New York S 9790: Relates to audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings by the media; repealer

Bill Text

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S09790 Summary:

BILL NOS09790 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A01518-A

&nbsp

SPONSORSEPULVEDA

&nbsp

COSPNSRJACKSON, RAMOS, WEBB

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Rpld & add §218, amd §751, Judy L; rpld §52, Civ Rts L

&nbsp

Relates to audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings by the media; allows the judge or justice presiding over a proceeding to exercise discretion to prohibit or limit filming or photographing of particular participants; defines terms; provides limitations on audio-visual coverage.

Go to top S09790 Actions:

BILL NOS09790 

&nbsp

04/06/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

05/05/20261ST REPORT CAL.917

05/06/20262ND REPORT CAL.

05/07/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/01/2026PASSED SENATE

06/01/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

06/01/2026referred to judiciary

Go to topS09790 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09790 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09790 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9790

 IN SENATE

 April 6, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. SEPULVEDA, JACKSON, RAMOS, WEBB -- read twice and
 ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
 Judiciary

 AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to audio-visual coverage
 of judicial proceedings by the media; and to repeal section 218 of the
 judiciary law and section 52 of the civil rights law relating thereto

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 218 of the judiciary law is REPEALED and a new
 2 section 218 is added to read as follows:
 3 § 218. Audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings. 1. Authori-
 4 zation. Subject to the authority of the judge or justice presiding over
 5 the proceeding to exercise sound discretion to prohibit or limit filming
 6 or photographing of particular participants in judicial proceedings to
 7 ensure safety and the fair administration of justice, audio-visual and
 8 still photography coverage by the media of public judicial proceedings
 9 in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed in
 10 accordance with this section.
 11 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms
 12 shall have the following meanings:
 13 (a) "Proceeding" shall mean any action or proceeding heard in a court
 14 of competent jurisdiction in this state.
 15 (b) "Media" shall mean any news reporting or news gathering agency and
 16 any employee or agent associated with such agency, including television,
 17 radio, radio and television networks, news services, newspapers, maga-
 18 zines, trade papers, in-house publications, professional journals or any
 19 other news reporting or news gathering agency, the function of which is
 20 to inform the public, or some segment thereof.
 21 3. Equipment and personnel. The following shall be permitted in any
 22 trial court or appellate court proceeding other than a matrimonial
 23 proceeding or a proceeding in family court:
 24 (a) At least one compact video camera, operated by no more than one
 25 camera person. Additional permitted cameras shall be within the sole

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01907-04-6

 S. 9790 2

 1 discretion and authority of the judge or justice presiding over the
 2 proceeding.
 3 (b) Not more than one audio system for radio broadcast purposes.
 4 Audio pickup for all media purposes shall be provided by existing audio
 5 systems present in the courtroom. If no technically suitable audio
 6 system exists in the courtroom, microphones and related wiring essential
 7 for media purposes shall be permissible provided they are unobtrusive
 8 and shall be located in places designated in advance of any proceeding
 9 by the judge or justice presiding over the proceeding. In the event
 10 that the courtroom has existing cameras suitable for audio-visual cover-
 11 age, upon request the judge or justice presiding over the proceeding
 12 shall have sole discretion to provide a media feed from such cameras
 13 instead of allowing video cameras in the courtroom.
 14 (c) Additional permitted equipment or personnel shall be within the
 15 sole discretion and authority of the judge or justi