As the New York State Legislature concluded its annual session, attention has shifted from Albany back to our local communities. Yet many of the decisions made this session will have direct and lasting implications for Long Island residents, businesses, schools, local governments and nonprofit organizations for years to come.

 

A wide-ranging agenda

Each year, thousands of bills are introduced in the Senate and Assembly, addressing issues ranging from housing affordability and transportation to environmental protection, healthcare, public safety, education and economic development. While only a fraction ultimately become law, the legislative process serves as a meaningful indicator of the priorities and concerns facing New Yorkers across the state.

For Long Island, legislative activity carries particular significance because many of the region’s most pressing challenges require state-level solutions. Housing availability, infrastructure investment, coastal resiliency, workforce development, transportation funding and energy policy all depend heavily on decisions made in Albany. From investments in the Long Island Railroad to flood mitigation and storm preparedness initiatives, to policies designed to support local businesses, state legislation plays a central role in shaping our region’s economic future.

 

Emerging issues take center stage

This year’s session also highlighted the growing legislative focus on emerging technologies and their real-world consequences. Lawmakers approved legislation that would place a temporary moratorium on certain large-scale data center projects while the state studies their environmental and energy impacts. The measure reflects how rapidly evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence and the infrastructure that supports it, are becoming significant drivers of public policy at the state level.

Legislation requiring disclosure of AI-related reduction in hours or increase in hours or positions also passed the legislature. While still more bills were proposed but did not pass both houses, look for AI to remain front and center on policy next session.

 

What nonprofits need to know

Nonprofit organizations should pay particularly close attention to end-of-session developments. Across New York, nonprofits provide critical services spanning healthcare, education, food assistance, housing support, cultural programming and workforce development.

According to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, nonprofit organizations supported approximately 1.3 million jobs in New York in 2022, representing more than one in six private-sector jobs statewide. The sector also continues to face persistent challenges related to government contracting and payment delays, making legislative and budget outcomes especially consequential.

In fact, legislation passed both houses sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer [S.9761] and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin [A.10741] that attempts to streamline and clarify the Prompt Contracting Law to address concerns raised by the Executive when a similar bill was vetoed last year. Nonprofits should review this to determine whether it will apply to their operations if signed.

Additionally many Long Island nonprofits rely on state grants, contracts and favorable policy conditions to deliver services effectively. Funding for mental health services, workforce training, education programs and social services frequently flows through a combination of state budget negotiations and legislative action. Understanding what passed, and what did not, is essential planning information for any organization that depends on state support. Undoubtedly some of the 629 bills that passed both houses—but have not yet been delivered—may impact one nonprofit, but not another, depending on their particular area of operation.

 

The work doesn’t end when session is over

During the legislative session there is opportunity for Long Island stakeholders to advocate for regional priorities. Local governments, chambers of commerce, nonprofit leaders, labor organizations, environmental groups and business associations all play a meaningful role in shaping public policy. While not every proposal advances, consistent engagement throughout the process helps ensure that Long Island’s voice is heard in statewide deliberations.

Once the Legislature has adjourned, the process is far from over. Hundreds of bills are now waiting to be delivered to the governor, which allows organizations an importantly opportunity to still weigh in. Educating elected officials, including the governor, is a never-ending process and it is important for nonprofits to share their opinions, expertise, data and communicate the specific impacts a bill may have. The period between legislation being passed and gubernatorial action is often one of the most critical, and sometimes overlooked, opportunities for engagement.

 

Looking ahead

An active participant cannot wait for the dust to settle on the legislation which passed both houses. Preparations for the next legislative cycle will need to be well underway long before that occurs. For Long Islanders, the conclusion of the session may mark the end of Albany’s work, but it is the first step of analyzing Albany’s effects on communities, organizations, businesses and residents across the region.

The legislative process may unfold hundreds of miles away in the State Capitol, but its impact is felt every day on Long Island. Staying informed and, most importantly, engaged remains one of the most effective ways for residents, businesses, and organizations to help shape the future of our region.

 

Nicole Weingartner is “The Long Island Lobbyist” and a director in Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice.