![Governor Kathy Hochul stands with a hand on her hip next to a New York state trooper on a cloudy day.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Hd56SpSwasl5301XR63-XofRpXWCG0t85lXN5eLs58Y/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9ob2NodWwtdHJvb3Blci1uaWFnYXJhLmpwZw.jpg)
This year, the governor’s budget contains an agenda to combat retail theft. It looks a lot like last year’s plan to curb gun violence.
![Governor Kathy Hochul holds two signed bills, superimposed over a background showing the state of New York.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/AW62lNK65i2AKvBaqk_9YOARglde0XPg9uIJK-HvQB8/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9zdGF0ZS1vZi1zdGF0ZS5qcGc.jpg)
The governor gave a preview of her budget priorities — and we looked out for 2024’s major fights. Follow along to see what we’re watching.
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One hundred and fifteen laws that almost were.
![Gray poster-style houses over a sepia landscape.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/gkxCOHuXd3x0x71H47k2IKmcnq_Dko9SvjBxsxOzTvc/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9pZGEtaG91c2luZ19pbGxvLmpwZw.jpg)
As the governor urges more housing, IDAs are looking to pitch in. Critics say it goes beyond their legal role.
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County and municipal economic development agencies play a key role in New York’s wind and solar buildout — but some say it’s not their job.
![Sign reads:
Grow your business here!
Town of Riverhead Empire Zone
631-208-0570
www.riverheadzone.com](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/BEsbAmquY-vTxuzfyui7VZMJNADeSYy7ZPI1y4oyl4Y/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9yaXZlcmhlYWQtdGF4LWZyZWUuanBn.jpg)
A growing local faction is demanding that the IDA be dissolved.
![A solar planel with wind turbines in its reflection, and hundred dollar bills fluttering in the air.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/ywxFm78U94ENw3QbdKnY79LRFkyH3S6mKOoaa4dmIb0/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9JbmZsYXRpb24tcmVuZXdhYmxlcy5qcGc.jpg)
A major wind and solar developer is defecting from industry ranks, arguing the state shouldn’t bail out struggling projects.
![Kathy Hochul stares into the camera while signing papers](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/mafCBTnEi8W4YL01iwvDQ6sv5CLttyWVhKC4X9DQnbI/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.4988:0.3698/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9ob2NodWwtYXN5bHVtLXBhcGVyLWF1ZzI0LmpwZw.jpg)
As a humanitarian crisis deepens, the state’s $25 million solution is off to a slow start. An in-depth look at the opaque program reveals a raft of logistical hurdles and strict eligibility requirements.
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Under Roberta Reardon, the agency has recovered less and less of workers’ stolen wages. Meanwhile, staff resign, and replacements lag.
![An upwards-pointing arrow made of a hundred-dollar bill, against a background of an energy bill.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/oRlyCJtp4gGFlBnQQFd8TuGEkzCzdqGO2zzi-BVHb6E/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9VbnRpdGxlZC1kZXNpZ24tMTEuanBn.jpg)
New York’s labyrinthine “rate case” process, explained.
![Governor Kathy Hochul speaks before a screen with a Shirley Chisolm quote, reading: "You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines... You make progress by implementing ideas."](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/ZN7MgZKbzhk8-rfZsKVKPZ4Xt95IC-j-u4NpGY5gXWc/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9ob2NodWwtY2hpc29sbS5qcGc.jpg)
While the governor awaits guidance from the federal government, thousands of undocumented New Yorkers can’t afford to go to the doctor.
![An empty Belmont Park Winners Circle on May 4, 2023.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/s28qc7pwYGexjkPx-33XoOcf2f39v1FgnomwZgvVoqg/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5044:0.1515/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9JTUdfMzE0OC5qcGc.jpg)
At Belmont Park’s opening day, local brass celebrated a windfall of state cash. Hardly any fans showed up.
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New York tied its minimum wage to inflation — but exceptions in Governor Hochul’s plan will likely cancel wage increases in many years.
![Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins before three tall stacks of paper.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/vAYBq9s1ncXprDt_IcSN-NakPdJFex5tx_13vkNvQuU/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9idWRnZXQtZmluYWwtMS5qcGc.jpg)
It’s finally here. Late Tuesday night, lawmakers voted on the last of New York’s 10 budget bills. We broke down what’s in them.
![A bail bonds sign](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/sjDetS59zWu67sv3sMk_46KZqyfWPDfHtr5vjoRFQ5w/w:600/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9CYWlsX0JvbmRzLmpwZWc.jpg)
Budget legislation released Monday night includes eight pages of bail law markups — significantly more than the governor announced last week. A vote is imminent.
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Kathy Hochul and the legislators are closing in on a final state budget. As they settle their differences, we’ll keep you up to date on the latest.
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“It’s done. It’s not happening,” an Assembly source told New York Focus. Lawmakers are poised to reject measures to boost housing supply and protect renters.
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Democratic Assembly leaders refused to entertain the governor’s primary tactic to achieve housing growth and affordability.
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New York law requires utilities to build out gas infrastructure at customers’ expense. The Senate wants to close the spigot.
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The confluence of rising commissary prices, stagnant wages, and a package ban are making basic items inaccessible.