Redistricting and Primary Updates:
On April 20, 2022, the state supreme court struck down New York’s legislature-drawn maps, saying they amounted to a partisan gerrymander in favor of Democrats. The court held that lawmakers did not follow a predetermined bipartisan redistricting process that voters approved in 2014. A special master was appointed to draw new maps which were released in May. As a result of the redistricting, dozens of candidates who thought they were competing in one district are now scrambling to adjust to the new districts they seek to represent. The other major outcome is that New York now also has two primary dates: one on June 28th for statewide and state Assembly races and another on August 23rd for congressional and state Senate contests. The result is nothing short of political chaos. Anyone interested in looking at the new maps can find them at newyork.redistrictingandyou.org.
New Lieutenant Governor Sworn In:
On Wednesday, May 25th, former US Rep. Antonio Delgado was sworn into office as New York’s third lieutenant governor in a year’s span. Delgado, a Democrat from Rhinebeck, NY, previously represented the state’s 19th congressional District in the Hudson Valley and Central New York after unseating incumbent Republican John Faso. Some of the issues he fought for in Congress included agriculture, farming, small business, broadband internet access, and veteran rights. Delgado replaced Brian Benjamin, who was arrested in April on bribery charges related to a past campaign.
End of Session:
Session is scheduled to end on June 2, 2022, but there are still some weighty issues that must be resolved before legislators go home to their districts. The following issues are under negotiation:
• A bill to approve mayoral control of New York City schools for two years.
• Expanding abortion rights. There remains the issue of putting this before voters as a constitutional amendment to codify it into the constitution.
• Gun-control laws. A 10-bill package of gun control bills is being put before lawmakers after two mass shootings in the course of 10 days in May. One in particular would address stronger measures to detect threatening language on social media.
• Housing issues are not likely to pass. Lawmakers are apparently going to let the 421a real estate tax break expire and are not expected to address other housing issues, including measures to help people avoid being evicted from their apartments.
• The Clean Slate Act is still under consideration. This proposal would make New Yorkers eligible to have their conviction records sealed three years from sentencing for misdemeanors and seven years from sentencing for felonies, not including time incarcerated.
There are also some bills of interest to NRLA that are in play including:
A10202 Rules (Stirpe), No Same As
Department of Labor Departmental Bill #167 Title: Relates to an amnesty period for employer contributions to the unemployment insurance trust fund Purpose: This proposal would amend Labor Law § 581-c to provide delinquent employers with amnesty for interest owed to the Insurance Trust Fund if their owed balance is paid in full between August 1, 2022 and December 1, 2022. Proposal components include: (1) establish a reasonable amnesty period; and (2) advise employers that 100% of the accrued interest on that balance will be waived if the outstanding balance is paid in full during the established amnesty period. The Department would provide public notice of the amnesty period and also send direct communication to employers with large, outstanding debts. Status: The bill passed the Assembly. There is currently no companion bill in the Senate.
A10109 (Zebrowski), Same As S8844 (Reichlin-Melnick)
Title: Relates to state construction and commodity contracts Purpose: To provide equitable relief to contractors who have sustained unanticipated expenses by reason of construction materials price escalation. Status: This bill has passed the Assembly and is in the Senate Finance Committee.
A 0439 Rules (Fahy), Same As S9405 (Parker)
Title: Establishes the “Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022” Purpose: Increasing the efficiency of buildings with the goal of reducing New York’s energy use, helping to achieve our energy and climate goals, reducing our power demand, decreasing our environmental impact, and reducing the cost of operating a building. Status: The bill passed the Senate and is on 3rd Reading in the Assembly. Please be prepared to act in a very short amount of time if NRLA issues an Action Alert on these bills.