New York State Library
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Legal Resources

Selected New York State legal resource 

New York State Online
Subscription
Print/Other Media - Current Print/Other Media - Retrospective Free Internet
Bills LRS (1995 to current) Yes Yes NYS Assembly Billsexternal link
(1999-current)

NYS Legislatureexternal link
(1995-current)
State of NY Legislative Digest/Index – bill tracking, introductory records, subject index to bills, etc.   Yes Begins 1905  
Session Laws (Chapter Laws) State Session Laws (on-site use only) 1691-

1995-current
NYS Legislatureexternal link
Yes Yes NYS Legislatureexternal link
(1995-current)

NYS Consolidated Laws Fastcase (2009-2016)
Yes Yes NYS Legislatureexternal link
1909 Consolidation in NYS Library Digital Collections
NYS Register – provides notice of NYS agency rule making activity   Yes Begins 1979 NYS Dept of Stateexternal link (2003 to current)

NYSL Digital Documents - NYS Register Collection (1994 to current)
New York Codes
Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Fastcase (2011, 2012, 2015) Yes Consolidated-
1945 to current Some unconsolidated-
promulgated prior to 1945 by
individual agencies
Selected rules on various NYS agency web sites

Unofficial version on the Department of State Websiteexternal link
Governor's Bill Jackets   Yes
Most recent year in Governor's Counsel's Office
518-474-7182
1905, 1921- recent years NYS Archives - Digital Collections
(1995 – recent)
Governor's Veto Jackets   Yes
Most recent year in Governor's Counsel's Office
518-474-7182
1905, 1926 - recent years

NYS Archives - Digital Collections
(1995 – recent)
Governors' Public Papers     Up to 1991 when publication ceased

NYSL Digital Documents - Governors' Papers
(Collection varies)

NYS Archives. Archived Governor websites.

Current on Governor's website.

NYS Legislative Annual – sponsor's and governor's approval memos     Begins 1946  
Senate and Assembly Publications – committee reports, hearings, etc.   Yes Yes NYSL Digital Documents - NYS Government Collection (varies)

NYS Assembly - Legislative Reportsexternal link

NYS Senate - All Committeesexternal link
Agency Reports   Varies Yes NYSL Digital Documents Collection (varies)

Selected reports on various NYS agency web sites
Agency Opinions
(NYSL has a guide to locating these, call 518-474-5355)

Fastcase (Attorney General Opinions only, links to website)

Yes Yes Selected on various NYS agency web sites
New York Law Journal   Yes Yes  

Notes:

Legislative History – A NYS legislative history can be compiled by Reference Librarians. A history may include:

  • bill jacket,
  • sponsor's memo,
  • committee reports,
  • Governor's approval memos,
  • annual reports of administrative departments, and
  • reports from commissions, task forces, or public hearings.

In addition, indexes, session laws and other sources may be reviewed. Consequently, legislative histories are time consuming. To request a legislative history call the Reference Desk at 474-5355. For instruction on how to conduct a legislative history, see the NYSL Legislative History Tutorial.

Selected legal resources for states other than New York

New York State Online
Subscription
Print/Other Media - Current Print/Other Media - Retrospective Free Internet
Bills       Legal Information Instituteexternal link *
Session Laws (Chapter Laws) Fastcase (Varies)
Varies Yes Legal Information Instituteexternal link *
Consolidated Laws Fastcase (varies)
Yes Varies Legal Information Instituteexternal link *
Register – provides notice of agency rule making activity       Legal Information Instituteexternal link*
Administrative Codes Fastcase     Legal Information Instituteexternal link*
Legislative Publications – committee reports, hearings, etc.     Varies Legal Information Instituteexternal link*
(varies widely)
Agency Reports     Varies widely Legal Information Instituteexternal link *
(varies widely)
Agency Opinions Fastcase (Attorney General Opinions from selected states)
  Varies widely Legal Information Instituteexternal link *
(varies widely)

Notes:

*Legal Information Institute is Cornell Law School's gateway to legal information for the 50 states, one of the most convenient one-stop sources for this information.


Selected Federal legal resources

New York State Online
Subscription
Print/Other Media - Current Print/Other Media - Retrospective Free Internet
US Statutes at Large   Yes Begins 1789 GPOAccess - Statutes external link (1951-2011)

American Memory (1789-1875)external link
Public Laws Fastcase (current year only, must use Browse to find it) Yes Yes GPOAccess - Public Lawsexternal link (1995 to recent)

Congress.gov (Legislation)external link
Legislationexternal link
(1973 to current)

US Code Fastcase (2006, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016. Accessible by Browsing) Yes Yes GPOAccess - US Code external link (1994 to recent)

US House of Representativesexternal link (1994 to recent)
US Code Congressional Administrative News — includes public laws plus selected congressional committee reports   Yes Begins 1951, previously published as U.S. Code Congressional Service 1941-1950 Congress.gov (Congressional Reports) external link
Committee Reportsexternal link
(1995 to current)
Federal Register Fastcase (links to GPO) Yes Begins 1936 GPOAccess - Federal Register external link (1994 to current)
Code of Federal Regulations Fastcase (current only) Yes Begins 1939 GPOAccess - Code of Federal Regulations external link (1996 to current)
Congressional Record   Yes Begins 1789
Includes historical predecessors

Congress.gov Congressional Recordexternal link (1995 to current)

American Memory (Congressional Record 1873-1875 and historical predecessors)external link
Congressional Quarterly—weekly review of Congressional activity   Yes Yes  

Notes: 

The NYS Library is a Regional Federal Government Depository Library.


Newspapers

New York State Online
Subscription
Print/Other Media - Current Print/Other Media - Retrospective Free Internet
Newspapers Various NYSL databases Yes Yes* Varies

*The New York State Library has extensive holdings of newspapers, from 1603 to the present date. The strength of the collection is New York State English-language newspapers. The collection has limited holdings of non-US and foreign language newspapers.

Newspapers – Alerts may be set up for many of our online newspapers.

Last Updated: October 6, 2022