Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

December 27, 2024

What’s Inside

  • Governor Signs Controversial Legislation Creating New Climate Superfund
  • Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Personal Data of Consumers
  • Governor Announces Ombuds Program
  • Governor Awards Grants to Support Homeownership
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Governor Signs Controversial Legislation Creating New Climate Superfund

The Governor signed a controversial piece of legislation to create a “Climate Superfund” designed to shift the cost of climate adaption from taxpayers to fossil fuel companies.  The bill intends to assess a $3 billion per year penalty for the next 25 years against “responsible parties” defined as entities engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil and is determined to be responsible for more than one billion tons of covered greenhouse gas emissions during the period beginning January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2018.

The bill is expected to be litigated by implicated fossil fuel companies who complain that the bill unjustly punishes them for providing a service that is not now – nor has it ever been – illegal, and that complied with The Clean Air Act and all other federal regulations.

The bill was signed by the Governor on the condition that an amendment be passed early next year to address implementation and operational concerns, including giving the DEC additional time and authority to create the program, as well as additional measures to ensure sufficient public involvement and transparency in the planning process for projects using the money collected by the assessment.

The Governor said:

With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and environmental consequences due to polluters that have historically harmed our environment. Establishing the Climate Superfund is the latest example of my administration taking action to hold polluters responsible for the damage done to our environment and requiring major investments in infrastructure and other projects critical to protecting our communities and economy.

Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Personal Data of Consumers

This week, Governor Hochul signed a package of legislation designed to strengthen protections for the personal data of consumers.

Legislation included in the package is as follows:

  • S895B/A6789B – Requires social media companies to post terms of service for each social media platform owned or operated by the company in a manner reasonably designed to inform all users of the social media platform of the existence and contents of the terms of service; and also requires social media companies to submit to the attorney general certain terms of service reports; and provides remedies for violations.
  • S2376B/A4737B – Strengthens protections of medical and insurance information from identity theft.
  • S5615/A2833 – Requires better security features in devices procured by the government by directing state agencies to require procurement of personal computing goods, services and solutions meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework.
  • S2659B/A8872A – Provides that a business must provide notification of a data breach within 30 days of such breach; includes the department of financial services to the list of entities that must be notified of a data breach that affects any New York resident.
  • S5703B/A1035B – Prohibits the use of social media websites for debt collection.
  • S1759B/A1057C – Relates to how online dating services handle fraudulent members; and requires certain disclosures and regulations.

More information can be found here.

Governor Announces Ombuds Program

Governor Hochul has announced that the new Ombuds for the developmental disabilities’ service system, headed by Community Service Society of New York, is now open and ready to accept New Yorkers’ calls in need of assistance navigating services, resolving complaints, providing education and making the right connections.

The new Ombuds program will operate independently from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The program has been developed to assist those with developmental disabilities and their families in resolving and navigating the OPWDD service delivery system. This includes service access and quality, better understanding their rights, and support throughout the process of finding the best avenue for what suits their needs.

For more information, visit https://www.cssny.org/programs/entry/iddo.

Governor Awards Grants to Support Homeownership

Governor Hochul has announced that 1,060 households will benefit from $51 million in grants to support affordable homeownership. The awards will help low- and moderate-income families make repairs, accessibility modifications or safety upgrades to their homes, replace manufactured homes, and provide down payment assistance for first-time buyers.

The grants — administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Office of Community Renewal — were awarded to nonprofit organizations and localities to help preserve affordable housing, support veterans and older New Yorkers, increase access to homeownership, and strengthen local economies.

A summary of awards by region is below:

Region Award Amount Housing Units Assisted
Capital Region $9,205,500 217
Central New York $6,145,000 104
Finger Lakes $2,338,444 64
Long Island $2,300,000 64
Mid-Hudson $5,267,000 127
Mohawk Valley $6,703,777 70
New York City $600,000 44
North Country $6,343,600 86
Southern Tier $7,597,480 144
Western New York $4,560,000 140
Total $51,060,801 1060

Governor Hochul said:

This investment will make the dream of homeownership attainable and manageable for more than 1,000 households, allowing families and individuals across New York to live safely and affordably in homes of their own. My administration is committed to increasing affordability for families and putting every tool at our disposal to work to address our housing crisis.

 

In The News

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s 2024 Staten Island Power 100 here.

New laws coming to New York in 2025.

RochesterFirst.com: New laws in New York for 2025.

New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change under new law.

Lawyer discusses ‘Grieving Families Act’, vetoed by Gov. Hochul for third time.

Push for legacy admissions ban at New York universities expected in new year.

MTA needs to take additional money-saving measures, DiNapoli audit finds in wake of capital plan veto.

Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins’ Angel Project Delivers Holiday Joy to Westchester.

Here’s what’s on the agenda for the 2025 state legislative session.

Environmentalists Outraged Over Hochul’s Horseshoe Crab Bill Veto.

Hochul Vetoes Montaukett Recognition Bill Again.

New York’s Jails, Police, and Parole Boards: 2024 in Review.

Do stores have to accept returns in New York? Here are the rules.

New York state faces increase in chronic absenteeism rates.

Richard Parsons, former Time Warner CEO, dies at age 76.

Westchester County Unveils New Logo.

Coming Up

The Legislature will Gavel into Session on January 8.

The NYS Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on January 13 and 14.

Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address will be held on January 14, at 1p.m.

The PSC will hold its next meeting on January 23.