New laws begin as policy ideas that senators and members of the public submit. These ideas can come from constituents, an organization advocating for a change or from State government agencies and departments. The policy idea then undergoes the process of being drafted as a bill, which changes the language in New York’s law books. The drafting of bills requires specialized legal training. Generally, the drafters of bills are the staff of the State Legislature’s Legislative Bill Drafting Commission. However, an interest group or a lawyer working in a City department may have their own attorney draft legislation.
The Governor has 10 days to sign or veto bills passed by both houses of the Legislature. Signed bills become laws, while vetoed bills are not. The legislature can override the Governor’s veto by passing the same bill again, with two-thirds of the members in each house voting to override the veto. This is done only if the Governor has not indicated a preference for signing or vetoing a bill. For more information on New York State’s laws and the rules of the City, visit Laws of the City of New York (Public Access Portal) or NYC Rules.