We in Massachusetts have seen this before. In the past, former Gov. Baker tried to close Massachusetts vital records using 13 separate sections of his Budget's Outside Section. We responded clearly and loudly to that, adding facts and data. It was not passed in either the Massachusetts House or the Massachusetts Senate.
Someone in New York state decided to try the same thing this year. Their budget not only extends closure periods, it also sets a cost of $95 for every certified vital record. We had a lot to say about that.
Here is the testimony that MGC President, Susan M. O'Connor, submitted today to the New York State Assembly and Senate.
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February 10, 2025
Senator Liz Krueger
Senator Thomas F. O’Mara
Standing Committee on Finance
New York State Senate
Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow
Standing Committee on Ways and Means
New York State Assembly
RE: Part U of Health and Mental Hygiene Legislation, FY 2026 New York Executive Budget
Senator Krueger, Senator O’Mara, and Assemblyman Pretlow:
On behalf of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC), an umbrella organization representing sixteen genealogy societies and tens of thousands of researchers worldwide, I urge you to reject Part U of the Proposed Health Legislation Budget, which would severely restrict access to New York’s historical birth, marriage, and death records.
This bill is being advanced by a single agency, the Bureau of Vital Records (BVR), with the apparent intent of reducing its workload—at the cost of erasing public access to critical historical records. While the bill claims to “digitize” and “streamline” records, it does neither. Instead, it imposes extreme restrictions on 20th-century genealogical research, retroactively blocking decades of public records while raising fees by over 400%.
BVR already deprioritizes genealogy requests, which make up only 3% of total applications, yet face a staggering five-year backlog. The agency has collected more than $200,000 in fees for over 10,000 unfulfilled requests—an unacceptable situation that highlights the need for transparent, public access to historical records rather than further restrictions.
The consequences of this legislation would be far-reaching. Thousands of Massachusetts residents—and countless others across the country—rely on New York’s vital records for:
Genealogical research that strengthens family connections
Military repatriation efforts to identify remains of fallen service members
Medical history research to inform critical healthcare decisions
Legal proceedings such as estate settlements and inheritance claims
Law enforcement investigations that have solved crimes and identified unclaimed remains
Rather than closing off access, we urge the legislature to enact reforms that:
Guarantee timely issuance of uncertified copies of vital records for research purposes
Require public access to indexes of historical records
Ensure descendants and relatives have the right to obtain certified copies
Cap fees at reasonable levels to prevent excessive financial barriers
Provide a clear path for digitization and public access
Since 1847, New York has recognized that maintaining and sharing vital records advances the “physical, moral, and civil condition of the human family.” This bill undermines that long-standing commitment, even as modern technology makes access easier than ever.
MGC respectfully urges you to oppose this legislation and instead support policies that preserve and expand public access to historical records for the benefit of all dependent on New York vital records both now and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Susan M. O’Connor
President, Massachusetts Genealogical Council
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