New York passes bills to improve FOIL transparency

New York state advocates for transparency in government celebrated two important wins this week. These victories come during Sunshine Week, a time dedicated to promoting public access to government records. On Friday, the New York Assembly approved two bills aimed at improving the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The first bill would require corporations to re-apply if they want their records to remain exempt from FOIL after being submitted to the state. Currently, companies can permanently ask for their records to be kept secret. Advocates, including the group Reinvent Albany, argue that the public should have access to information about state spending and the return on investments made with taxpayer money. The second bill requires government agencies to report the number of FOIL requests they receive and complete. Supporters believe this will help the public understand the effectiveness of FOIL in New York and identify agencies that may struggle to fulfill requests. Both bills have passed the Assembly but still need approval from the state Senate and Governor Kathy Hochul to become law. Reinvent Albany expressed gratitude for the Assembly’s support and urged the Senate to act quickly. Two other related FOIL bills are still pending. One would shorten the time agencies have to respond to requests, and another aims to ensure better compensation for attorneys in successful FOIL cases.