Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

January 5, 2023

What’s Inside

  • 2024 Legislative Session Kickoff
  • 2024 State of the State
  • State Assemblymember Latoya Joyner Resigns
  • Governor Announces State Supreme Court Appointment
  • Governor Issues Memo on 2023 Accomplishments
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

2024 Legislative Session Kickoff

The 2024 legislative session kicked off on Wednesday with both the Assembly and Senate convening for roughly an hour each. Both legislative leaders provided opening remarks before their members. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s opening remarks can be found here and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ opening remarks can be found here.

Subsequently, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins joined Capital Tonight with Susan Arbetter on Wednesday night to discuss her conference’s priorities during this year’s legislative session, specifically housing. The full interview can be watched here. Assembly Speaker Heastie also spoke with Capital Tonight in an interview on Tuesday, which can be watched 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.   

The Legislature will reconvene on Monday and Tuesday of next week. 

2024 State of the State

As a preview to her State of the State Address next week, Governor Kathy Hochul this week held multiple press conferences announcing a variety of proposals that will be a part of her priorities this legislative session.

The proposals announced this week include the following:

Consumer Protection and Affordability

Improvement of Reading Proficiency

The Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis

Statewide investment in pools and more swimming

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 was 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.

State Assemblymember Latoya Joyner Resigns

Yesterday, Assemblymember Latoya Joyner issued a statement to announce that she will be resigning from office, effective January 8th at midnight. The Assemblymember noted that while she is leaving public service, she is pursuing a new opportunity that will allow her to continue serving her community and state in “fresh ways.” In the Assembly, she serves as Chair of the Labor Committee.

Governor Announces State Supreme Court Appointments

Governor Hochul has announced the appointment of the Honorable Lynn Wessel Keane to a vacancy on the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

The Honorable Lynn Wessel Keane has been a sitting Justice for the Erie County Supreme Court in the Eighth Judicial District of New York since being elected in 2017. Prior to Erie County Supreme Court, Wessel Keane was elected Town Justice for the Orchard Park Town Court in 2012. She earned a B.A. from Boston College where she graduated magna cum laude and completed a J.D. from SUNY Buffalo Law School graduating cum laude.

Governor Issues Memo on 2023 Accomplishments

Governor Hochul has issued a memo laying out her efforts she made to build a safer, more livable New York in 2023.

The memo touched on several topics that the governor prioritized during the year of 2023 which include the following:

  • Creating a safer, fairer New York;
  • Addressing the mental health crisis;
  • Addressing the influx of migrants and asylum seekers;
  • Making New York more affordable and livable;
  • Strengthening and expanding reproductive health care;
  • Boosting fast-growing industries to create 21st century jobs;
  • Improving public transit and reconnecting communities;
  • Combating climate change and preparing for future disasters;
  • Prioritizing high-quality education for the next generation;
  • Building a stronger, fairer healthcare system;
  • Building New York’s legal cannabis industry; and
  • A new era for New York’s highest court.

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

In The News

City & State NY’s This Week’s Biggest Winners and Losers here.

Poll: Most New Yorkers favor increased taxes on wealthy.

Pols prepare for SUNY budget fight after Hochul casts doubt on sustained funding.

New York lawmakers eye ideas to aid migrants amid federal inaction.

Lawmakers, NYPIRG react to Hochul’s plan to push enhanced consumer protections in State of the State.

‘Good Cause’ debate heats up as Legislature awaits court review.

Fallout from Hochul’s vetoes in 2023 linger into the new year.

Assemblyman D. Billy Jones discusses expectations for legislative session.

5 things to watch as New York’s legislative session begins.

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris discusses state legislative session.

Early offshore wind project cancels New York project.

It’s 2024. Here are the new laws that New Yorkers should know about.

Union leader seeks to challenge John Lemondes in election for NY Assembly.

Will New York lawmakers use, or rein in, AI this session?

When will New York solve its housing crisis? Probably not this year.

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on January 8 and 9.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on January 18.

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

*RESCHEDULED* The Assembly will hold a public hearing to hear from the New York State Workers Compensation Board, experts in workers compensation, workers compensation lawyers, labor partners, and injured workers on the current state of workers compensation and to bring light to areas of improvement on February 5.