New Law is legislation proposed, debated and passed by Congress or another legislative body. Once a law is passed, it becomes an official rule that governs behavior within a society or country. The term law can also be used to refer to a specific legal document or statute, such as the Constitution or laws of the United States.
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. The case could affect how much health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
NYU School of Law Professors Gene Sperling and Sarah Zhang discuss whether the mandate violates the First Amendment. They also look at how a court might interpret the text and structure of the Constitution and explain why it is important to understand the history and evolution of the Constitutional amendments that have been added over the years.
The New Year is bringing major changes for New York State residents. Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed 730 bills into law so far this 2024, including the first minimum wage increase statewide since 2020. New laws will also help decrease the chances of accidental fentanyl overdoses by making it easier for local pharmacies and health care providers to distribute naloxone. Another new law will improve the safety of college students from bias-related and hate crimes, including prohibiting gang assaults on campus.
A lawmaker’s process of creating a new bill starts with the idea for the policy. That can come from many sources, including a senator’s constituents, an organization advocating for a new law, or a State official. Once a legislator has an idea for a new policy, it is drafted into a bill and submitted to Congress or another legislative body. The bill will then be assigned to a committee, where members will research, discuss and make changes to the proposal. The committee staff will write a bill report to explain exactly what the proposed law will do.
The bill report must include the name of the new law, its purpose and scope, and why it is being recommended for approval. It must also include a section-by-section analysis of the bill, and set forth any laws being repealed or replaced. The bill will then be considered by the committee for passage or rejection. This article was originally published in the February 2025 edition of State & Local Law News. Subscribe to the newsletter for more articles on developments in state and local government law.