Albany Agenda

Politics

Back in the Capitol, lawmakers talk housing

They killed the governor’s housing plan last year, torpedoed her chief judge nomination and passed a late budget. What will lawmakers look forward to this year?

Albany Agenda

Politics

Top Hochul aide Micah Lasher likely to announce Assembly run

A Democratic club announcement for a Jan. 10 forum listed him among candidates for Daniel O’Donnell’s seat.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Let the 61-day New York legislative session begin!

New York state lawmakers report to the Capitol part time for six months of the year.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Hochul unveils proposal to eliminate insulin co-pays in New York

In a toned-down preview of her agenda for the year, the governor said she would aim to expand consumer protections.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Newburgh to vote on rent stabilization amid New York’s legislative void on housing

The city would be the second upstate to opt in to rent stabilization, declaring a local housing emergency.

Albany Agenda

Policy

The issues most likely to dominate the 2024 New York legislative session

Next year’s session will be complicated by a big budget deficit and looming elections.

Albany Agenda

Politics

Democratic legislators seek to remove Trump from the ballot

State Sens. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Gustavo Rivera, Tim Kennedy and Shelley Mayer want to kick the former president off next year's ticket for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Albany Agenda

Politics

Democratic socialists look to make inroads in the Bronx

The DSA plans to endorse challenges to incumbent Assembly Member Michael Benedetto in the East Bronx. They’re also eyeing seats in Queens and Central Brooklyn.

Interviews & Profiles

Personality

State Sen. Pete Harckham on 2024 priorities

The Democrat discusses his new bill focused on creating greater accessibility for people with disabilities and other priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

Albany Agenda

Politics

Antisemitism review at CUNY sparks anxiety for free speech, public education advocates

Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to look into discrimination at New York City’s public colleges.

Courts

Policy

New York’s progressive chief judge joins with conservatives to expand DNA searches by law enforcement

In a 4-3 decision, Chief Judge Rowan Wilson ruled that the Commission on Forensic Science has the authority to allow law enforcement to search DNA databases to find partial DNA matches from relatives of potential suspects.

Health Care

Policy

Filling in the gaps left by federal child care funding running out

State Sen. Jabari Brisport has reupped his Universal Child Care Act for next year.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Ready to hire: Hochul announces 18,000 potential job openings for migrants in New York

Hospitality and food service companies were the biggest group of employers to enroll in the state program.

Cannabis

Policy

Crackdown on loophole allowing some stores to sell THC products draws complaints

The hemp cannabinoid industry fired back that new regulations approved by the Office of Cannabis Management are causing more harm than good to small businesses.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Brouk rolls out doula care proposals

A new report from the state senator recommends how best to support the nonclinical professionals who have been key to improving childbirth outcomes, especially for women of color.

Albany Agenda

Politics

A growing number of current and former NY lawmakers are running for Congress

In 2022, Democrats trying to jump from the state Legislature to the House lost. Republicans had better luck.

New York State

Politics

As lawmakers prepare for Somos, how is Hochul’s relationship with Puerto Rico?

The governor hasn’t had much of a chance to make connections of her own, and lawmakers and experts have ideas for how she can go beyond the status quo.