To Mask or Not to Mask; Cannabis Webinar; 4 More Weeks

The final four weeks of the 2021 legislative session will kick off with a two-day session week next week and the volume and pace of bills moving through both houses continues to accelerate as members press to move priority measures through the process. This week saw the CDC relax their recommendations related to mask wearing by those fully vaccinated against COVID-19, more movement toward reopening the state, final Assembly passage of election related concurrent resolutions, and yes, daytime outdoor temperatures finally hit mid-May norms.

Pandemic News – The Governor released numbers Thursday indicating more than 8 million New Yorkers, 40.4 percent of the state’s population, have been fully vaccinated.  The announcement preceded a new CDC guidance relaxing mask wearing recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals (updated guidance here, announcement video here).  The Governor said he and his team will be reviewing the recommendations. See our “From the Governor” section for more pandemic related updates from the administration, including the planned reopening of pools and beaches.

• Behavioral Health Report – Anthem, Inc. published a report earlier this month related to the effects of the COVID pandemic on people’s mental health and well-being. A concurrent release by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield points to concerns related to a decrease in mental health diagnoses for children and older adults. More data related to the mental health effects of the pandemic has been published by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Concurrent Resolutions – The Assembly gave final approval to two bills related to changing the absentee ballot process and “same day” voter registration.  The bills, concurrent resolutions that would amend the state constitution, will have to gain voter approval to go into effect.  See our “Legislative News” section for more details and links to the bills.

Assembly Impeachment Investigation – Elected officials criticized the pace of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation (here and here). The investigation was launched in March in response to misconduct allegations made against Governor Cuomo.

Cannabis Webinar – Park Strategies LLC is sponsoring a business-oriented webinar on May 27^th on the new Cannabis Law legalizing adult use cannabis.  Topics will include compliance, taxes, licensing, how the industry will be regulated, municipal considerations, quality control, and security. Speakers will include Kaelan Castetter, Director of Policy Analysis at Castetter Cannabis Group; Kate Hruby, Policy Analyst at Castetter; Jason Klimek, Cannabis Attorney and member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Cannabis Law; and Joe Rossi, Managing Director at Park Strategies, LLC. More information here.