Albany Agenda

State AG Letitia James pushes ban on surveillance pricing

New York already requires companies to disclose when they set prices based on people’s personal data. Now, lawmakers want to ban the practice entirely.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

Polls

Guess when Albany will pass the budget and win a City & State blanket

Think the state budget will be late again? Enter City & State’s 2026 budget poll and you could cozy up with your favorite magazine.

  • By Peter Sterne

Policy

Planned Parenthood: Hochul’s buffer zone bill may be unconstitutional

Reproductive health centers worry the proposal to restrict protests would violate New Yorkers’ First Amendment rights.

  • By Kate Lisa

Energy & Environment

Some Republicans critical of NY climate law previously voted for it

Now-Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra and now-Rep. Nicole Malliotakis both backed the law in 2019.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

News & Politics

Republicans file misconduct complaint against Chief Judge Rowan Wilson

Wilson said strict sentencing laws were “stupid” and voters should not reelect bad judges, which Republicans see as evidence he cannot be impartial.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

Policy

Gounardes wants moratorium on sale of AI chatbot-enabled kids’ toys

After passing the RAISE Act, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes is drafting regulation aimed at keeping ChatGPT out of teddy bears.

  • By Annie McDonough and Rebecca C. Lewis

Albany Agenda

Hochul remains firm on immigrant protections after meeting with Trump’s border czar

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Trump’s border czar Tom Homan met in Albany following the death of a nearly blind Burmese refugee in Buffalo.

  • By Kate Lisa

Budget

Hochul and Mamdani are all smiles, despite disagreement on taxes

The girls are NOT fighting.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

Health Care

Hochul says federal Medicaid probe won’t impact health care coverage

The governor isn’t concerned a federal investigation and imminent lawsuit related to the state’s Medicaid decisions will hurt its chances to receive a key waiver from the Trump administration.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis and Kate Lisa

Policy

Lawmakers want independent medical examiner’s office to investigate prison deaths

It’s unclear how much it would cost to create the new entity within the state Commission of Correction.

  • By Kate Lisa

Energy & Environment

Activists dispute Hochul’s claims about cost of complying with climate law

A new report highlights potential benefits of a cap-and-invest program, including energy rebates for millions of households.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

News & Politics

The specter of the outside income cap looms over state legislative retirements

Not every state lawmaker has a large salary outside the Legislature, but several who are leaving do.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

Albany Agenda

Lawmakers won’t water down or delay climate law mandates, Stewart-Cousins says

Republicans blame the state’s green energy mandates for high energy costs, but state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said there are no plans to change the law.

  • By Kate Lisa
MagazineShow All
City & State NY 031626

2026 New York state elections

Molinaro launches grand return to New York politics

Marc Molinaro left his post as the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Transit Administration to run for an upstate Assembly seat.

  • By Kate Lisa

Policy

Socialists take aim at commercial rent

Two of the democratic socialists in the state Legislature are taking up the longtime fight for commercial rent stabilization in New York City.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

2026 New York state elections

Former NYPD detective running for Assembly to support Mamdani’s Albany agenda

Shamsul Haque would be the first Bangladeshi American to serve in the state Legislature.

  • By Peter Sterne

Albany Agenda

Could there be a Winter Olympics bid in New York’s future?

While in Italy, Assembly Member Robert Carroll talked about scouting the event for a potential plan.

  • By Grace Thomas

Albany Agenda

Caucus Weekend kicks off in Albany

Assembly Member Latrice Walker previews the annual conference, where leaders of color from around New York descend on the capital.

  • By Alisha Allison

2026 New York gubernatorial election

State GOP formally designates Blakeman as nominee for governor

But even Republicans acknowledged that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial bid faces long odds.

  • By Rebecca C. Lewis

Budget

Ta-da! NYC budget gap is now down to $7 billion, Mamdani says

Two weeks and some budget magic goes a long way, the mayor revealed to state lawmakers Wednesday in Albany.

  • By Annie McDonough and Sahalie Donaldson

2026 New York gubernatorial election

NY Dems select candidates with few surprises, much fanfare

Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and state Attorney General Letitia James will headline the statewide ticket again.

  • By Kate Lisa