Governmental Affairs News - News You Can Use!

At The Capital
Leaders still working toward an on-time budget- Legislative leaders and Gov. David Paterson returned to the Capitol Wednesday and said they planned to make the April 1 budget deadline. Paterson told reporters that he is confident a budget can be put together soon. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno announced that the Senate plans to work throughout the weekend to meet the budget deadline. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “We are on target to do a budget on time; that is our goal.” Joint legislative budget committees are expected to meet today to lay out a schedule for subcommittees over the coming days. The legislative leaders and Paterson announced that they have a “framework” of a deal that includes some increased fees and other unspecified funds, but they must hammer-out details. They are working within the framework of roughly $124 billion for the fiscal year that begins next Tuesday.

Action on Real Estate-Related Legislation

The following action on real estate related legislation occurred recently in Albany:

Increased Agriculture Disclosure Requirements (S.7061/A.10169) - NYSAR-opposed legislation to require purchasers of real property with 500 feet of the boundary of an agricultural district to be provided with disclosure of farming activities within such district was reported from the Senate Agriculture committee. NYSAR staff is speaking with lawmakers to express our opposition to the proposal introduced by Senator Winner (R-Elmira) and Assemblyman Koon (D-Perinton). The Legislation remains in the Assembly’s Agriculture committee. Click here to read the bill.

State News - NYRI
NYRI application denied for second timeThe New York State Public Service Commission has denied for the second time New York Regional Interconnect’s application for a nearly 200-mile power line from near Utica to the Hudson Valley. The Public Service Commission cited several deficiencies in the application including a study on how the line would impact the statewide electrical system, lack of information on substation facilities and the failure to mention the study of alternative routes. In addition, the Public Service Commission recommended that NYRI look more closely at the overall visual impacts of the power line. A spokesman for NYRI said the company was still looking over the letter from the PSC. For more information, visit the Public Service Commission site.

This update on government and politics in New York State is a weekly publication from NYSAR’s Government Affairs Department. REALTOR members and staff are urged to share this information as appropriate and reprint it in membership publications.