Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

December 6, 2024

What’s Inside

  • 2025 State of the State Address
  • Senate Democratic Majority Leadership Reelected
  • 2024 Foundation Aid Report
  • Senator James Skoufis Running for DNC Chair
  • Governor Announces Award Funding from the Office of Strategic Workforce Development
  • Governor Announces Pay Increases for Certain State Employee Positions
  • Governor Launches First Customer Experience Strategy
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

State of the State Address

Governor Kathy Hochul’s office has announced that she will present her 2025 State of the State Address on January 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. The Address will take place in the Hart Theater at The Egg in Albany, which differs from the traditional setting of the Assembly Chamber in the Capitol Building, where the Governor usually delivers her Address.

Currently, the Governor has not announced a time for her FY 2026 Executive Budget presentation, which is required to be presented by no later than January 21, and the Legislature has not issued the 2025 legislative session calendar.

Senate Democratic Majority Leadership Reelected

According to a press release, the Senate Democratic Conference has reelected Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to serve as Senate Majority Leader and President Pro Tempore. Subsequently, the Conference reelected Senator Michael Gianaris to serve as Deputy Majority Leader and Senator Jose M. Serrano as Chair of the Senate Majority Conference.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins issued the following statement:

I am deeply honored and privileged to be unanimously re-elected as Majority Leader and President Pro Tempore by my Democratic Senate colleagues from across New York State. Today’s vote is a powerful testament to the Senate Democratic Conference’s unwavering and bold vision for a stronger, fairer New York. In addition, I am thrilled to re-appoint both Senator Gianaris as Deputy Leader and Senator Serrano as Conference chair. As we approach the 2025-26 legislative session, our commitment remains steadfast: we will focus on fueling a thriving economy, protecting our democracy, and delivering essential resources to our communities

In addition, The Assembly Minority Conference has reelected Will Barclay as Minority Leader.

2024 Foundation Aid Report

As directed by the enacted New York State Budget in April, the Rockefeller Institute of Government conducted a study of the state’s Foundation Aid education funding formula. The report was issued on Monday, which can be viewed here.

As part of the study, the Rockefeller Institute of Government noted the themes that emerged from a variety of public hearings held over the summer that needed to be addressed, which include the following:

  • Weightings for English Language Learners (ELLs);
  • Outdated poverty data;
  • The accuracy and specificity of regional costs; and
  • That school districts are being asked to do things now that weren’t expected of them and weren’t even part of the funding equation nearly two decades ago.

Senator James Skoufis Running for DNC Chair

New York State Senator James Skoufis has announced his candidacy for the Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). His full announcement can be viewed here. Senator Skoufis represents the 42nd Senate District in the lower Hudson Valley, which includes the City of Middletown, the Town of New Windsor, and West Point.

He was first elected to the State Senate in 2018. He previously served in the State Assembly and Woodbury Town Board.

Governor Announces Award Funding from the Office of Strategic Workforce Development

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) has allocated over $15.5 million in grants to advance workforce training across Upstate New York. The funding will support five strategic projects involving more than 30 employer partners, targeting training for approximately 2,100 workers in high-demand sectors including:

  • Advanced manufacturing;
  • Construction;
  • Nanotechnology; and
  • Clean and renewable energy.

The seventh round of awards from OSWD brings the total state investment to nearly $60 million that will leverage more than $65 million in public and private funding and support over 14,400 trainees for over 2,000 business partners.

Round seven awardees include the following:

  • Manufacturer’s Association of Central New York (MACNY) – Central New York, Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Western New York – $6.5 Million (Pay for Performance Operating Grant)
  • Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington (CVES) BOCES – North Country – $3 Million (Workforce Development Capital Grant)
  • Questar III BOCES – Capital Region – $3 Million (Workforce Development Capital Grant)
  • University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (BEOC) – Western New York – $1,997,413 (Pay for Performance Operating Grant)
  • Center for Employment Opportunities – Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Western New York – $1,028,026 (Pay for Performance Operating Grant)

More information can be found here

Governor Announces Pay Increases for Certain State Employee Positions

Governor Hochul has announced pay increases for approximately 2,600 engineers, architects, land surveyors, landscape architects, and geologists across 18 New York State agencies. The raises, ranging from $7,000 to $13,500 based on position and location, aim to enhance recruitment and retention in the workforce responsible for maintaining essential infrastructure.

