A 2285: Requires the governor and senior state officers to appear before the legislature as requested by the legislature to publicly explain actions and answer questions.
The proposed amendment to the New York State Constitution would require the governor and senior state officers to appear before the legislature on a periodic basis to explain their actions and answer questions. This would be done to increase transparency and accountability in government. The governor would be required to publicly explain their actions and answer questions from the speaker of the assembly, minority leader of the assembly, temporary president of the senate, and minority leader of the senate. The governor would also receive an annual salary fixed by joint resolution of the senate and assembly. The amendment would also require the governor to convene the legislature on extraordinary occasions and to communicate the condition of the state to the legislature at every session.
| Jan. 30, 2026 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan. 08, 2026 | to attorney-general for opinion |
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to governmental operations |
| Feb. 05, 2025 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan. 17, 2025 | to attorney-general for opinion |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2285 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 16, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GANDOLFO, JENSEN, RA, BRABENEC, DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 3 of article 4 of the constitution, in relation to requiring the governor and senior state officers to appear before the legislature 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 3 of article 2 4 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 3 § 3. The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the military and 4 naval forces of the state. The governor shall have power to convene the 5 legislature, or the senate only, on extraordinary occasions. At extraor- 6 dinary sessions convened pursuant to the provisions of this section no 7 subject shall be acted upon, except such as the governor may recommend 8 for consideration. The governor shall communicate by message to the 9 legislature at every session the condition of the state, and recommend 10 such matters to it as [he or she] the governor shall judge expedient. 11 The governor shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by 12 the legislature, and shall take care that the laws are faithfully 13 executed. Subject and pursuant to such laws as may be enacted to this 14 effect, the governor, and all other state officers subject to senate 15 confirmation, shall periodically appear before the two houses of the 16 legislature as requested by the legislature for the purpose of publicly 17 explaining actions and answering questions pertaining to matters of 18 consequence to the people of New York state. The speaker of the assem- 19 bly, minority leader of the assembly, temporary president of the senate, 20 and minority leader of the senate shall each be given equal opportu- 21 nities to pose questions to the governor and officers within their 22 respective houses, and each may select and delegate other members to 23 pose questions as they deem proper. The governor shall receive for [his24or her] the governor's services an annual salary to be fixed by joint 25 resolution of the senate and assembly, and there shall be provided for EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD89054-01-5A. 2285 2 1 [his or her] the governor's use a suitable and furnished executive resi- 2 dence. 3 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be 4 referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the 5 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in 6 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be 7 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.