Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
For nearly 440,000 infertile New Yorkers and same-sex couples, gestational surrogacy is the only option for starting or growing a family. However, compensating a surrogate is illegal in New York, and there are no established legal grounds for the intended parents to have custody of their child at birth. A […]
Senator Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Beach, has introduced legislation that prohibits state and local government authorities from paying elected officials for legal or consulting work with an Industrial Development Agency or economic assistance corporation. The bill seeks to end elected officials using their positions to “enrich themselves at the expense of […]
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, joined with members of the League of Women Voters of New York on Tuesday to call for comprehensive voting reforms. Together with Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, Stewart-Cousins introduced the Early Voter bill (A2064/S2950). Provisions of the bill include automatic voter registration […]
After a 16-year-decline in motor vehicle accidents and deaths per miles traveled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trends are beginning to reverse and skyrocket with no statistically discernible cause. Legislators and safety advocates point to one culprit that often is not investigated — distracted driving. […]
On April 19 at the THRIVE Long Island Recovery Center in Hauppauge, Long Island, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that will allocate $213 million for drug recovery institutions and programs statewide to battle the current heroin and opioid epidemic, which he calls “the worst drug scourge this nation has […]
Children planted a pinwheel garden in Albany’s Academy Park outside the state Capitol on Monday to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month in New York state, designated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, along with local elected […]
More than 940,000 families will qualify for tuition-free college at SUNY and CUNY schools once fully implemented Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide free tuition to undergraduate students attending SUNY and CUNY schools beginning this fall, was signed into law at LaGuardia Community College in […]
Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation would be a ‘serious offense’ under NY’s SAFE Act Senator Daniel Squadron, D-Brooklyn, introduced an amendment that would categorize hate crimes as serious offenses in relation to the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, […]