Greetings from Albany, NY  

In this edition, we provide updates on recent legislative actions, New York’s measles outbreak, review of sexual assault laws, artificial intelligence developments and health care sector impacts from the revocation of temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants, among other important topics.  

Governor Hochul Signs Bills, Hundreds More Await Delivery 

Governor Hochul has signed 312 bills into law this year. In the last two weeks, she signed five more bills related to police pension funds, energy performance by schools, and electric landscaping equipment rebates.

There are no bills on the Governor’s desk awaiting consideration at this moment, but 445 bills that passed both houses have not yet been transmitted to her for action. Although the Governor can request these bills at any time, it is more likely that she will consider the remaining bills after the election.

Fourteen more bills have been introduced recently. Here’s a sampling of them:

• Relates to banning shock gloves (S10707)
• Prohibits nondisclosure agreements intended to conceal information about the development of a data center from the public (S10708)
• Requires certain physicians or other authorized practitioners to offer prenatal testing for antiphospholipid syndrome (S10711)
• Authorizes the division of housing and community renewal to enforce building codes (S10713)
• Enacts the Prader-Willi syndrome residential stabilization and best-practice support act (S10718)

Early Voting Begins in Two Weeks 

The 2026 general election on Nov. 3 is just a few weeks away and early voting in New York runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.

Although lawmakers continue to advance their non-legislative priorities and host events in their district, members and candidates are largely focused on their campaigns and fundraising in these last few weeks before the election.

All 150 Assembly seats and 63 Senate seats are on the ballot, along with races for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, members of Congress, and NY Supreme Court justices. Democrats currently hold a 41-22 majority in the Senate, and 103-47 majority in the Assembly, but this election could bring significant turnover as numerous lawmakers have chosen not to seek re-election, are running for other offices, or were defeated in their primary races.

Spectrum News will be hosting the Gubernatorial debate between Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

Growing Measles Cases Prompts Executive Order by Governor Hochul 

Measles cases in New York have climbed enough to warrant executive action by Governor Hochul. The current number of cases in New York has already more than doubled from last year’s total. Currently, as of Oct. 9, there are 102 reported measles cases. According to prior reports in 2025, there were 48 cases and in 2024 there were 15 cases.

This rapid growth prompted Governor Hochul to issue an Executive Order this week declaring a state of emergency.

The Executive Order expedites vaccine procurement and temporarily expands the list of providers who can administer the MMR vaccine to include paramedics, advance emergency medical services providers, midwives and pharmacists. It also allows nurses to order measles testing. Specific supervision guidelines are included in the Executive Order, which is in effect until Nov. 4.

 

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