Bill > S00452

This bill requires state agencies that perform governmental or proprietary functions to submit detailed logs of all Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to the Committee on Open Government each year. The logs must cover a twelve-month period and include extensive information about each request, such as the requestor's name, request date, response status, exemptions cited, number of documents produced, and details about any related legal proceedings. Agencies must submit these logs in a machine-readable spreadsheet format prescribed by the committee. Municipal agencies will initially only need to report the total number of FOIL requests received and closed. By January 1st of each year, the Committee on Open Government must publish all received FOIL request logs on a single webpage and on data.ny.gov, making this information publicly accessible. The bill also requires the committee to include analysis of these logs in its annual report and to publish a report by January 1st, 2028, recommending whether municipal agencies should be required to submit more detailed FOIL request logs. The act will take effect 90 days after becoming law, aiming to increase transparency in government information requests and responses.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S452