PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021

With legislative session having come to a close late last week, this was a relatively quiet week in Albany as members shifted their focus to local primary races (early voting began June 12 and goes through June 20, primary elections are June 22). Some of the bills that passed both the Senate and the Assembly are being delivered to the Governor for his signature or veto, including one that would cover the costs of the impeachment investigation being conducted by the Assembly (S.7237/A.8037, Chapter 152). This is a process that will continue through the end of the year. Read More Here

Cannabis Practice Group Social Equity Newsletter

New York Senator Files Bill To Extend Marijuana Equity Benefits To Transgender And Non-Binary People Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D) introduced the legislation in an attempt to resolve an “unintendedconsequence” of the adult-use law, which would currently “force certain individuals from choosing between their gender identity and receiving priority for a license,” the bill’s justification section…

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2021

With legislative session having come to a close late last week, this was a relatively quiet week in Albany as members shifted their focus to local primary races (early voting began June 12 and goes through June 20, primary elections are June 22). Some of the bills that passed both the Senate and the Assembly are being delivered to the Governor for his signature or veto, including one that would cover the costs of the impeachment investigation being conducted by the Assembly (S.7237/A.8037, Chapter 152). This is a process that will continue through the end of the year. Read More Here

PARK STRATEGIES ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CANNABIS GROUP

With legislative session having come to a close late last week, this was a relatively quiet week in Albany as members shifted their focus to local primary races (early voting began June 12 and goes through June 20, primary elections are June 22). Some of the bills that passed both the Senate and the Assembly are being delivered to the Governor for his signature or veto, including one that would cover the costs of the impeachment investigation being conducted by the Assembly (S.7237/A.8037, Chapter 152). This is a process that will continue through the end of the year. Read More Here

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER JUNE 18TH

With legislative session having come to a close late last week, this was a relatively quiet week in Albany as members shifted their focus to local primary races (early voting began June 12 and goes through June 20, primary elections are June 22). Some of the bills that passed both the Senate and the Assembly are being delivered to the Governor for his signature or veto, including one that would cover the costs of the impeachment investigation being conducted by the Assembly (S.7237/A.8037, Chapter 152). This is a process that will continue through the end of the year. Read More Here

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER JUNE 11TH

The Legislative Session ended quietly with the Senate gaveling out Thursday evening and the Assembly concluding business early Friday morning.

The leaders of both houses left open the possibility of returning to Albany to wrap up a couple of items that eluded consensus this week, including the restructuring of MTA leadership proposed by the Governor and subsequent appointments. While there was little drama during the final week, hundreds of bills were moved by each house and more than 100 gubernatorial nominations were confirmed by the Senate.

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER JUNE 4TH

Next week marks the final scheduled four days of the legislative session. Government relations teams will be scouring the active lists, and providing legislators with memoranda and outreach to encourage movement of priorities or holds on bills that negatively impact their clients. The session at this point has almost an anything goes atmosphere where bills that rarely see the light of day may suddenly show up on the floor for a vote and others that seemed to be obvious candidates for passage may remain in committee.

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER MAY 28TH

As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend with remembrance and cook outs, the unofficial and traditional start of summer with the school year winding down and college graduations concluding, we also move into the final two weeks of the scheduled legislative session. As is typical for the end of session, nominations are now being sent to the legislature for confirmation for various vacancies on boards and other governmental entities, committees are closing down in at least one house, and active lists are heavy with local priorities. The session is scheduled to end on June 10.

PARK STRATEGIES NEWSLETTER MAY 21ST

With three more weeks to the scheduled conclusion of the 2021 legislative session, it is usually a frenetic time in a state capitol packed with advocates, lobbyists, legislators, and staff. This year of course all are relegated to virtual meetings, working the phones, and sending out paper as the capitol remains closed to visitors. Next session may be different as the statewide COVID positivity rate continues to trend strongly downward with the 7-day average positivity rate dropping this week to its lowest since last September. As of May 20, 54 percent of all adult New Yorkers had been fully vaccinated (tracker here). This week in Albany also saw the issuance of subpoenas in an investigation of the Governor, an unveiling of the amount the Governor garnered is his pandemic book deal, and the release of final regulations related to the processing and retail sale of cannabinoid hemp in New York State. And if you’re a baseball fan, Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber tossed a no-hitter Wednesday night, the team’s first since 1999.