The Capitol Pressroom

June 6, 2025 - We get to know Willow Baer, the recently confirmed commissioner at the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. We discuss her unique stamp on the office, protecting vulnerable New Yorkers from abuse and neglect, boosting the direct care workforce, responding to federal Medicaid cuts, and promoting access to dental services.

June 5, 2025 - For years, nonprofits have experienced headaches contracting with the state, including dealing with delays in executing and funding contracts. Empire Justice Center President & CEO Kristin Brown hopes legislation shifting the payment structure can resolve some of the delays without costing the state.

June 5, 2025 - State Sen. Rachel May, a Syracuse Democrat, reflects on a recent hearing examining the state's response to harmful algal blooms and considers what additional steps should be taken to protect New York's freshwater.

June 5, 2025 - The state's superfund program, which helps clean up hazardous materials around New York, was updated in the state budget. We explore what the changes mean with attorney Jeff Stravino, a partner with Hodgson Russ.

June 5, 2025 - State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for eliminating about $3 billion in state tax breaks, which he argues aren't working in New York's best interest.

June 4, 2025 - We explore the ongoing legal skirmishes between the Trump administration and New York with Rebecca C. Lewis, senior state politics reporter at City & State New York.

June 4, 2025 - The Survivor Justice Coalition is pushing bills to ensure support survivors of sexual violence, including making it easier to bring a civil action against the state under the Child Victims Act and Adult Survivors Act. We discuss the package with Emily Miles, executive director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault.

June 4, 2025 - Politico New York reporter Marie French explains why two gas pipeline proposals, once left for dead, have new life after the Trump administration held a green energy priority of Gov. Kathy Hochul's hostage this spring.

June 4, 2025 - New York is in the process of setting up a system of automatic voter enrollment, but advocates are already identifying ways to make the effort more expansive. We discuss an enhanced program with Wennie Chin, senior director of community and civic engagement for the New York Immigration Coalition.

June 3, 2025 - New York Immigration Coalition President & CEO Murad Awawdeh talks about executive action he wants Gov. Kathy Hochul to take in response to federal immigration policies.

June 3, 2025 - Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, makes the case for updating New York's harassment and stalking laws to account for online interactions.

June 3, 2025 - State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, reflects on a recent hearing she led on the state prison system and discusses her agenda for reforming the state's correctional facilities.

June 2, 2025 - State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso, president of the State Association of Justices of the Supreme Court, shares his opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment lifting the limit on state supreme court judges and makes the case for an alternative approach to boosting the number of positions.

June 2, 2025 - Kevin Wolfe, deputy director of advocacy at the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, makes the case for a robust Homeowner Protection Program in New York and advocates for other consumer housing measures.

June 2, 2025 - Newsday reporters Arielle Martinez and David Olson explain the shortcomings of the state's disciplinary process for doctors. They discuss what the process could look like and how it plays out in practice, with the difference being a big concern for the public.

May 30, 2025 - Ruthanne Visnauskas, commissioner for New York State Homes and Community Renewal, talks about housing policies in the state budget, including a new voucher program, funds for infrastructure improvements in growing communities, and support for starter homes.

May 30, 2025 - Prisoners' Legal Services of New York Executive Director Karen Murtagh discusses potential changes to the grievance process in prisons and talks about what it takes for successful reentry following prison.

May 30, 2025 - Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat, discusses the controversial transition of a popular home care program and identifies changes he wants to see to the administration of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.

May 29, 2025 - Sen. Jabari Brisport, a Brooklyn Democrat, and Alex Beacham from Food & Water Watch, discuss a bill seeking to curb the promotion of large scale "factory" farms.

May 29, 2025 - Senate Internet and Technology Committee Chair Kristen Gonzalez, a Queens Democrat, discusses what actions the legislature might take on artificial intelligence during the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.

May 29, 2025 - The state budget commits $200 million to thermal energy networks so we explore what these green projects are with Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

May 29, 2025 - We consider how the state budget may impact supportive housing and discuss a report examining the demographics of supportive housing users with Pascale Leone, executive director of Supportive Housing Network of New York, and Rachel Barth, the group's senior data analyst.

May 28, 2025 - A multi-billion dollar subsidy for upstate nuclear power facilities is set to expire in a few years, but a coalition of labor unions, the Business Council of New York and some environmentalists wants taxpayers to keep supporting the industry. We discuss the case for more subsidies with Gregory Lancette, president of the Central & Northern New York Building Trades.

May 28, 2025 - Mack Hueber, president of the Empire Cannabis Manufacturer's Alliance, makes the case for a state revolving loan fund to support cannabis businesses, opposes additional fees on marijuana companies to implement a product tracking system, and urges state regulators to allow more indoor growing of recreational marijuana

May 28, 2025 - Road salt helps keep traffic moving safely in the winter, but the status quo is harmful to the environment, so there is a push to update how crews deal with snow and icy conditions. We talk about steps that combine environmental health and traffic safety with Shannon Roback, science director for Riverkeeper.

May 28, 2025 - In response to efforts to police what books students can access, Assemblymember Tony Simone, a Manhattan Democrat, is pushing a bill empowering school librarians to keep age appropriate materials on the shelves.

