ALBANY, NY — New York City minimum wage workers will salary increased for the first time in five years. Out-of-state students at city and state universities will face tuition increase. And smokers will have to pay an extra dollar in taxes each package.
New York State Legislators approved state budget $229 billion on Tuesday night will touch on the daily life of New Yorkers, upon completion protracted negotiations with Governor Kathy Hochul delayed passage by more than a month.
This being Albany, of course, the closed-door talks focused on the state’s finances far less than the controversial policy changes that were incorporated into the final budget law.
The Democrats, who control the powerful trio at the Capitol, have changed State bail lawspassed new fines for unlicensed marijuana stores and banned the use of gas stoves and fireplaces in new buildings, prompting New York to first state to pass such a measure.
Here are the things to know.
Judges will have more power
For the third time since 2019, New York has amended its bail laws to make it easier for judges to detain people charged while they await trial.
This year’s change removed language that required judges to set the “least restrictive” conditions needed to ensure defendants do not evade prosecution, urging them instead to choose what they believe is “necessary to reasonably secure” the defendants’ return to court, as they have done in the past. in 2019 change the guarantee law.
And while the law maintains the 2019 bail ban for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, it will invite judges to set harsher release conditions for all. both crimes — bail is higher for offenses where bail can be placed and more restrictive conditions, like surveillance, where it can’t.
It remains unclear what impact these amendments will have in practice: Judges are still limited by the language that defines bail as a tool to ensure that defendants return to court. Judges must also consider the defendant’s ability to pay.
But some opponents believe that judges looking for reasons to keep people in prison may see these changes and the governor’s gesture around them as reasons to do so.
Minimum wage will increase
The state minimum wage is steadily increasing by a few dollars over the course of a few years. It will then be tied to inflation, mimicking the approach in a growing number of states.
The minimum wage in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, currently $15 an hour, will increase to $16 in 2024 and increase by 50 cents in each subsequent year until it reaches $17. la in 2026. In the rest of the state, the minimum wage will reach $16 in 2026, up from the current minimum of $14.20.
Starting in 2027, wages will increase according to the federal government’s Consumer Price Index. There are some exceptions: Wages won’t increase if the state loses jobs or faces low unemployment numbers.
The increased amounts have upset labor unions and progressive Democrats seeking to raise the minimum wage above $20, arguing that inflation has taken a toll on New York’s poor and working class. increasingly difficult to maintain life.
Minority republics oppose raising the minimum wage, as do most policy items included in the budget.
Illegal weed shops will face crackdown
The state will have new tools to tackle the proliferation of unlicensed marijuana stores, a conundrum that officials are facing as the legal market for marijuana fades. formed.
State tax authorities will now have the power to inspect any business, including vehicles, that are selling marijuana, granting them the authority regulators say they need to crack down on effectively. illegal shops.
Fines for retailers in possession of untaxed cannabis start at $7,500, with additional fines of up to $100,000 depending on how much cannabis is sold. Retailers could also be fined two to three times the amount of tax they should have collected. Homeowners who allow unlicensed stores on their premises can be fined $10,000 a day.
Unlicensed smoking shops, including those gifted practice or form a membership club, could also face civil tax fraud charges.
The state passes a ban on gas and relies on renewable energy
Democrats have agreed on two powerful proposals to end the state’s dependence on fossil fuels and aggressively address climate change.
The first will ban the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooking in new construction. The law, the first statewide ban in the country, will go into effect for buildings under seven stories starting in 2026; larger buildings will have to comply by 2029. It won’t affect gas stoves in existing homes and includes exceptions for manufacturing, emergency generators, and hospitals, plus other cases.
The other allows the New York Electricity Authority to build, own and operate renewable energy facilities to help New York meet its goal to reduce emissions by 85% by 2050. Progressive, especially the democratic socialistsHave measure championwhich they say will control consumer costs and help ensure favorable working conditions.
The measure would allow the Electricity Authority to work with private developers, as long as the state owns the majority of the project. It would also require New York City to close any so-called peak plants that are still operating by 2030, if possible.
The industry vehemently opposes both proposals, saying they will increase costs for consumers and put a strain on the power grid.
MTA will get more money and five free bus routes
Leaders in Albany agree to sponsor to help prevent a currency crisis for New York City subways and buses.
In the face of an impending $3 billion budget deficit for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, lawmakers have called for a one-time payment from Albany of $300 million and $165 million annually from City. New York City. It also includes money from a payroll tax increase on large New York City-based businesses, expected to bring in $1.1 billion, and from tax revenue from casinos that will open. in the near future.
This deal will help prevent one proposed fare hike, despite other hikes on the horizon.
Riders will likely welcome the inclusion of a new pilot program that will offer five free bus routes, one for each county. Routes will be selected based on a range of factors including passenger volume and whether the area serves a commercial hub.
And in an effort to make the service more efficient, buses will be equipped with cameras with the possibility of issuing tickets for traffic violations.
New charter school will open
Fourteen charter schools will be allowed to open in New York City and eight others in the state, partially fulfilling one of Hochul’s core priorities.
Decided to revive so-called zombie licenseawarded to schools that later closed, rekindled a long-standing debate in Albany around charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run.
The agreement that ultimately fell short of Ms. Hochul’s wishes was to lift restrictions to allow the opening of more than 100 new charter schools, a proposal already in place. angered many Democrats and teacher unions endorsed the governor.
What did not work?
This year’s budget is equally notable for the policy aspirations that have been left off the table.
The governor has railed against Democrats seeking to raise income taxes on millionaires. And the legislators disagreed with Ms. Hochul’s proposal on ban the sale of menthol cigarettes.
But the biggest victim is Governor’s ambitious housing plan, sought to build 800,000 homes over the next decade through new construction missions. Her plan unravels later opposition from many local lawmakers and officials in the suburbs.
On Tuesday, Hochul said she would continue to pursue the plan, although she suggested those efforts may need to wait until next year’s budget.
The only major housing policy development is a $391 million rental assistance grant that could help residents in public and other subsidized housing types.
Ashley Southall And Mihir Zaveri contribution report.
