Overview

• Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that lawmakers are 'very, very close' to finalizing a conceptual agreement on discovery law reforms after weeks of negotiation delays.
• The proposed changes would narrow evidence-sharing requirements to materials 'relevant' to charges and establish a 35-day deadline for defense challenges.
• The agreement, supported by New York City district attorneys, aims to address concerns about case dismissals tied to the 2019 discovery law overhaul.
• Critics, including The Legal Aid Society, argue the reforms may undermine due process and shift responsibility for dismissals away from law enforcement.
• Legislative teams are drafting the final statutory language, with only minor legal edits remaining before the budget can proceed to a vote.