The Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase was abuzz on Tuesday, March 8 as a coalition of politicians, lobbyists and advocates called for labeling of genetically modified foods. Close to 100 people rallied on the majestic staircase to fight for a bill (A.617-b/S.485-b) that would require companies to label their products containing […]

  New York needs to change how it fines nursing homes in violation of state laws to protect some of New York’s most vulnerable, according to the Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, DiNapoli recently met with senior citizen advocates in Albany to address the need to improve enforcement of nursing home violations. […]

With just days to go before the state’s budget deadline, the coalition pushing for a higher age of criminal responsibility is trying to get the attention of lawmakers to convince them a change is needed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo included legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility in his Executive […]

The controversial aid-in-dying legislation is facing opposition from an alliance of groups that oppose the bill for both moral and pragmatic reasons, arguing that the legislation would put elderly and disabled people at risk of being abused. The bill, titled the “Patient Self-Determination Act” (S.5814-a/A.5261-c) would allow people with terminal […]

A new bill in the Assembly is designed to prevent individuals on the Terror Watch List from purchasing a firearm in New York state. The bill (A.9433) introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, is an attempt to give more time to the FBI for completing background checks on those purchasing […]

Reform groups are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers to create a commission that would develop a plan to properly run a constitutional convention. They are also urging lawmakers to consider reforming the convention process. That is, of course, if New Yorkers actually decide they want a constitutional […]

The New York State Senate passed legislation (S.5598) that would establish the new crime of inciting violence against a police officer. Sponsor Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, said the bill is in response to input received during a series of public hearings held by the Senate Majority last year, which examined police […]

  Assembly Republicans unveiled a bill that would require member items, discretionary funds, and so-called “lump sum payments” — typically controlled by legislative leaders and the governor, and negotiated behind closed doors — be made public and fully transparent in the state budget for rank-and-file legislators, the public and the […]