senate: Statewide Senate Events Calendar (can filter by type, for example: Session)

See also the list:

• New York State Legislative Proceedings: Cable Systems with Channel

Transcripts of debates also may be available for a fee from New York Legislative Service, 120 Broadway, Suite 920, New York, NY 10271, email: nylegal@nyls.org, phone: (212) 962-2826.

A legislative journal is a daily record of actions taken by the New York State Assembly or Senate - these journals are not verbatim records of the proceedings.

In both Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York and Journal of the Senate of the State of New York, you will find the bill number, the bill summary, and the bill's sponsor(s) arranged by date of a bill's introduction.  When bills are voted on, the "ayes and nays" are listed by the legislators' names. 

• These journals are available at the New York State Library in Albany. 
• Also search the Research Catalog of New York Public Library for its holdings.
• Some historical digital issues of Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York are available here through Hathi Trust.
• Some historical digital issues of Journal of the Senate of the State of New York are available here through Hathi Trust.