The legal system encompasses a wide range of issues. New laws can be created to address specific policy concerns, update existing policies or respond to social movements. The creation of new law is a vital process, enabling elected representatives to act on the needs and priorities of their constituents while demonstrating accountability. Creating new law often involves the development of bills, which undergo many stages, including drafting, committee review and floor debate, before they are passed into law.
The first step in the legislative process is coming up with an idea for a new law. This can come from a senator’s own initiative or be suggested during an election campaign by citizens seeking to have their concerns addressed. The proposal is then introduced in Congress as a bill, which is assigned to a committee for further research and discussion.
Once a bill is drafted, the Council may vote on it and, if approved, it becomes law. A bill may also be sent back to the Mayor who can choose to sign it into law, veto it or take no action. If the Mayor vetoes a bill, it is then sent back to the Council, which can override the Mayor’s veto with a 2/3 vote. Once a bill is signed by the Mayor or overridden by the Council, it becomes part of the New York City Charter or Administrative Code.
New York law includes constitutional, statutory and regulatory provisions as well as court decisions that interpret those laws. Federal laws and regulations are largely determined by the national government, but local ordinances, rules and resolutions are often enacted at the municipal level. In addition, there is a great deal of case law that applies to state and local laws as well.
Several states have recently passed legislation addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Some of these laws require employers to provide training on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, while others require companies to notify employees of their rights and obligations regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
A new law in California requires hotels, short-term rental properties and service providers to include surcharges when they advertise their prices. This is intended to protect consumers from hidden costs and empower them with information they can use to make informed purchasing decisions.
In other state news, Connecticut has become the first to tax some gun purchases, while Massachusetts will impose an 11-percent excise tax on ammunition and gun parts to fund anti-gun violence programs. Other states are considering similar taxes. Read about these and other current state law developments in our latest issue of Law New.