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.

News & Politics

Politics

District attorneys are fourth wheel in state budget throuple

Normally, it’s just three people in a room negotiating the budget. But the state’s district attorneys are heavily involved in the discussions over changes to the discovery law that are currently holding up the budget.

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.

Health Care

Politics

Mark Cuban to headline 32BJ annual conference

The influential billionaire shares 32BJ’s goal of reducing health care costs.

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.

News & Politics

Politics

Josh Riley hauls in $759,000 in first quarter of 2025

The Endicott Democrat, who has not yet been challenged by the GOP, expects Republicans will run a candidate against him because they “put me on their top targets list.”

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Dismiss the governor’s discovery proposals

Prosecutors’ concerns about unwarranted case dismissals may be reasonable, but the governor’s proposed changes to the discovery law are not.

Personality

Personality

Has the state Office of Cannabis Management begun to turn things around?

Acting Executive Director Felicia A. B. Reid talks about the progress that’s been made in the past year.

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.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Fixing the double standard that silences survivors of sexual abuse in prison

The Fair Access to Justice Act would let survivors bring lawsuits against the state even if they cannot remember the precise time, date and location of their abuse.