Personality
Personality
Senate celebrates Star Wars Day two weeks late
Lightsabers and stormtroopers made the state Senate feel more like the Galactic Senate.
Kathy Hochul
Politics
How Kathy Hochul learned to ditch cooperation and embrace power
The governor wanted to change the culture of Albany. It changed her instead.
Health Care
Politics
Poll finds majority support for Medical Aid in Dying Act
Although the Catholic Church opposes the bill, the new poll found that 65% of Catholic New Yorkers believe terminally ill patients should be able to end their lives with a doctor’s help.
Policy
Policy
Unions back not one, but two sentencing reform measures
After previously supporting the Earned Time Act, several unions are calling on state leaders to also pass the Second Look Act before the end of the legislative session
Budget
Policy
The most important things included in the state budget
The $254 billion state budget includes changes to the discovery law and involuntary commitment standards as well as new affordability measures and a criminal charge related to wearing masks.
News & Politics
Politics
It’s (finally) budget time
Lawmakers finished passing the state budget on Thursday night, over a month after it was due.
Policy
Policy
Lawmakers succeed in watering down Hochul’s proposed discovery changes
The governor still got legislative leaders to agree to rollbacks to the 2019 reforms, but it wasn’t exactly what she had proposed.
Policy
Policy
Plastic packaging reduction bill once again a post-budget priority
Environmental advocates are hoping to get the legislation meant to reduce single-use plastics over the finish line after almost accomplishing it last year.
Policy
Policy
It’s finally happening! The Legislature has started printing budget bills
The first three budget bills were released late Tuesday night, over a month after the state budget was due.
LGBTQ+
Policy
Senate committee advances GOP anti-trans bill
Three Democrats joined with Republicans to advance a bill that would allow schools to ban trans girls from participating in women’s sports, though the bill is unlikely to pass the full Senate.
Policy
Policy
Hochul to get expanded authority to make midyear budget cuts
With financial turmoil on the horizon promising a recession, legislators have agreed to allow the governor to recommend cuts they would still need to approve.
Budget
Policy
It's official: This year's budget is the latest in 15 years
Gov. Kathy Hochul is presiding over the most tardy budget since 2010 – breaking the previous record she set in 2023.
Policy
Policy
Hochul wants condos in exchange for HAVP
The governor agreed to a two-year pilot for a popular rental voucher program, but not without getting something in return.
Policy
Policy
Assembly passes Medical Aid in Dying Act
For the first time in either chamber, lawmakers approved legislation that would permit doctors to help terminally ill patients to end their own lives.
Budget
Policy
$50 million for housing vouchers is better than nothing
Supporters of the Housing Access Voucher Program are glad to see it finally included in the budget, though they wish Gov. Kathy Hochul had committed more funding to it.
Policy
Policy
Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $254 billion state budget deal
The conceptual deal includes changes to the state’s discovery laws, a ban on phones in schools, a new criminal charge for committing a crime while wearing a mask and new funding for the MTA.
Immigration
Policy
After Wisconsin judge arrest, NY lawmakers look to strengthen immigrant protections in courthouses
ICE is largely prevented from making arrests in and around courthouses in the state, but officials want to shore up the Protect Our Courts Act in light of recent news.
News & Politics
Politics
Forget the budget, get ready for Trump Station
Gov. Hochul didn’t shoot down the prospect of renaming Penn Station after the president while providing an update on the nearly month-late budget.
Budget
Policy
Finances are an afterthought as state leaders approach a budget deal
Despite federal cuts and a recession looming, talk of the actual state spending plan has taken a backseat to nonfiscal policy negotiations.
Heard Around Town
Policy