Bill

A 307

Requires the state to pass enabling legislation before entering into any compact, program or other legal agreement with any other state

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Friend and 5 co-sponsors

Requires New York to pass enabling legislation before entering any interstate compact, program, or other legal agreement with another state, ensuring legislative oversight.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 307

Summary of Bill A 307 (New York)

Title

Requires the state to pass enabling legislation before entering into any compact, program or other legal agreement with any other state

Status

Current: HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
Most recent actions:
- 2025-05-27: HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
- 2025-01-08: REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Introduced

January 8, 2025

Purpose and intent

The bill would require the state to pass enabling legislation prior to entering into any interstate compact, program, or other legal agreement with another state. In effect, it adds a prerequisite legislative authorization before the executive branch (or other state actors) can commit the state to formal agreements with other states.

Key provisions (as stated in the summary)

Before the state may participate in any interstate compact, program, or other legal arrangement with any other state, the legislature must first enact enabling legislation authorizing the action.
The provision appears to apply broadly to “any compact, program or other legal agreement with any other state,” potentially covering a wide range of cooperative arrangements.

Note: The summary provided does not include the full text, definitions, or specific procedural details. The exact scope of what constitutes an “enabling legislation” and what types of agreements are covered would be clarified in the bill’s text.

Affected entities and stakeholders

State government actors involved in interstate agreements (e.g., executive branch agencies, the governor’s office, and general counsel) would be affected by the requirement to obtain legislative enabling authorization before entering such agreements.
Legislators would gain a formal procedural gate to approve interstate commitments.
Potential impact on inter-state programs, compacts, and legal arrangements for areas like shared services, environmental programs, transportation, public safety, or other cross-state initiatives.

Legislative timeline and process

Introduced: Jan 8, 2025
Referred to: Governmental Operations (Jan 8, 2025)
Latest action: Held for consideration in Governmental Operations (May 27, 2025)
Status indicates the bill has not yet advanced to passage and remains under committee review.

Related bills (prior sessions)

A 5385, A 6070, A 10377, A 5170, A 4874, A 6129, A 5650 (listed as prior-session related bills)

Potential considerations and impacts

Pros: Ensures legislative oversight and public transparency for interstate commitments; may prevent rushed or opaque agreements.
Cons: Could slow or complicate timely intergovernmental cooperation, especially in urgent or time-sensitive matters; may require rapid enactment of enabling legislation in response to emerging needs.
Legal/operational questions: What constitutes “enabling legislation”? How will this interact with existing executive authority to enter into compacts in emergency or administrative contexts? What is the definition of “program” or “other legal agreement” in scope?

Next steps for readers

If you are tracking intergovernmental cooperation or state governance processes, monitor the Governmental Operations committee for potential amendments or movement toward floor debate.
Review the bill text (when available) for precise definitions, criteria, and any sunset or modification provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.