Legislative Gazette photos by Morgan Sumner The Legislative Gazette has launched a new podcast series called “Not For Print” — featuring conversations between our intern reporters and their hometown lawmakers. Gazette interns reached out to their senators and Assembly members for an interview to get to know a little more about them. The goal isn’t a deep dive into politics — though that does come up. Our interns are looking to get to know the people who represent them and their home districts. We ask them things like what songs they’re listening to, what they do on their days off and where the ..read more

Photo courtesy of New York City School District A bill in the New York State Legislature would require public schools to “offer the student a plant-based food option as an alternative to meals and snacks offered through the food service department,” when options are requested by a student or a person in parental relation to the student. The idea is inspired by the “Meatless Fridays” program adopted by New York City schools. Following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Anne Muller of the League of Humane Voters reignited the group’s tradition of a legislative breakfast on May 3, inviting anim ..read more

Legislative Gazette file photo by Will Oliva Senator George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, introduced legislation that would restrict access to girl’s sports to only those who are assigned female at birth in public middle and high schools.  The bills (S.6259/A.6124) state that any student from grades 7-12 attempting to join a sport categorized as “women’s” or “girl’s” sports must be able to prove that they were assigned female at birth to be allowed to play. This would be required in public schools and any private schools that compete against them.  ..read more

Assembly Member Glick (speaking) is a long-time champion of environmental protection bills. Photo by Morgan Sumner As part of Earth Day Advocacy Day on April 25, advocates met with 50 state legislators to support a package of environmental legislation. The package includes more than a dozen environmental bills legislators and lobbyists were hoping to get passed before the end of the session. The day was organized by 23 environmental organizations including WE ACT for Environmental Justice.  The list of environmental legislation they hope to pass fall into five categories: Addressing envir ..read more

Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office A Republican-sponsored bill in the Assembly would have changed the name of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge back to the Tappan Zee Bridge, however, it was blocked by Democrats in the Assembly Transportation Committee. Assembly Republicans are upset that 11 bills sponsored by the minority conference were blocked by Democrats on the Assembly Transportation Committee last month. Some of the measures blocked by the Committee on April 25 include restoring the name of the Tappan Zee Bridge, keeping ride-hailers safe from sex offenders, and reducing transportation cos ..read more

Photo by Aidin Bharti, courtesy of the Governor’s Office April 26, 2023 – Albany, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State landmarks were lit teal in honor of Denim Day, which recognizes and supports survivors of sexual assault. The state has opened a new facility to store sexual offense evidence collection kits that have not been released to law enforcement custody. On April 24, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the opening of a state facility in the Capital Region for the purpose of storing unreported sexual assault evidence kits, giving victims more time to prioritize recovering f ..read more

Legislative Gazette photos by Gabby Gagliano ALBANY, NY — On the first anniversary of the leak of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft that inevitably overturned the precedent set in Roe v. Wade, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a pair of bills into law earlier today that fulfill her previous promises of protecting reproductive rights for her constituents with child-bearing capabilities.  “Today is the grim anniversary of that date, to date, the shameful regression of women’s rights in this country, ” Hochul said at Tuesday’s signing event. “We are sick and tired of judge ..read more

Legislative Gazette photo by Rikun Zhu On Wednesday April 26, New York lawmakers and consumer advocates called for legislation to end auto insurance pricing discrimination. According to a report released by the Consumer Federation of America, New York drivers pay substantial insurance premium penalties if they have fair or poor credit scores. Bill A.00843, introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stakes D-Buffalo, prohibits auto insurers from discrimination on the basis of socioeconomic factors in determining algorithms used to construct actuarial tables, coverage terms, premiums ..read more

Legislative Gazette photo by Gabby Gagliano Caitlin Halligan responds to questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee prior to her confirmation by the Senate to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals. History was made in New York State’s Court of Appeals on Tuesday, April 18; Rowan Wilson – former associate judge – was chosen in a 40-19 vote to be the first person of color to serve as chief judge on the state’s highest court.  Taking his spot as associate will be former state Solicitor General Caitlin Halligan, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and one of the nation’s lea ..read more

Photos by Mike Groll, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul April 27, 2023 – Albany, N.Y. – Governor Kathy Hochul and State Budget Director Robert Megna provide an update on the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget during a news conference in the Red Room at the State Capitol. After a month-long delay, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a “conceptual agreement” on a $229 billion state budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The budget would hold State Operating Funds spending to under 3 percent in the coming fiscal year and would increase the state’s reserves to 15 percent, a goal proposed by the governo ..read more