News & Blog

New York Capital Brief:
April 07, 2023


Budget Deadline to Be Extended Again

After missing the April 1st statutory budget deadline and passing a temporary budget extender bill this past Monday, the Legislature is preparing to pass another one-week extender bill on Monday, April 10.

Chief Judge Selection Process

Last week, Governor Hochul introduced legislation that would modify the judicial nominating process and prevent the Court of Appeals from operating with only six of its seven members for extended periods.

If the legislation is approved, it will allow the Governor to nominate a Court of Appeals Associate Judge to become Chief Judge. If the Senate confirms that nominee, the Governor could pick from the remaining finalists to fill the vacancy created by the selection of the new Chief Judge. The bill’s introduction could indicate that she is considering nominating one of the Court of Appeals’ sitting justices to be the next Chief Judge of the State’s highest court.

The bill’s introduction coincides with the Governor’s review of a new list of finalists for Chief Judge that the Commission on Judicial Nomination issued last week. The list includes three Associate Judges serving on the Court of Appeals. The New York State Bar Association, list all of the potential candidates for the post as either “well...

New York Capital Brief:
March 31, 2023


New York’s State Budget is Expected to be Late

New York’s State Budget is due April 1st, but State lawmakers acknowledged Thursday that it...

New York Capital Brief:
March 24, 2023


Budget Negotiations Gear Up

The General Budget Conference Committee, known colloquially as “The Mothership,” held its first meeting this Monday, officially kicking off budget negotiations for the fiscal year...

New York Capital Brief:
March 03, 2023


Encore for Former Budget Director

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the appointment of Robert Megna as New York State Budget ...

New York Capital Brief:
February 20, 2023


Governor Hochul’s State Budget Proposal

Last Wednesday, Governor Hochul proposed a $227 billion State budget, a plan that would increase direct aid to schools and health care networks, fund measures to bolster public safety and law enforcement, as well as expand hous...

New York Capital Brief:
January 26, 2023


NYS Hospitals to Reopen 850 Psych Beds

NYS-regulated hospitals have just three more weeks to submit their plans for reopening 850 psychiatric beds, following a directive announced by Governor Hochul during her State of the Sta...

New York Capital Brief:
January 12, 2023


Hochul Delivers State of the State Address

On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Hochul delivered her State of the State Address and released a 276-page briefing book outlining her goals for the 2023 legislative session. The speech was delivered in the Assembly Chamber to a crowd of legislators, statewide and local elected officials, staffers, and select guests and family members.  Also in attendance were the Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and State Comptroller.
...

Happy Holidays!
December 21, 2022


The H&L team had the honor of providing some holiday cheer to a family in need through the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families Adopt a Family Program!

New York Capital Brief:
December 21, 2022


Hochul: No Tax Increases

In a news conference this week, Governor Hochul declared that she would not consider tax increases in the upcoming State Budget process, saying that raising taxes would go against efforts to reduce the tax burden made earlier this year (i.e. rebate checks sent to property taxpayers and the faster phase-in of a tax rate cut aimed at middle-income earn...

New York Capital Brief:
November 23, 2022


Democrats Poised to Retain Supermajorities

The Democrats are on the brink of retaining their supermajorities in both the State Assembly and Senate, despite Republicans flipping several seats and coming closer to victory in the gubernatorial race than they have in decades.
Holding onto a supermajority of two-thirds of each chamber enables lawmakers to override gubernatorial veto’s and provides the legislature with greater ...