As the Albany legislative session concluded, some bills were passed into law, while many others did not, in a budget that exceeds $230 billion.
One not passed and left in legislative limbo could blow a big hole in Suffolk County's budget.
Suffolk County's Red Light Camera legislation, set to expire on December 1st, 2024, has not been extended, leaving a multi-million dollar hole in the Suffolk County budget.
In New York, localities must obtain the state's permission to install red light cameras under the "Home Rule law."
This year, Suffolk County needed to renew its permissions. New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-1) sponsored the bill on his side of the legislative house, but no senate sponsor could be found.
The red light cameras, first approved in 2010, have become a significant revenue source for Suffolk County, generating $39 million in 2022.
The advocacy group “Save Long Island” publicly praised what looks like the end of red light cameras in Suffolk County as of the first of the year, January 1st, 2025. Their group flooded the phones of State Senators, voicing strong opposition to red light cameras remaining in place.
“Suffolk’s Red Light Camera program has been a massive burden for all Long Islanders who live and work in the county,” said Angelo Veltri, President of Save Long Island. They make our streets less safe, infringe on privacy rights, and afford little-to-no due process when fighting them. This outcome solidifies that the suburbs of Long Island will fight tooth and nail against the tyrannical policies emanating out of New York City, which make North Korea's governance seem like a bastion of liberty in comparison,” said Ian Escalante, Director of Grassroots at Save Long Island.
Many drivers dislike the red light cameras, making some lawmakers hesitant to support the measure.
The county's budget currently depends on the revenue from the red light cameras. If the measure is not renewed before December 1st, there will be a multi-million dollar deficit to address. The fines for red light tickets have been reduced from $155 to $80, and fewer tickets are expected to be issued. The projected revenue for 2024 is $13.3 million, which is lower than the originally requested $14.2 million.
There is one very slim chance for red light camera legislation to be passed on behalf Suffolk County.
This would involve the entire State Legislature reconvening by December 31st, 2024 and passing red light camera legislation specifically for Suffolk County.
Supporters of red light cameras were hoping it would have been legislatively lumped in with one massive bill commonly called "The Big Ugly."
This one bill is usually passed at the end of the session. It often contains a multitude of controversial bills that could not be passed individually and lumped into one massive bill. That was one option that never materialized.
New York City’s Congestion Pricing plan was postponed indefinitely by Governor Hochul. The plan aimed to address traffic congestion and raise nearly $15 billion for the MTA. Despite efforts by lawmakers in the final days of the session to bridge the unexpected budget gap, no solution was found.
Governor Hochul proposed increasing the payroll tax on New York City businesses, but this idea was rejected. Another proposal by Governor Hochul to allow the MTA to obtain funds from the bond market was also unsuccessful.
Democrats in Washington D.C. are believed to have advocated for the postponement until after the November elections to help them maintain their House seats and possibly even gain seats. An unpopular $15 tax to drive in Manhattan was not going to help that effort.
The New York HEAT Act did not pass.
The Act aimed to speed up the transition to electric heating and other appliances instead of those powered by natural gas. However, it did not make it through the state budget, as lawmakers could not reach an agreement during the final hours of the session. This failure, along with the previous failure of the Congestion Pricing legislation, left environmentalists unhappy with the governor.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act passed. It was a major part of Hochul’s agenda and requires social media companies to verify ages and obtain parental consent before giving kids access to potentially addictive and harmful content. Touted as Hochul’s biggest accomplishment this session, Big Tech is likely to challenge it in court immediately.
The Medical Aid In Dying Act did not receive a vote again. This act would permit terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to request and self-administer a fatal dose of medication. Before obtaining the medication, doctors would need to sign off and conduct a mental health evaluation. Assemblywoman Andrea Stewart Cousins held up the legislation, stating that more time was needed to garner support.
The Better Bottle Bill remains stuck in committee. The bill would increase the bottle deposit from five cents to ten cents and make more beverage containers eligible for deposits.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar said, “The 2024 Legislative Session will go down as the most expensive Albany session in history. It’s remarkable that a state can spend so much money while accomplishing so little.”
“Taxpayers got no relief from the insane cost of living in this state; nothing was done to restore sanity to our criminal justice system; illegal migrants were further incentivized to come here by New York’s progressive leadership,” said Kassar. “The good news is that voters get to do something about it on Tuesday, November 5th.”
Many believe a special session will be called this summer to address unfinished business and the holes in revenue caused by dropping congestion pricing.