New York State Legislature

The proposed bill would ensure students learn about farming three times during their educational career.

State lawmakers voted to move some local elections to even-numbered years in New York state, instead of odd-numbered years. The idea is to get more people to vote in local elections.

Proponents of a bill that would protect remains in unmarked graves are hoping for another chance to get it signed into law, after Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the proposal late last year.

The 2023 New York state legislative session began Wednesday with legislative leaders saying they want to focus on solving the housing affordability crisis, improving public safety, and working together in a bipartisan manner.

There are differences over Gov. Kathy Hochul's choice for chief judge and whether a new Assembly member will be allowed to take his seat.

Pay raises for lawmakers and a new chief judge are issues dominating New York state government as the year draws to a close.

Democrats who lead the New York State Senate and Assembly voted to raise their pay by $32,000 a year to an annual base salary of $142,000.

Lawmakers can't raise their own pay, but they can vote to increase salaries for those holding the next term in office, which begins in January. The clock is ticking on whether they will have time to hold a session before the holidays begin.

Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill prohibiting sales of gasoline-run vehicles as early as 2035, transforming New York's future both environmentally and economically.

While New York has worked to expand access to voting and the fair handling of elections in recent years, those changes have put new pressure on boards of elections across the state that weren't set up to handle that shift, state elections officials said Tuesday.