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Read. Follow. Verify.New York bill preserves attorney-client privilege when using artificial intelligence and requires client authorization
Last action · September 16, 2026: REFERRED TO JUDICIARYSponsor: Clyde Vanel
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What This Bill Would Do
New York legislation protects confidential legal communications and work product from losing their privileged status solely because they are processed, stored, or facilitated through artificial intelligence technology. Attorneys must obtain a signed and notarized client authorization form detailing AI risks before using such technology, and mandatory human review is required.
The measure establishes clear legal rules for how law firms handle confidential client documents using AI software without forfeiting confidentiality protections, while shifting liability for AI errors onto attorneys rather than clients.
- Assembly member Clyde Vanel introduced the legislation during the 2025-2026 legislative session in New York. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
attorneys
Attorneys must obtain signed and notarized client consent, disclose specific AI risks, and ensure human review before utilizing artificial intelligence in legal work.
clients
Clients retain their privilege protections when AI is used and are shielded from liability for AI-related errors.
pro se litigants
Pro se litigants are exempt from signing authorization forms while retaining presumptive privilege protections.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using artificial intelligence cause legal documents to lose attorney-client privilege in New York?
What must an attorney do before using artificial intelligence for a client?
Are clients held liable for mistakes made by an attorney's use of artificial intelligence?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Sep 16, 2026HouseCommitteeREFERRED TO JUDICIARY
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Codification of AI in Legal Privilege
The bill explicitly integrates modern artificial intelligence technologies into traditional evidentiary statutes like civil practice law and rules.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nysenate.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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