Can a statutory code on Lexis or Westlaw lack a newly-enacted law?

A statutory code on Lexis or Westlaw can indeed lack a newly-enacted law at times. This can happen for a number of reasons, including a delay in the updating process or the time it takes for newly passed legislation to be codified into the existing statutory framework. Lexis and Westlaw, while comprehensive and regularly updated databases, may not reflect changes instantaneously.

There are factors that contribute to this situation, such as the legislative process, where laws may be enacted but not yet incorporated into the statutory code due to timing issues. Additionally, if updates are made at different paces across jurisdictions, it's possible that newly enacted laws are not immediately available in the database.

Given these realities, it’s crucial for legal professionals to stay vigilant and consult various sources, including the official legislative websites or federal registries, to ensure they are referencing the most current laws. The ability for these databases to lack newly-enacted laws underscores the importance of verifying information against more primary legal documents and understanding that the databases, while valuable, are not infallible.