The close of New York State’s legislative session in June is typically a sprint to pass long-considered bills before lawmakers break for the year.
But because budget negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders dragged well past the April 1 deadline, the window for other priorities tightened further. That pushed the State Legislature into overdrive, with both chambers working late into the night in the closing days, and, in the case of the Senate, holding a rare Friday session to pass a flurry of laws.
In the end, lawmakers passed more than 600bills in June, the last few early Wednesday morning, when the State Assembly wrapped up its work for the year, joining the Senate, which had gaveled out last week. This period was full of intense fights and expensive lobbying efforts over actual life-or-death issues, including legislation to permit terminally ill New Yorkers to end their lives and a bill regulating pet insurance.
Then there was the equal opportunity bill aimed at those who imbibe, with lawmakers passing legislation to “recognize and promote New York State-labeled liquors, beer, cider and mead in the same manner as wine.” And a distinctly unrelated measure allows crossbows to be used “for the taking of big game in any area long bows are permitted.”
Ms. Hochul will now spend the rest of the year sifting through these proposed laws and haggling with legislative leaders over whether to sign, tweak or veto them. Here is a look at some of the most noteworthy legislation that passed.
Prison reform
Aside from President Trump’s proposed cuts, few issues caused more consternation in the State Capitol than the recent killing of two inmates by New York State corrections officers inside prisons. One occurred late last year at Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, N.Y., near Utica; the other earlier this year, at a nearby prison.
The deaths added to the unrest caused by weeks of wildcat strikes from corrections officers. It led to thousands of them being fired and Ms. Hochul temporarily replacing them with National Guardsmen.
In response, state legislators crafted a package of bills that they believe will create more transparency and accountability in the prison system. The proposed laws would increase the amount of camera coverage in prisons, expand the state commission with oversight of prisons and make it easier for the state attorney general to investigate and if necessary prosecute cases involving corrections officers.
Some prisoners’ rights groups were frustrated that legislators did not attempt to expand parole opportunities for inmates or reshape sentencing laws. Even so, legislators praised this package as something that could spur meaningful change in the state’s prison system.
“There is more work to do, including an expansion of pathways for release, but this is progress, it will make a difference, and I’m proud to stand behind it,” said State Senator Julia Salazar.
Increasing oversight of artificial intelligence
Lawmakers across the country are straining to figure out how to set up guardrails against potential misuse of artificial intelligence, and how to act before Congress potentially acts to prohibit regulation of the technology for a decade.
New York has moved quicker than most states, with elected officials passing a package of bills to regulate the most advanced form of A.I. models. If Ms. Hochul signs the legislation, larger companies using these models would have to formulate safety plans, which would then be published in some redacted form to give the public some insight into the safeguards.
The companies would also have to disclose “major security incidents” that include instances when the models steal or engage “in behavior other than at the request of a user.”
In the run-up to passage of the package, large technology companies lobbied intensely to have it killed. In the 11th hour, a stipulation requiring a third-party audit of this technology was stripped from the bill.
Even so, proponents of the law held it up as a victory and the first of its kind in the United States.
“If we wait too long, we may never get another chance,” Assemblyman Alex Bores, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement. “I’m proud New York is rising to this urgent occasion.”
New York City Charter revision high jinks
Partially because of the crises befalling Mayor Eric Adams and partially because of a cascading housing crisis, competing charter commissions have been mulling ways to tweak the governance of the city. Voters would then weigh in on these proposals this fall.
One commission created by Mr. Adams is focused on housing. Another, created last year by the City Council, recently recommended a path that would empower the Council and voters to remove a sitting mayor.
If the mayor’s commission advances any formal proposals to change the charter, those ballot questions would be given precedence, potentially bumping any Council ideas off the ballot. State lawmakers, however, passed a bill that would eliminate the rule requiring that.
If Ms. Hochul signs the law it would be a big win for the City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams, who is also running for mayor.
“New Yorkers deserve a government that is accountable to them, and that includes the right to offer ballot proposals without being blocked by political interference,” she said last week.
Targeting housing discrimination
Democrats in New York and elsewhere are concerned that President Trump may try to roll back laws governing housing discrimination. State lawmakers passed a bill meant to pre-empt any potential rollback by codifying one aspect of the federal law.
The bill, according to its sponsors, Assemblyman Micah Lasher and State Senator Brian Kavanaugh, would allow prosecutors to bring housing discrimination cases based on outcomes and conditions in residences rather than needing to prove intent to discriminate. While wonky, the legislation follows a notable theme from the session where lawmakers sought ways to respond to threats posed by Mr. Trump and his allies.
“It would mean that the state law is no longer weaker than the federal law and clarify any question now or in the future about whether claims brought under state law must meet some higher burden,” Mr. Lasher said earlier this month.
Trainers from other states can play
The Assembly and Senate sought to clear up some confusion for out-of-state sports teams visiting New York. The teams typically bring their trainers on road trips, but a 2023 law — which increased the licensing standards for athletic trainers — did not account for sports teams’ trainers who were in New York for a brief period.
Without an exemption, the teams’ trainers were technically not in compliance with New York’s standards, and would be barred from working when their teams competed here.
The new legislation came after extensive lobbying from several professional sports teams, Major League Baseball and the National Football League, Gothamist reported. If signed by Ms. Hochul, it will allow licensed trainers from other states to work here for five days before an event and three days after.
Benjamin Oreskes is a reporter covering New York State politics and government for The Times.
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