Governor signs round of bills passed by state legislators
As of last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul had enacted 1,378 bills passed in the 2023-24 legislative session, which ended in June. She had vetoed 213.
Below are summaries of select laws and the votes cast by Republican Rob Rolison (whose Senate district includes the Highlands), Democrat Dana Levenberg (whose Assembly district includes Philipstown) and Democrat Jonathan Jacobson (whose Assembly district includes Beacon).
Climate fund
On Thursday (Dec. 26), Hochul enacted a law to create a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program, or Climate Superfund, that will require fossil-fuel energy companies to collectively contribute $3 billion annually to projects that mitigate the effects of global warming. According to the bill, the funds will be used to pay for coastal wetlands restoration, storm water drainage upgrades, energy-efficient cooling systems, public health programs and responses to extreme weather events.
Passed by Senate, 43-17 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 92-49 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
STR registry
Hochul on Dec. 21 enacted a bill that will create a short-term rental registry, the first of its kind in the nation. Under the law, which takes effect April 20, booking sites such as Airbnb will be obligated to remove listings that have not been registered. Booking sites also must report quarterly to the state how many bookings they facilitated in each county, including the location, nights, guest counts and room taxes. According to the bill’s authors: “Municipalities need better tools to understand how this economic driver can help without displacing local residents and compounding an already growing [housing] problem.”
Passed by Senate, 41-20 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 101-40 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Fracking ban
The governor signed legislation on Dec. 21 that expands the state’s fracking ban to include injecting carbon dioxide into rock at high pressure to extract oil and natural gas. New York already bans hydraulic fracking, which uses water.
Passed by Senate, 46-16 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 98-50 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Workers’ comp
On Dec. 6, Hochul enacted a law that will allow anyone — not just first responders — to file for workers’ compensation because of a “mental injury” caused by “extraordinary work-related stress.”
Passed by Senate, 41-19 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 101-44 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Demographics
Hochul on Dec. 20 signed a bill requiring state agencies that collect data about ancestry or ethnic origins to add categories for Middle Eastern (e.g., Iranian, Palestinian, Israeli, Syrian, Saudi) and North African (e.g., Egyptian, Sudanese, Libyan) groups.
Passed by Senate, 57-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 101-45 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Specialized care
On Dec. 18, Hochul signed a bill that allows patients to remain at pediatric nursing facilities until they are 36. Previously “medically fragile” young adults had to move to adult care when they turned 21.
Passed by Senate, 60-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 140-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Narcan
The governor on Nov. 17 enacted a law that will require public buildings and institutions to have opioid antidotes such as Narcan on hand. It takes effect in November.
Passed by Senate, 51-6 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 140-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Excess food
The governor on Dec. 13 enacted legislation that will gradually increase the number of businesses and institutions required to donate excess edible food and recycle food scraps if they are within 50 miles (increased from 25 miles) of a recycler. The current law applies to firms that produce at least two tons of food each week at a single location; that will drop to a half ton on Jan. 1, 2026.
Passed by Senate, 49-10 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 99-46 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Stolen phones
On Nov. 26, the governor enacted a law that requires wireless service providers to disable services to stolen phones. The law was named for Brian Simonsen, an NYPD detective killed in 2019 responding to an armed robbery at a cellphone store. It takes effect on Feb. 24.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 136-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
EpiPens
Hochul on Dec. 12 signed legislation that requires insurers to cap out-of-pocket costs at $100 annually for epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens). Used by people with life-threatening allergies, the devices sell for up to $300 and expire after 12 months.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 144-2 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Doulas
On Dec. 11, Hochul enacted a law that permits doulas to be present during and after hospital deliveries.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 148-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Traffic laws
On Oct. 23, Hochul signed a law that requires all passengers on charter buses older than 7 to wear seatbelts.
Passed by Senate, 54-7 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 145-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Hochul also signed a bill that expands reckless driving to include parking lots with four or more spaces that aren’t adjacent to residences.
Passed by Senate, 58-2 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 138-9 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Religious clothing
Hochul on Nov. 26 signed legislation to classify the removal or threat of removal of religious clothing, such as a yarmulke or hijab, as aggravated harassment.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 147-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Melanie’s Law
Hochul on Nov. 25 signed legislation that allows protective orders in domestic violence cases to include all family members of the victim, regardless of age. The law is named for Melanie Chianese, who was killed in 2022 by her mother’s ex-boyfriend while he was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to domestic violence. Her mother was able to get orders of protection for herself and Melanie’s 4-year-old son, but Melanie was ineligible because she was 29.
Passed by Senate, 60-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 143-5 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Lease fees
Hochul on Nov. 25 signed a law that bans “turn-in” fees at the end of a car lease unless they are related to mileage or damage.
Passed by Senate, 41-20 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 100-47 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Telemarketers
On Nov. 25, the governor enacted a law that requires telemarketers, within the first 30 seconds, to state the purpose of the call and any request for personal or financial information.
Passed by Senate, 59-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 147-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Inspection grades
Hochul on Nov. 25 signed a bill that requires restaurants that offer online ordering for delivery to post a link to their most recent sanitary inspection grade. The law takes effect on May 12.
Passed by Senate, 55-3 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 140-5 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Veteran tuition
The governor on Nov. 11 signed a law that makes veterans who served at least four years eligible for tuition assistance, regardless of whether they were in combat.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 140-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Disaster abatements
Hochul on Dec. 21 signed legislation to allow municipalities to offer property tax refunds and credits to homeowners who suffer damages from natural disasters, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020.
Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 141-0 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Legalizing adultery
On Nov. 22, the governor signed legislation to repeal a statute that criminalized adultery.
Passed by Senate, 57-4 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 137-10 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Election boxes
Hochul on Nov. 22 enacted a law allowing boards of elections to use secure drop boxes to collect mail-in ballots.
Passed by Senate, 41-21 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 89-52 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
Debt collection
On Dec. 24, Hochul signed a bill that prohibits debt collectors from contacting people through social media.
Passed by Senate, 58-1 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 99-47 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes
