Please join us in congratulating Albany veteran Michele O’Connor for her recognition by City & State in their esteemed 2025 Who’s Who in Government Relations!

 

Greetings from Albany, NY  

In this edition, we provide a look at the unofficial primary results, major upsets, the forces shaping this year’s contests, and an overview of the Governor’s first wave of regulatory relief measures. 

 

Governor Hochul’s EXPRESS NY Regulatory Relief Initiative  

Last fall, Governor Hochul launched an initiative inviting state agencies and New Yorkers to identify regulations and rules that could be revised or eliminated to improve government services. The effort generated more than 4,000 submissions.

To date, her administration has announced 50 actions across 22 state agencies aimed at modifying or eliminating regulations to improve efficiency and reduce burdens on residents and businesses. Governor Hochul indicated that a second wave of regulatory relief measures is expected later this year.

According to the announcement, the reforms are projected to save New Yorkers tens of millions of dollars in fees and more than one million hours annually, with an estimated 1.5 million residents expected to benefit.

This wave of reforms is wide ranging, but centers on a few key themes:

Reducing costs and barriers: Lowering financial requirements, eliminating fees, and easing regulations to support housing development, healthcare facilities, businesses, and consumers.

Streamlining licensing and workforce development: Simplifying occupational licensing, reducing training requirements, and removing barriers to entry in healthcare, addiction services, and other professions.

Modernizing government services: Expanding digital forms, online submissions, virtual hearings, and electronic workflows to reduce paperwork and save time for residents and businesses.

Expanding access to care and public services: Improving access to healthcare, mental health and addiction treatment, foster care, victim services, public assistance programs, and MWBE opportunities.

Eliminating outdated regulations: Repealing obsolete labor rules, outdated permitting requirements, and pandemic-era mandates that no longer reflect current laws, technologies, or practices.

The Governor’s press release can be viewed here, and the full report containing the 50 actions can be viewed here.

NYS Primary Election Results

Voters headed to the polls on June 23rd as primary elections were held across the state. New York also allowed for early voting from June 13th through 21st.

Primary elections were held for a variety of offices, including local and county positions, State Senate and Assembly seats, judicial races, U.S. House of Representatives, NYS Comptroller and other offices. The results of these races will help shape the ballot and set the stage for the November 3rd general election.

The unofficial primary election results offer an early glimpse into an evolving political landscape, with several incumbent candidates appearing to fall short in their bids for renomination. The outcomes reflect growing voter appetite for change in several races and highlight the influence of progressive organizing efforts across the state.

The outcomes also reflected the influence of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political network, as several candidates who received his endorsement prevailed on primary election day.

While the results provide an early look at voter turnout and sentiments, they remain unofficial as ballot counting and certification continue in the days and weeks ahead.