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Responsible Data Center Development Act and Time Extender for Significant Disruptions Bills Passed!
Responsible Data Center Development Act and Time Extender for Significant Disruptions Bills Passed!
June 4, 2026 ALBANY, NY- This evening, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed both the Responsible Data Center Development Act (aka Data Center Moratorium Bill) A11560/S10642 and the Time Extender Bill S4602A/A5846A.
The Responsible Data Center Development Act pumps the brakes on the rapid expansion of large data centers in New York. It places a one-year moratorium on new permits for data centers drawing 20MW or more of power, while requiring the Department of Environmental Conservation to study and report on their environmental impacts within 18 months. Data centers would also be required to source energy from renewables. The goal is to give the state time to understand and manage the environmental, economic, and quality-of-life consequences of unchecked data center growth before issuing new approvals.
The Time Extender for Significant Election Disruptions bill creates a legal safety net for voters when emergencies disrupt polling. Under current law, there is no formal mechanism to restore voting time lost due to disruptions like bomb threats, fires, lockdowns, or accidents at polling sites, all of which have actually occurred in New York since 2022. This bill would establish a rapid-response plan requiring officials to document incidents, coordinate emergency responses, and critically, extend voting hours to make up for time lost. The aim is to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised by circumstances entirely outside their control.
May 29, 2026: NYS Budget Finally Passes- 58 Days After Deadline
May 29, 2026 This week, the Governor visited our office at The Blake Annex in Albany to sign one of the final key budget bills.
The $268.1B budget was passed by the Senate and Assembly in full this week and the bills are being signed by the Governor. The Senate announcement of passage is here and the Assembly's announcement is here. These announcements walk through some of the key funding that was passed.
Governor Hochul Will Sign Medical Aid in Dying Bill!
Governor Hochul Will Sign Medical Aid in Dying Bill!
(S138/A136)
December 17, 2026 Governor Hochul has committed to signing the Medical Aid in Dying Bill once chapter amendments are made in the new year. This is an incredible win for New Yorkers across the state who are facing terminal illness.
The Governor made a statement in the Albany Times Union this morning explaining how she came to her decision. You can read the statement here.
Governor Hochul Signs ERIC Bill!
Governor Hochul Signs ERIC Bill!
(S1356A/A3649B)
December 12, 2025 - Governor Hochul has just signed the ERIC bill (S1356A/A3649B)! This bill will strengthen voter protection, election integrity, and efficiency in New York State.
Read the LWVNY's letter here.
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on a petition seeking to add documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to the federal voter registration form. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections creates unnecessary barriers for many eligible voters.
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on a petition seeking to add documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to the federal voter registration form. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections creates unnecessary barriers for many eligible voters.
Read more and sign the petition here.
Tell Congress to protect the freedom to vote and support the passage of the JLVRAA.
Tell Congress to protect the freedom to vote and support the passage of the JLVRAA.
US Election Assistance Commission is NOT authorized to implement President Trumps Executive Order.
US Election Assistance Commission is NOT authorized to implement President Trumps Executive Order.
The League of Women Voters of the United States along with the Brennan Center for Justice, NAACP, ACLU, and Legal Defense Fund issued a letter to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission imporing them to not take any action in response to the President's Executive Order of March 25,2025 (the "Order"), titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." The order itself is unlawful as it relates to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (the "Commission") and it would, in any event, also be unlawful for the Commission to take several of the actions directed by the Order. To read the entire letter sent to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, click here.
The Save Act
The Save Act
The SAVE Act passed the House 220-206.
We are now waiting to find out when it will come to the Senate floor for a vote. Please contact your senators to express your concerns with this bill.
For more information about the SAVE ACT and President Trump's Executive Order, you can read the following analysis and explanation from The Brennan Center for Justice:
The Dangers of Congress's Latest Election Bill, Analysis by Brennan Center for Justice AND
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)
The JLVRAA ensures that every voter—regardless of where they live, what they look like, or what language they speak—has equal access to the ballot box and is protected from unfair laws and practices that make it harder for people to vote.
The JLVRAA restores and modernizes the original protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) to combat many of the new and recent discriminatory voting requirements that states have enacted that disproportionately prevent people of color, women, the elderly, and youth from voting.
It allows federal courts to immediately halt questionable voting practices until a final ruling is made. This is crucial because when voting rights are at stake, prohibiting a discriminatory practice after the election has concluded is too late to truly protect voters' rights.
There is also a provision to safeguard election workers, defending them from threats and intimidation.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives to voice your opinion.
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