State Legislature

Legislation authorizing a county-wide wastewater management district in Suffolk and an additional 1/8-cent sales tax to finance a water quality restoration fund was enacted this week in Albany.

The “conceptual agreement with legislative leaders will allow both houses to begin adopting bills to implement the 2024 budget.

A ban on the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits by retail pet stores will take effect in 2024 in New York State under a bill signed into law today by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

State lawmakers are moving ahead with codifying abortion rights into the New York State Constitution, after the U.S. Supreme Court last month overturned the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade, which held a woman's right to an abortion was guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. 

Republican incumbent Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo of New Suffolk has announced his candidacy for the State Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Ken LaValle for 44 years.

Here are 15 bills of interest passed by both chambers during the frenzied closing days of the state legislative session in Albany.

The $175.5 billion budget deal includes a permanent 2-percent property tax cap, an additional $1 billion in education funding, tolls on Manhattan streets and criminal justice reforms. It does not include the governor’s proposal to legalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana.

For only the second time since his election to the New York State Senate in 1976, Sen. Ken LaValle returns to Albany as a member of that chamber’s minority party.

State lawmakers look to increase by up to 40 percent spending to combat the escalating heroin crisis in New York.