Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

August 22, 2025

What’s Inside

Governor Announces Broadband Infrastructure Awards
NYS COELIG to Hold Third Annual Public Hearing
Governor Announces GE Vernova Investment
Governor and Legislative Leaders Discuss Redistricting Changes
State Senator Oberacker Considering Congressional Run
In the News
Coming Up

Governor Announces Broadband Infrastructure Awards

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced 15 broadband infrastructure awards through the Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP), Affordable Housing Connectivity Program (AHCP), and Deployment Program County Partnerships totaling $52.6 million. These awards will directly connect 6,900 locations across the state, including 24,000 total households, businesses, and anchor institutions, with 19,000 of those being affordable housing units, and build 234 miles of new fiber infrastructure and 46 new wireless hubs.

According to the Governor’s office the $52.6 million in awards will support long-term economic development across 28 counties and the internet service will improve affordability so all residents can participate in the digital economy. The broadband internet service in some cases will be as low as $10 per month and in all cases will include high-speed options below the regional average prices.

Governor Hochul said:

New York State is leading the nation in closing the digital divide once and for all. Today’s $52 million in awards represents our commitment to connecting communities that need it most. In today’s economy, broadband isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity for education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and full participation in modern life.

Click here to learn about all the award recipients.

NYS COELIG to Hold Third Annual Public Hearing

The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government will hold its third annual public hearing on September 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the New York City Bar Association. The public can participate in person, by videoconference, or in writing.

The hearing will focus on receiving feedback about the Commission’s operations, laws, rules, regulations, and overall effectiveness, as well as recommendations for improving ethics and lobbying standards in New York State.

Learn more here.

Governor Announces GE Vernova Investment

On Tuesday, Governor Hochul announced that GE Vernova has committed to investing at least $41 million into the company’s Center of Excellence for steam and generator assembly and testing in Downtown Schenectady. The company plans to create 50 new, high-tech jobs at the facility, helping to meet increased global customer demand. Empire State Development is supporting the company’s expansion with up to $1 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.

According to the Governor’s office, GE Vernova plans to invest at least $41 million into the Downtown Schenectady campus to build additional capacity for generator operations by renovating existing space; purchasing and installing new machinery and equipment; and providing requisite training for employees. This investment will enable enhancements to the manufacturing of GE Vernova’s H65 and H84 generators, which accompany the company’s most efficient HA gas turbines. Additionally, many of the 50 new jobs that the company intends to create on-site will be union labor.

Governor Hochul said:

New York State is paving the way for manufacturing, research and development for innovative energy technologies — bringing the State closer to a cleaner future for generations to come. With the State’s public-private partnership with GE Vernova, we’re bringing in good-paying jobs to Upstate New York and promoting sustainability from the tip of Long Island to the Erie Canal.

GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik said:

We are committed to meeting the needs of our customers and the world as demand for electricity continues to rise at historic rates. This investment in our Schenectady facility continues our work to build gas power capacity and help meet global energy needs. Our Schenectady facility provides an amazing opportunity to cultivate and invest in our talent in the Capital Region, and we thank the state of New York for their support. We have called this region home for more than a century, and we are proud to continue to move that legacy forward.

Governor and Legislative Leaders Discuss Redistricting Changes

Following the announcement that Texas lawmakers approved a new congressional map, aimed at strengthening the Republicans for the 2026 midterm elections, Governor Hochul announced she was in discussions with legislative leaders about making changes in New York. New York faces short-term challenges due to constitutional constraints requiring amendments to be approved by two consecutive legislatures before reaching voters.

Reports suggest that discussions took place during a virtual meeting on Thursday, where Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Hochul, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins planned their approach. Heastie emphasized that any attempt to redraw New York’s districts ahead of the 2028 elections would also target changes to the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission.

Although Heastie and Stewart-Cousins technically hold the power for the amendment process, Hochul is prominently engaged in the broader national conversation. Earlier in the week, she criticized the 2014 amendment that established the 10-member commission.

“I am confident that New York can successfully push this amendment through,” Hochul stated. “If all goes well, it will go to voters, who will ultimately cast their votes by the fall of 2027. This opens the door for us to effectively respond and redraw those district lines, which would be finalized in time for the 2028 congressional elections.”

State Senator Oberacker Considering Congressional Run

Republican State Senator Peter Oberacker is considering a run for New York Congressional District 19, currently held by freshman Democratic Representative Josh Riley. According to reports, Oberacker notified Sullivan County GOP Chair Greg Goldstein of his intention to run for the swing seat. Oberacker did not confirm the report, only stating that he would be deciding soon.

CD-19 is a swing district that has traded hands several times recently. In the last election Josh Riley (D) won with 51.1% of the vote, defeating incumbent Marc Molinaro (R) who himself had won the previous cycle with only 50.8% of the vote.