Weekly Legislative Update - April 11, 2025

Floor News

Emergency Appropriation Extenders

The Assembly and Senate unanimously passed two bills this week (A.7695 [vote: 144-0] and A.7765 [vote: 142-0]) in order to provide emergency appropriations for the support of the government through April 1 and April 15, respectively.

Motion to Discharge

Assembly Republicans, led by Assemblyman Maher, attempted to discharge an important piece of legislation from the Economic Development Committee and bring it to the Floor for a vote. The motion to discharge the following bill was blocked by Assembly Democrats:

~ A.1925 (Maher): Establishes the Sector Partnership Enhancement and Reinforcement Program to provide support for partnerships involving business, labor, schools, community colleges, workforce development boards, and government that aim to address workforce

needs in specific industry sectors (vote: 45-99).

West Point Day

On Wednesday, the Assembly passed a resolution (K.336) proclaiming April 9, 2025, as West Point Day.

Committee News

Health

Due, in part, to unanimous Republican opposition, a bill (A.141-A) to ban flavored oral nicotine pouches was pulled from the Health Committee agenda.

Codes

Despite unanimous Republican opposition, the Codes Committee reported the following bills:

A.2620: Prohibits police officers from questioning arrested juveniles under 18 and in custody, who, along with their parent or guardian if present, have been advised of their Miranda rights (and possibly even have waived those rights), unless the juvenile has first consulted with an attorney. Requires that statements made to police prior to the juvenile consulting with an attorney be suppressed and not admitted as evidence.This bill was reported to Ways and Means.

A.4725-A: Directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to prohibit the use of drilling fluids, brine, and flow back water from wells, pools, or fields on any highway for the purposes of deicing, dust suppression, or any other use. This bill was reported to the Floor.

Energy

The Energy Committee reported a bill (A.6285) that requires gas-electric utilities to list additional criteria on their annual emergency response plans that they submit to the Public Service Commission (PSC). Explicitly clarifies that such plans should include details on staffing, equipment, and a performance schedule with the goal of achieving “reasonably prompt” restoration of service based upon a time-based restoration schedule to be established by PSC. Directs PSC to establish this schedule by utilizing benchmarks underpinning service restorations that include the percentage of customers restored within each 24-hour interval following an emergency event, such as a storm or cyberattack.This bill was reported to the Floor.

Week In Focus

On 4/8, Assemblyman Palmesano and Members of the Assembly Republican Conference held a bipartisan press conference in support of lifesaving organ donation

legislation. To view CLICK HERE

On 4/8, Assemblyman Smullen was joined by Members of the Assembly Republican

Conference and representatives from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at a press conference to highlight the significance of Tax Day and pinpoint New York's current

economic status. To view, CLICK HERE

On 4/8, Assemblyman Blumencranz and Members of the Assembly Republican Conference held a bipartisan press conference calling for the passage of “Peanut's Law: humane animal protection act" (A.7388). To view, CLICK HERE

On 4/9, Leader Barclay and Assemblyman Chang, joined Assembly and Senate Republicans, at a press conference calling for the expansion of involuntary mental health commitment

following the recent Brooklyn tragedy. To view, CLICK HERE