Welcome to the Legislative Profiles, 2024

Bill would double bottle deposits to 10 cents, raise handling fees  (Albany Times-Union, May 7, 2024)
NY bottle recyclers rally for raises in Albany. Why they say they're in peril  (Democrat & Chronicle, May 7, 2024)
Recycling industry, bottle collectors, environmentalists call for updates to Bottle Bill  (LoHud.com, May 6, 2024)
Voting on college campuses could make a difference in November  (WAMC, May 6, 2024)
NYS Legislature to weigh social media harm, climate change as session nears end  (Newsday, May 4, 2024)
NY hospital safety ranking rises nationally. Check your local hospital's grade  (Democrat & Chronicle, May 3, 2024)
New York again aiming for packaging EPR  (Resource Recycling, May 3, 2024)
How does environmental policy become law? Register for May 15 panel discussion  (Albany Times-Union, May 1, 2024)
Another of New York's biggest environmental threats  (WAMC, 4/29/24)
Climate change measures dropped from NYS budget amid heavy lobbying  (Newsday, April 26, 2024)
Battles over natural gas, climate measures to continue at Capitol  (Albany Times-Union, April 25, 2025)
New York budget 2024-2025: What’s in it for the Adirondacks  (Adirondak Explorer, April 24, 2024)
New York can help make the world a greener place  (WAMC, April 22, 2024)
Hochul says she's happy with approved New York state budget  (Spectrum News, April 22, 2024)
Put more distance between lawmaking, campaign fundraising  (Albany Times-Union, April 21, 2024)
Four Bills Would Drastically Improve NY’s Freedom of Information Laws  (The Legislative Gazette, April 18)
A Cyberattack Could Make N.Y. State’s Late Budget Even Later  (The New York Times, April 17, 2024)
Starving NY lawmakers resort to eating corndogs amid late-budget pay freeze  (New York Post, April 17, 2024)
New York expected to join multistate system to combat voter fraud  (Newsday, April 16, 2024)
Tuition Assistance Program set to increase as budget deal nears  (Albany Times-Union, April 16, 2024)
News Archive
A statewide coalition representing hundreds of community, environmental, labor, and religious groups today applauded state Senate approval of the Climate Change Superfund Act, which requires Big Oil to cover New York's climate damages – not taxpayers. The groups urged swift action in the state Assembly. The majority of Assemblymembers are sponsors of the legislation.
News Release on NYPIRG's Recent Victory Expanding Financial Aid for Low-Income Patients
Environmental, community, and business groups representing 300 New York organizations today held a press conference to urge state lawmakers to include the "Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill" (S.237B/A6353A) as a "must do" priority for the end of session
NYPIRG Statement on Start of Congestion Pricing
NYPIRG reacted to elements of the final state budget, highlighting the "good," the "bad," and the "ugly."
Release: County & Local Elected Officials Join 180+ Organizations to Urge Governor Hochul & Assembly Speaker Heastie to End $265M of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the Final NYS Budget
Bill to Gut NYC’s Landmark Climate and Jobs Law Slammed as Real Estate Lobby Attack Begins. Proposed Linda Lee bill would eviscerate Local Law 97, which is creating thousands of local jobs, cutting utility bills, and reducing pollution.
Report and Release: Climate Change Superfund Environmental Justice. $1 Billion Potential Scenario of Annual Allocations by Region and County
Report from NYPIRG and NY Renews – On the Backs of New York State Households: The Extreme Costs of Climate Change Impacts Families in Every Region of the State
NYPIRG and Other Transparency Advocates Urge Legislature and Governor to Strengthen Freedom of Information Law for Sunshine Week
Release: Assembly One-House Budget Bill Shows House Rejected Inclusion of Popular “Make Polluters Pay” Climate Change Superfund Act. Organizations Ask: Why Are the Assembly and Governor Shielding Big Oil Climate Polluters Instead of Protecting NYS Taxpayers?
News Release: Youth, Faith & Environmental Groups Join with Legislators to Call for “Make Polluters Pay” Bill Requiring Big Oil to Fund Climate Crisis Costs to be Included in Senate and Assembly One-House Budgets Also: Check out NYPIRG's New Video Illustrating the Need to Make Corporate Polluters Pay
Video Release: Make Polluters Pay!
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG Releases “Small Claims, Small Changes: A Survey of Albany Small Claims Court 45 Years Later”
A NYPIRG report documenting a survey of litigants who participated in cases in the City of Albany Small Claims Court in 2021 shows the challenges facing consumers using the system.
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG Reacts to Governor Hochul's Budget Plan

Over 300 Business, Civic, Environmental, and Youth Groups Call on Governor Hochul to Modernize State Returnable Container Law (“Bottle Bill”)

Groups Urge Inclusion in the State Budget Due to Need for Enhanced Enforcement and Immediate Action to Increase Current Redeemed Beverage Container “Handling Fee”

NYPIRG Statement on the Passing of Sidney Wolfe, MD, Founder of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
Today, a coalition of elected officials, youth leaders, and community organizations led by NYPIRG called on Governor Hochul to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in her upcoming budget. The Climate Superfund assesses the largest oil companies for the state's mounting climate-related expenses and does so in a way that protects the public from increased costs.
RELEASE: Another Storm, More Costs to NY Taxpayers: Will Governor Hochul Make Big Oil Pay? A coalition of groups today called on Governor Hochul to make the oil companies pick up the tab for the costs of NY's climate damages after another deadly storm that caused widespread damage to New York State.
Reports & Features Archive