Committee Chair Vacancies
This election cycle has already created changes within the State Legislature, as various Standing Committee Chair positions have become vacant. While some positions were vacated due to impending retirement, many committees had the leadership post announce a run for higher office. The Committee Chair positions that are expected to be, or are already, vacated are:

•    Assembly Corporations Authorities and Commissions
•    Assembly Higher Education
•    Assembly Local Governments
•    Assembly Tourism, Arts and Sports Development
•    Assembly Veterans Affairs

•    Senate Consumer Protection
•    Senate Disabilities
•    Senate Ethics and Internal Governance
•    Senate Insurance

Please note that all New York State Legislators are up for reelection this November. No statewide positions, such as Governor, Attorney General, or Comptroller, are up for reelection.

Equal Rights Amendment
This November, New York State voters will consider a significant constitutional amendment known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This proposed amendment aims to expand the current anti-discrimination protections in the New York State Constitution. Specifically, it seeks to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy.

This amendment follows the passage of similar measures in other states and is part of a broader movement to update civil rights protections. The proposed ERA was passed by the New York State Legislature in two successive sessions, first in June 2022 and again in January 2023, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The amendment has been framed as a way to protect reproductive rights, among other civil rights, although it does not explicitly reference abortion.

Advocates have clamored for additional protections, such as the inclusion of LGBT individuals. The New York State Board of Elections will determine final ballot language on July 29, 2024.

The amendment will be on the ballot for voter ratification on November 5, 2024. If approved, it would add these new protections to the New York State Constitution, ensuring broader civil rights and anti-discrimination measures for all New Yorkers.

Democratic Support
Governor Kathy Hochul has been significantly involved in fundraising efforts to support Democrats in Congress for the upcoming elections. In the first half of 2024, Hochul raised over $7.3 million, setting a record for a New York Governor at this stage in the election cycle. This substantial amount includes $5.8 million for her re-election bid and $1.4 million for the state Democratic Party. Since January 2023, she has raised more than $22 million combined for her campaign and the party.

Hochul’s fundraising efforts are crucial as Democrats aim to flip congressional seats in New York and regain control of the House. She has emphasized the importance of having a robust infrastructure to support Democratic candidates across the State and has been working closely with figures like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to bolster the party’s prospects.

After Governor Hochul announced on June 5, 2024 that the implementation of congestion pricing would be “paused,” questions remain on the status of the program. This week, two different lawsuits were filed in opposition to the pause in implementation. Both suits were filed by environmental and commuter advocacy groups, and both suits seek to have a judge affirm the legality of the congestion pricing program.

In response to the lawsuits, a spokesman for Governor Hochul’s office confirmed that 11 separate congestion pricing lawsuits have been filed over the last several weeks: two to move the program forward, 9 suits seeking to prevent the program in full. The latest pair of suits contends that the Governor had no authority to “pause” the implementation, and that pausing congestion pricing affects New Yorkers recently enshrined constitutional right to a clean environment.

The congestion pricing plan was designed to reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan’s central business district by imposing tolls on vehicles entering the area south of 60th Street. The expected revenue from these tolls, estimated at $1 billion annually, was intended to fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) projects. With the program on hold, the MTA now potentially faces a $15 billion budget shortfall.

President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. The move, just months before the election, marks a significant shift and has catalyzed a scramble within both parties to realign their strategy. Biden, who has faced increasing scrutiny, acknowledged that stepping aside was necessary to bolster the party’s chances against the Republican nominee, former President Trump. This development mirrors the historic withdrawal of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, a decision that similarly reshaped the Democratic primary dynamics.

In the wake of Biden’s exit, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the nominee for the Democratic Party. Harris, who has been Biden’s running mate since 2020, has quickly garnered substantial support from key New York leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. This swift consolidation of support underscores Harris’ strong position within the party. Her candidacy represents a continuation of the Biden administration’s policies, with an added emphasis on issues such as social justice, healthcare, and economic equality.

Harris’s ascendancy as the prime candidate brings a historic dimension to the 2024 election. If elected, she would become the first woman and the first person of South Asian and African American descent to hold the presidency. This potential milestone is energizing a broad coalition of voters and activists who see her candidacy as a fulfillment of long-held aspirations for greater representation and diversity in American leadership. However, Harris also faces significant challenges, including uniting the Democratic base and appealing to moderate and independent voters, which are crucial for winning the general election.

While originally sticking with President Biden, Governor Hochul has joined Lt. Governor Delgado in supporting Vice President Harris’ bid. Also this week, all 307 of New York State’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention held an informal vote to solidify their support behind Harris.

Both the New York City Public School System, as well as Governor Hochul, have been discussing banning the use of cell phones in grade schools. New York City School Chancellor David Banks is expected to release guidance soon, while Governor Hochul has been discussing the issue at various roundtables.

This week, Governor Hochul hosted a roundtable in Western New York to discuss smartphone use in schools as part of her statewide listening tour. The session included educators, parents, and stakeholders to gather insights for developing a statewide policy on smartphone usage in schools, aimed at addressing youth mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. This initiative is part of broader efforts, including laws to combat addictive social media feeds and campaigns promoting outdoor activities, to improve the mental health of young people in New York.