May 27, 2025 - A DNA test can reveal important health information, but legislation in Albany would restrict insurers from using that genetic data to inform their coverage costs. We consider this restriction with Danielle Spadafora, managing director of advocacy for The ALS Association, and Ashley Crawley, whose father died from ALS in 2024.

May 27, 2025 - The constitutionality of a 2023 state law shifting the dates of municipal elections, traditionally held on odd years, to even years will be reviewed by the state's top court. We examine the arguments on both sides of this debate with Richard Rifkin, legal director for the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

May 27, 2025 - Oded Oren, founder and executive director of Scrutinize, discusses his organization's new online database with information about more than 1,000 judges from across the state.

May 27, 2025 - We go over the voting trends in recent school board races and school district budget referendums with David Albert, chief communications and marketing officer for the New York State School Boards Association.

May 26, 2025 - The state budget included some money to begin overhauling the emergency response to New Yorkers suffering a behavioral crisis and it expanded the state's involuntary commitment powers. We touch on both proposals with Ruth Lowenkron, director of the Disability Justice Program at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

May 26, 2025 - We discuss legislation that would cap the cost of outpatient services provided by hospitals with Misha Sharp, assistant director of policy for the 32BJ Health Fund.

May 26, 2025 - National Grid is seeking approval by state regulators on a three-year rate increase for their residential customers in upstate New York. We explore what's driving their plan and how the proposal was reached with Phil Decicco, the company's general counsel for business in the Empire State. 

May 23, 2025 - The state budget includes a controversial codification of a new standard for involuntary commitments in New York, which was championed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and opposed by civil rights advocates. The New York Public News Network's J.T. Stone explores what this new language could mean, as he talks with state mental health officials, advocates and elected officials.

May 23, 2025 - We explore how the state budget affects New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their caregivers with Mike Alvaro, president and CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State. He also outlines his agenda for the remainder of the session.

May 222, 2025 - We explore how the state budget impacts health care facilities, like hospitals and nursing homes, with Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State. We also chat about the bills she wants to push and kill during the remainder of the legislative session.

May 23, 2025 - We explore how the state budget may transform access to mental health services in New York with Dr. Ann Sullivan, commissioner for the State Office of Mental Health. We also consider the possibility of federal cuts to Medicaid.

May 22, 2025 - We explore the topline state budget numbers, including what's driving New York's spending to record heights, with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.

May 22, 2025 - Assemblywoman Sarah Clark, a Rochester-area Democrat, makes the case for legislation requiring law enforcement use an enhanced risk-assessment tool when responding to domestic incidents to determine if things might escalate.

May 22, 2025 - NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams discusses her vision, advocacy work in the state budget, and agenda for the remainder of the legislative session in Albany.

May 21, 2025 - Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Claudia Braymer explains how the state budget impacts the Adirondack Park and discusses her legislative agenda for the rest of the session.

May 21, 2025 - After a major overhaul in 2019, New York's laws governing evidence disclosure are getting tweaked again at the behest of county prosecutors. We discuss what the changes in the budget consist of and their impact with Kevin Stadelmaier, the first deputy defender for Erie County's assigned counsel program's criminal division.

May 21, 2025 - We explore agriculture loans, credits and grants in the state budget with Renée St. Jacques, acting director of public policy for the New York Farm Bureau, We also discuss what the group is hoping to pass and block during the remaining days of the session.

May 21, 2025 - In the aftermath of the state budget being adopted, we check in with the Siena College Research Institute's Steve Greenberg to discuss how New Yorkers feel about some of the more high profile items that were in this budget. We also get an update on the race to be the Republican nominee for governor.

May 20, 2025 - Stony Brook University Professor Robert Harrison, the interim executive director of the Empire AI, discusses the idea behind this consortium, explains the state funding going into the initiative, and highlights the ongoing research.

May 20, 2025 - Earthjustice New York Policy Advocate Liz Moran responds to what was (and wasn't) in the state budget that impacted the environment, including a new $1 billion initiative and a dearth of aggressive policies.

May 20, 2025 - Johanna Miller, director of the education policy center for the New York Civil Liberties Union, shares her concerns about the state's impending restrictions on smartphones in schools and makes the case for a more local approach.

May 19, 2025 - The state budget included an expansion of the child tax credit, money for child care vouchers, and a rebate check, but how will it impact child poverty? We consider these policies with Pete Nabozny, director of policy at The Children's Agenda, and Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, who are both members of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council.

May 19, 2025 - Schenectady County Public Health Director Keith Brown explains why local health officials want timely access to unnatural death information, like autopsies, so they can steer public health decisions.

May 19, 2025 - Assembly Tourism, Arts, Parks and Sports Development Committee Chair Ron Kim, a Queens Democrat, discusses a recent hearing on the live-event ticketing industry and how it might be regulated in the future.

May 19, 2025 - Younger voters make up a small portion of the electorate in New York, but legislation promoting civic engagement on college campuses hopes to change this dynamic. We explore this effort to rock the vote with Brendan Cushing, managing director for Generation Vote.