These increases took effect yesterday, December 5, and will particularly benefit employees in the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Conservation, among others.

The salary increase is expected to have the greatest impact at the following agencies, which currently have the largest number of eligible employees:

  • Department of Transportation — 1,620 employees
  • Department of Environmental Conservation — 542 employees
  • Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation— 70 employees
  • Department of Health — 60 employees
  • Office of General Services — 57 employees

Governor Hochul said:

New Yorkers rely on the skills and expertise of engineers to build roads and bridges, construct large scale buildings, and prevent disasters from occurring. Engineering and the licensed positions that support it are some of the most competitive jobs in the world, and after extensive study of the job market, it is clear that state government needs to do more to attract a world class talent pool to New York’s public sector. The investment in these geographic pay differentials is a smart investment in the future of the Empire State.

More information can be found here.

Governor Launches First Customer Experience Strategy

Governor Kathy Hochul has launched New York State’s first-ever customer experience strategy, designed to transform and improve government services and government operations on a day-to-day basis. The initiative aims to make state agencies more efficient, equitable, and responsive to New York residents’ needs.

The New York Experience (NYX) initiative seeks to position New York as a leader in public service excellence by embracing five key areas of improvement:

  • Minimizing enrollment gaps for government services
  • Reducing the “Time Tax” by eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic steps
  • Enhancing operational efficiency
  • Improving digital experiences
  • Increasing customer satisfaction

Governor Hochul said:

The New York Experience represents our unwavering commitment to improving public services, reducing bureaucratic barriers and building trust in our government. State is always focused on ensuring that all New Yorkers can access the programs they need, while creating a faster, more user-friendly experience when dealing with our state’s agencies.

Chief Customer Experience Officer Tonya Webster said:

This strategy is more than a vision; it’s a call to action, and every state agency has a role to play in making sure we deliver on our promise to create a more efficient and responsive government that continues to put New Yorkers at the center of decision making. Together, the State is building a government that truly works for the people that we serve.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

Andrew Cuomo committed ‘medical malpractice’ during deadly COVID crisis, House report finds.

Company owned by top adviser to Mayor Adams has ties to alleged criminal insurance fraud ring, lawsuit.

New York Democratic chair approved Skoufis for DNC run, but holds endorsement.

Manhattan borough president’s race: State Senator Hoylman-Sigal launches new bid for seat in 2025.

Rep. Ritchie Torres calls for probe into alleged bid-rigging of Hochul’s massive $9B Medicaid home care contract.

Simcha Felder enters race for NYC Council Special Election.

Pot advocates spar with Gov. Hochul over leadership and ‘knee-jerk changes’ with state cannabis office: ‘Failed commitments to equity’.

Robert Megna on the Foundation Aid assessment, property taxes.

Former Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield enters campaign for Buffalo mayor.

Reason to ‘CARE’: New York pols, advocates push for legislation protecting migrants ahead of Trump’s deportation agenda.

Assembly Districts 69 and 70 shift right in 2024 elections.

Nadler to relinquish Democrats’ top Judiciary post, bowing to call for change.

Jeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders.

Cost of decarbonization takes center stage at Assembly higher education hearing.

Central NY school district voters reject buying 2 electric buses, opt for gas guzzlers instead.

Campaign Board head hints Eric Adams could be denied reelection matching funds.

Medical marijuana group sues N.Y. over ‘punitive’ $20M retail license fee.

N.Y. lawmakers: Let Medicaid home care contract issues play out in court.

N.Y. state Senate Education Committee chair weighs in on possible Foundation Aid changes.

Coming Up

The Public Subsidy Board will convene in Albany and New York City for a Board meeting on Wednesday, December 11.

The NYS Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on December 9 and 10.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on December 19.

The Assembly Cities Committee will hold a public hearing to examine the effectiveness of the implementation of joint bidding in New York City on December 19.