As Donald Trump steps into the White House, the push to secure green programs and legislation that have been years in the making will be a top priority for environmental activists this legislative session.
During the final week of 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several long-awaited environmental bills into law: forcing polluters to pay for climate destruction, expanding the state’s fracking ban to prohibit a a new technique that uses carbon dioxide, and limiting new construction of schools within 500 feet of major highways.
“Right now, working families like us are footing the bill for the billions in damages caused by these climate disasters, while the fossil fuel companies sowing climate misinformation and poisoning the planet make record profits.”
“Lawmakers up in Albany have already proposed legislation to protect ground lease co-op residents around the state. We need standard rights and protections and New York has the chance to grant them.”
The commission will have 12 months from the date of its first meeting to issue a report with recommended actions to provide reparations to Black New Yorkers, to address the long-standing effects of the legacy of slavery.
For tenants in the first upstate city to adopt rent stabilization, benefiting from the law’s basic protections is an uphill battle.
“New York has an opportunity to become one of the first states to require that children speak with a lawyer before waiving their right to remain silent.”
“If it were up to me, all of New York City would be included,” said State Sen. Julia Salazar, who is looking to expand the state’s recently passed basement legalization pathway to more neighborhoods.
According to the New York State Board of Elections, 329 candidates registered for the first state-level public campaign finance program, which aims to curb the influence of big money in politics by matching small, local donations with public funds.
“Passing this legislation before the end of the session allows legislators to implement a transformative emission reduction strategy, significantly improving air quality for their constituents, especially for communities living and working along bus routes and near bus depots.”
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