Special Reports

Policy

Does anyone want to be New York City’s tech mayor?

In 2021, Eric Adams ran on government modernization, but few candidates running to replace him are talking about picking up that work.

Policy

Policy

Zyn ban falters amid industry backlash

Poppers of “upper deckys” and “babwes” in New York can breathe easy after proposed Zyn ban dies in committee.

Albany Agenda

Policy

With little public progress made, Cleare introduces her own discovery bill

As legislative leaders and district attorneys negotiate behind closed doors, state Sen. Cordell Cleare has introduced her own proposed compromise on discovery.

New York State

Policy

CDPAP transition could move forward after preliminary injunction agreement

The state Department of Health and New York Legal Assistance Group are now awaiting approval from a judge.

Policy

Policy

Should state lawmakers be paid even when the budget is late?

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s proposed legislation highlights how contentious the budget negotiation process has become.

Budget

Policy

State Senate leader: Budget negotiations on ‘pause’

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s inclusion of last-minute policy proposals in the state budget is holding back progress, legislative leaders say.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Lawmakers propose alternative to Hochul's discovery changes as budget negotiations drag on

Legislators want to codify a court decision that clarified parts of the law while prosecutors are backing the governor’s proposal.

Education

Policy

State leaders agree to school cellphone ban as rest of budget remains in limbo

Legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul have settled on a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools, a top priority for the governor and the first budget item that appears settled

Taxes

Policy

Bill to limit taxpayer funding of Cuomo’s legal fees worries public sector unions

The STOP Act would apply to all public workers, not just elected officials like former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Immigration

Policy

Immigrant advocates demand local jails stop working with ICE

The Dignity Not Detention Act would ban New York jails and prisons from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Policy

Policy

State budget director warns NY will have to cut services if federal funding dries up

The state’s projected $252 billion budget includes over $90 billion of federal funding – and if the Trump administration cuts that off, the state won’t be able to backfill it.

Policy

Policy

Survivor groups split over Hochul’s proposed changes to discovery laws

After a number of organizations representing survivors of sexual and domestic violence called on lawmakers to support the governor’s proposal, other survivor groups called on lawmakers to reject it.

Policy

Policy

New York has debated forced psychiatric treatment for decades

Half a century after the state tightened the criteria for involuntary commitment, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to hospitalize mentally ill people against their will.

New York State

Policy

State releases initial rules for cap-and-invest program

The state Department of Environmental Conservation released draft greenhouse gas reporting rules, a necessary step for the state to limit emissions and sell carbon credits.