We take a closer look at five of the more than 600 bills passed in June by the State Legislature.
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 600 bills 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.
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.
