2025-26 Committee Year: Our Committees’ Work
In the 2025-26 committee year (Sept. 1, 2025 – Aug. 31, 2026), 66 New York City Bar Association committees issued 168 reports and statements. One City Bar proposal was enacted, 10 bills addressed in committee reports passed both houses of the New York State Legislature, and two court rules were adopted.
Sept. 1, 2025 – Aug. 31, 2026
Thank you to our committee members. Every report, statement and piece of testimony the City Bar issued this year started with a committee. Here is how that work added up, and where it made a difference.
By the Numbers
- 168
reports and statements - 66
committees contributing - 15
transition memos to the new Mayor - 9
legislative and City Council hearings - 16
international reports and statements - 5
amicus briefs - 19
comments on proposed agency rules - 410,000+
views of committee reports - 47
reports read 1,000+ times - 85
media mentions across 50 outlets
Where Committee Work Made a Difference
1City Bar Proposal Enacted
- Emerging Technologies Amendments to the UCCSigned Dec. 5, 2025
Presidential Task Force on AI & Digital Technologies
10Bills Passed Both Houses
These bills passed both houses during the 2026 legislative session and go to the Governor for signature or veto. See our 2026 legislative session wrap-up for details.
- WiFi for Homeless ActUp to $20M in state funding for shelter internet access was announced in May 2026
Social Welfare Law; Children & the Law; Domestic Violence; Education & the Law; Immigration & Nationality Law; Legal Problems of the Aging; LGBTQ+ Rights; New York City Affairs; Presidential Task Force on AI & Digital Technologies; Pro Bono & Legal Services; Sex & Law; Technology, Cyber & Privacy Law - Appellate review of suppression decisions
Criminal Justice Operations; Mass Incarceration Task Force; Criminal Courts - Consumer Debt Uniformity Act
Civil Court; Council on Judicial Administration; Litigation; State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction; Housing Court - Statewide supervised visitation program
Domestic Violence; Sex & Law; Council on Children - SAFE Shelter Act
Domestic Violence; Pro Bono & Legal Services; Immigration & Nationality Law - Commissary and canteen price caps
Civil Rights; Corrections & Community Reentry - Restraints on pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals
Sex & Law; Civil Rights - Electronic filing of lobbying disclosures
Government Ethics & State Affairs - Commercial octopus farming ban
Animal Law - Prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses
Animal Law
5FY2027 Enacted Budget Provisions
- IOLA FundFull $102.5M spending authority preserved
- Civil legal servicesJudiciary Civil Legal Services fully funded at $179.5M
Pro Bono & Legal Services; Domestic Violence; Immigration & Nationality Law - Homeowner Protection ProgramFully funded at $40M
Pro Bono & Legal Services; Domestic Violence; Immigration & Nationality Law - New York State Bivens Act
Civil Rights; Immigration & Nationality Law; Council on Judicial Administration; Rule of Law Task Force; State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction - Immigration enforcement framework
Immigration & Nationality Law; Rule of Law Task Force
2Court Rules Adopted
- “Poor person” removed from court rulesAdopted Sept. 30, 2025
Council on Judicial Administration; State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction - Annual judicial visits to detention facilitiesAdopted 2026; effective Jan. 1, 2028
Corrections & Community Reentry
Standing with Lawyers and Judges Worldwide
Our international committees issued 16 reports and statements, often jointly with bar associations and human rights organizations around the world. They defended judicial independence and lawyers under threat in countries including Costa Rica, the Kingdom of Morocco, and Uganda. They also joined more than 40 legal and human rights organizations in a joint statement defending Turkish lawyers convicted for their professional work.
Defending the Rule of Law
Our committees spoke out against escalating abuses of Executive power and stood up for an independent judiciary, due process and an independent legal profession. Our guide to changes in federal immigration law under the Trump Administration, updated throughout the year, was our most-viewed report.
Most-Read During the 2025-26 Committee Year
Ranked by views during the committee year, regardless of when each was issued. Issue dates appear in parentheses.
- 1
The Trump Administration’s 2025-26 Changes to Immigration Law — Immigration & Nationality Law Committee, Rule of Law Task Force (last updated July 10, 2026) - 2
City Bar Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Reject Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General — Rule of Law Task Force (July 13, 2026) - 3
NYC Judicial Elections – A Basic Guide (Aug. 18, 2025) and A Guide to Judicial Elections in New York City (May 12, 2025) — Civic Education Committee, Election Law Committee, Council on Judicial Administration, and New York City Affairs Committee - 4
Formal Opinion 2025-6: Ethical Issues Affecting Use of AI to Record, Transcribe, and Summarize Conversations with Clients — Professional Ethics Committee (Dec. 22, 2025) - 5
Statement on Wearing of Masks by ICE Agents — Immigration & Nationality Law Committee, Rule of Law Task Force (June 20, 2025) - 6
The Abuse of Presidential Power and Breach of Public Trust — Rule of Law Task Force (Dec. 12, 2025) - 7
Unlawful Attacks on Venezuelan Vessels — Council on International Affairs, Rule of Law Task Force (Oct. 6, 2025) - 8
The Impact of the Use of AI on People with Disabilities — Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies (June 12, 2025) - 9
Congress Must Act to Halt the President’s Violations of U.S. and International Law in Venezuela — Rule of Law Task Force (Jan. 5, 2026) - 10
Human Organ Supply: Report on Ethical Considerations and Breaches in Organ Harvesting Practices — Asian Affairs Committee, Bioethical Issues Committee, and International Human Rights Committee (March 21, 2023)
Thank you for lending your expertise to the City Bar’s voice.