This week, Craig Ross Jr. will receive sentencing for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year old girl from Moreau State Park in Saratoga County last fall. Ross faces 47 years to life in prison after pleading guilty back in February. Senator Jim Tedisco, R-Ballston Lake, and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, […]
Policy
Bill Banning CO2 Fracking Method Passes Assembly and Senate
A recent anti-fracking bill, S.8357/A.8866, has now passed in both the Senate and Assembly. The bill would add carbon dioxide fracking to the statewide high volume hydraulic fracking ban codified in the 2020-21 state budget. The proposed legislation adds two words to the original law that banned fracking, which defined […]
Assembly GOP Bill Package Would Increase Availability, Reduce Costs of Child Care
On Monday March 11, Assembly Republicans introduced an “Affordable Blueprint for Childcare.” The proposed legislation would expand access to early childcare education, create more affordability, increase the number of childcare providers, and increase tax incentives for childcare providers and families. The Republican Conference stressed they believe childcare is not a […]
Highlighting Success of Problem-Solving Courts, Chief Judge Seeks Funding to Expand Programs
The state court system will be putting a heavy emphasis on more specialized courts this coming year, including drug treatment courts, veteran courts and alternative-to-incarceration courts. Chief Judge Rowan Wilson outlined his goals for the court system in his State of the Judiciary address last month. He used the word, […]
Legislation Would Provide Tax Benefits to Newspapers Employing Local Journalists
On Feb. 15, more than 100 local newspapers across New York state launched The Empire State News Coalition in an effort to approve a legislative package that several news organizations say would bring relief to the struggling local journalism field. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, S625B/A2958C, would provide tax credits […]
Gov. Hochul Embeds OGS Commissioner in Office of Cannabis Management For ‘Top-Down Review’
Gov. Kathy Hochul today initiated an assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management to identify opportunities for improvement and begin implementation of a strategic plan for the long-term success of the legal cannabis rollout. Commissioner for the Office of General Services Jeanette Moy will serve as lead and executive sponsor […]
Legislators Join Labor-Religion Coalition to Demand Moral Budget
New York state legislators and members of the Labor Religion Coalition held a rally in the Capitol building’s War Room on March 4 to push for investments prioritizing low-income New Yorkers as the Legislature begins to turn their attention to finalizing the budget. Speakers at the event included Assembly members, […]
Legislative Package Aims To Reduce ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found In Many Household Products
On Tuesday Feb. 6 legislators and the PFAS-free New York coalition held a press conference at the Million Dollar Staircase advocating for a package of bills that work to eliminate and regulate the use and discharge of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in common consumer products and waterways. The package […]