State lawmakers were up against the clock Thursday in Albany as the legislative session comes to a close this week. In the final scheduled session day, the Democrat-led legislature passed a first-in-the-nation one-year moratorium on new data-center construction as part of an omnibus package intended to regulate the fast-evolving sector.
Capital Tonight broke down the day’s events and looked ahead to Friday, when the Assembly is expected to regroup for an additional session day.
It came as the more-than five-month debate over the state budget and several days spent focusing on the first passage of a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade redistricting gave way to an intense debate around regulating the tech industry with an emphasis on artificial intelligence.
The pause is intended to give time for the state to gather data and craft regulations for further development amid concerns over water and energy usage.
“We’re not saying you can’t build here, but we are saying we want to take a look at all of the aspects and all of the impacts, and that’s what we will do and we will continue to adjust as we move forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said of the data center moratorium.
The one-year pause has earned pushback from Republicans in the minority but also a range of business, tech and construction groups who oppose a moratorium, arguing it sidelines New York economically and disadvantages upstate specifically.
“No one in this chamber wants reckless growth, and the questions around energy, water and all of the other concerns are real questions, but the moratorium is not an answer. It’s a sign hung on the front door of New York that says ‘we’re out to lunch’ for a year. It pauses every region of New York State that is working to attract growth,” said North Country Republican Assemblymember Scott Gray.
It will have to be signed by Governor Kathy Hochul to become law.
It came as lawmakers continued to grapple with how to move forward with a bill package to regulate surveillance pricing, which targets the use of artificial intelligence and algorithmic tools to customize prices to fit the consumer. The fate of the two-bill package backed by Attorney General Letitia James was up in the air Thursday evening amid concerns from business groups.