Get ready everyone! Next year’s Legislative Session starts January 8th, and grassroots groups are getting organized for next year’s session this month. Here’s a calendar: Need this information in another format? Here’s a page from the Assembly that you can easily add to your online calendar of choice, and the State Senate keeps theirs as
Multiple nonprofit groups have come out against a tiny change in the NYS budget that would require any group or individual spending $500 in expenses to become officially registered lobbyists. Read their official memo for full details.
A bunch of the package of laws that Let NY Vote lobbied for have passed, but funding for them hasn’t followed. Make sure that Cuomo hears loud and clear how much we want better voting laws and puts funding for early voting and other priorities in his budget. Write to Governor Cuomo Contact Governor Cuomo:
From Brklyner: Councilmember Brad Lander announced new legislation aimed at keeping dangerous drivers off the road—especially those who have racked up multiple violations within a year. … “We can’t bring Abigail, Joshua, and Sophia back to their families. But by confronting reckless driving to prevent future deaths, we will do all we possibly can to
The Child Victims Act (S.809) is an important piece of legislation that will help adults who were abused as children and would bring NYS into alignment with many other states. From the NY state senate site: “Under the new legislation, survivors of child sexual abuse will be permitted to bring a civil lawsuit against their
New York just passed a whole slew of gun control laws, including the Red Flag Law (S.2451), which establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). This legislation would permit family members and law enforcement officials to seek a gun violence restraining order against an individual perceived to pose a threat to themselves and others. Scribd: Senate Majority
The DREAM Act (S.1250) expands educational opportunities in New York for undocumented immigrants. Dreamers will now be eligible for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program, the Excelsior Scholarship (for free tuition at public colleges and universities in New York), and other financial aid awards for college. Students have to apply to attend college or university in
Fair Elections is a campaign for voting rights & comprehensive campaign finance reform as the first order of business in the 2019 New York Legislative Session. They have a great handout that lays out their ideas and how they can win.
A coalition of environmental groups are supporting the Climate and Community Protection Act, which will establish greenhouse gas limits for NYS, add green jobs to the NYS economy, move forward on certain environmental justice initiatives and switch NYS to 50% clean, renewable energy by 2030. NY Renews has a handout on this legislation and the Environmental Advocates
On January 14, the new majority Democratic caucus in the New York Senate made history by passing six momentous voting reforms that had been backlogged after being blocked by Republicans in the NYS Senate. These were: Early voting Consolidated federal and state primaries Pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds Portable voter registration Proposal for