Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

December 8, 2023

What’s Inside

  • 2024 Legislative Session Calendar Released
  • 3rd Congressional District Special Election Announced for February
  • Assemblymember Jeff Aubry to Retire
  • State Senator Deploying Overseas with Army Reserve
  • Westchester County Executive to Challenge Rep. Jamaal Bowman
  • Governor Announces Federal Funding for Broadband Infrastructure
  • Political Updates
  • Coming Up

2024 Legislative Session Calendar Released

The 2024 New York State legislative session calendar was released on Monday and can be viewed here. The 2024 legislative session includes 61 scheduled session days, beginning on Wednesday, January 3, and ending on Thursday, June 6. The 2024 legislative session calendar, compared to 2023 (60 total days scheduled), includes one additional session day.

As a reminder, Governor Kathy Hochul will deliver her 2024 State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 9 at 1:00 p.m. in the Assembly Chamber at the New York State Capitol in Albany.

The New York State Constitution requires the Executive Budget proposal to be released on the second Tuesday following the first day of the legislative session in January. Since the first day of session is Wednesday, January 3, the Governor must release her initial Executive Budget legislation by Tuesday, January 16. The Governor will also have the option to deliver an Executive Budget presentation, focusing on the finances, along with the state’s Budget Director, to support her policy goals laid out in her State of the State policy book. The Governor has not announced a date and time for the Executive Budget presentation.

Once the Executive Budget is submitted, Governor Hochul may submit amendments to her original proposal after 21 and 30 days. The Senate and Assembly will release their respective one-house budget proposals in early to mid-March, kicking off final negotiations between both legislative leaders and the Governor ahead of the final budget due date, which is April 1.

3rd Congressional District Special Election Announced for February

Governor Hochul has issued a proclamation declaring a special election to fill the vacancy in the 3rd Congressional District created by the expulsion of George Santos from the United States House of Representatives. The special election will take place on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

Governor Hochul said:

As Governor, I have the solemn responsibility to call a special election to ensure the voters of Long Island and Queens once again have representation in Congress. Members of Congress provide critical constituent services, serve as a link to federal agencies, and advocate on behalf of the constituents who sent them to Washington. I look forward working with the next representative for the 3rd Congressional District on the issues facing New Yorkers.

Following a meeting between Tom Suozzi and Governor Hochul, where they reportedly discussed campaign strategy, New York Democrats have officially nominated Suozzi for the special election for his old seat in the 3rd Congressional District.

Assemblymember Jeff Aubry to Retire

According to reports, longtime Assemblymember Jeff Aubry has endorsed Democrat Lorinda Hooks in her campaign to represent the 35th Assembly District, indicating his retirement from the seat. Assemblymember Aubry was originally elected to represent the Assembly’s 35th district during a special election in 1992.

State Senator Deploying Overseas with Army Reserve

Mark Walczyk, State Senator representing the 49th Senate District and Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, has announced that he will be deploying overseas to Kuwait for nine months. In a letter to individuals in his district, he informed them of his deployment and assured them that he has hired a team to stand in while he is overseas. According to reports, the letter did not mention the date of his deployment. Senator Rob Ortt issued a statement commending Senator Walczyk for being a dedicated public servant and American soldier.

Westchester County Executive to Challenge Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Westchester County Executive George Latimer officially announced his candidacy to primary Rep. Jamaal Bowman for the 16th Congressional District in New York. The Washington Post initially reported on this earlier in the week. Their write-up can be read here.

Governor Announces Federal Funding for Broadband Infrastructure

This week, Governor Hochul announced that applications are now open for the $100 million Affordable Housing Connectivity Program, a partnership led by Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Office in consultation with New York State Homes and Community Renewal to design and install broadband infrastructure at 100,000 affordable housing units across New York State. The program, which is federally funded through the Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act, is the largest targeted investment in affordable housing connectivity in the nation. The request for applications is available here.

Property owners must complete a survey to be considered for no-cost broadband upgrades to their building. ConnectALL will pair eligible properties with the best proposals from Internet Service Providers to complete the installation.

More information can be found in the Governor’s press release here.

In The News

City & State New York’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s 2023 New York State Top 50 Lobbyists here.

Suozzi nominated by Democrats to run for old Congressional seat.

Officials prepping legislative agenda to aid New Yorkers with disabilities.

New York health leaders concerned about post-Thanksgiving COVID spike.

Housing will indeed remain a key topic in Albany next year, legislators say.

State PBA again urging Hochul to sign 20-year retirement bill.

New York’s millionaire class is growing. Other people are leaving.

Rowley drops out of State Senate race, sees uphill battle for Republicans in 2024 races.

Report outlines potential challenge to New York’s electrical grid over next decade.

‘Billionaire businessman’ announces US Senate run against Gillibrand.

New York minimum wage set to rise soon.

Andrew Cuomo would ‘trounce’ Eric Adams in Dem primary for mayor, polls show.

With labor department focus on tech, unemployed New Yorkers can’t reach human agents.

Comptroller revokes mayor’s emergency spending power on migrants.

Film editor Brad Schwartz to challenge state Sen. Jack Martins on Long Island.

Hochul drags her feet on contract transparency bill, critics say.

‘What’s next’ for cannabis licensees topic of virtual town hall.

Out-migration in New York quadrupled in 2020, report finds.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul directs state agencies to fast-track production approvals following SAG-AFTRA ratification vote.

Lawmakers await public hearing to shape 224 health care priorities.

Rep. Marc Molinaro discusses GOP presidential race, migrant influx.

Upstate NY pol threatens to back New Jersey lawsuit against congestion pricing.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on local government procurement on December 14 at 10:30 a.m.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on December 11 and 12.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on December 14.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the status of the health care workforce in New York State on December 19.

The Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government will hold its next meeting on January 24.