NYECA Monitoring Final State Budget Negotiations and Bills
As of this writing, one half of the proposed budget legislation has been finalized and voted on by the State Legislature. Remaining are several policy and appropriations bills remaining. While items such as temporary disability reform were not included in the final budget bills released so far, we expect more policy to be released in the coming days. We will provide a full report once the final budget is adopted in total.
NYECA Coordinates “Mini Lobby Day” Opposing TDI Increase
On May 14, the NYECA government affairs team met with key state legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, to educate them on the costs of TDI reform legislation (S.172-A/9751-A) and express our opposition. NYECA has also joined a coalition of business and construction allies who will be impacted by the costs of TDI reform. Together, we continue to meet with state legislators as they deliberate this bill and we express our concerns about the cost impact of this proposal, especially on self-insured plans such as the Electrical Employers Self Insurance Safety Plan (EESISP).
NYECA Report on Final SEQRA Reform in State Budget
NYECA has been carefully monitoring ongoing discussions surrounding reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), an issue with substantial implications for project schedules, permitting timelines, and overall construction costs statewide. Final language has been agreed to, and the adopted changes to SEQRA are as follows:
- Expands SEQRA exemptions for certain housing, infrastructure, park, school, and green infrastructure projects on “previously disturbed sites.”
- Creates a formal definition of “previously disturbed site,” generally meaning land already developed or altered in the past and not actively agricultural or within certain flood/coastal hazard zones.
- Exempts qualifying housing developments in NYC and other large municipalities from SEQRA review if they meet limits on density, location, infrastructure connections, and commercial space.
- Establishes separate exemption standards for smaller municipalities, with lower unit caps and restrictions tied to zoning, urban areas, and commercial use percentages.
- Exempts certain public park projects, bike/pedestrian trails, and NYC public school facility construction from SEQRA review when built on previously disturbed land.
- Exempts specified water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including lead service line replacement and upgrades to small community water systems.
- Exempts retrofits that add green infrastructure to existing structures and surrounding areas.
- Imposes deadlines on SEQRA review timelines, including a two-year cap for completing environmental impact statements unless limited extensions are justified.
- Requires agencies to decide within 120 days whether a project qualifies for exemption, while allowing applicants to seek court intervention if agencies miss deadlines.
- Does not override existing historic preservation, environmental protection, zoning, land use, wetlands, endangered species, or disadvantaged community protections.
NYECA Secures Senate Introduction of EESISP Assessment Relief Bill
NYECA recently met with several state legislators in support of our legislation, and secured Senate introduction of the bill (S.10083), which would require Workers’ Compensation Board assessment relief for the NYECA EESISP program. Both Chairs of the respective Senate and Assembly Labor Committees, Senator Ramos and Assemblyman Bronson, have indicated this is a priority issue for them. We are also in the process of reengaging with the Workers’ Compensation Board to discuss this reform.
NYECA Priority Bill Status Update
Priority Bills Moving
- S.172-A (Ramos) / A.9571 (Bronson) - Relates to increasing short-term disability benefits.
- Amended 1/14/26. Amendments pertain to date changes and are substantively identical to last year's bill. NYECA is working to oppose.
- On Senate Floor Calendar.
- In Assembly Labor Committee.
Additional Priority Legislation (status remains in committee of origin unless otherwise noted)
- S.8157 (Ramos) / A.8642 (Hevesi) - Enacts the "NYS health care tax reform act".
- S.10020 (Ryan) / No Same As - Increases the interest rate for late payments due on construction contracts
- S.9843 (Ryan) / A.6950 (Cruz) - Enacts "the construction reporting pay act".
- On 3rd Reading in the Senate
- S.9141 (Ramos) / A.3451a (Bronson) - Relates to the establishment of a wage data clearinghouse.
- In Ways & Means in the Assembly
- S.5825 (Sepulveda) / A.10580 (Tapia) - Requires at least one electric level three fast charging station for every five thousand New York state residents.
- S.8906 (Harckham) / A.10447 (Cunningham) - Relates to requiring applications for retail gas station building permits to include electric vehicle charging stations.
If you have any questions or would like additional information on any New York State or New York City legislative matter, including copies of any legislation or regulations mentioned in this article, please contact Peter Rescigno or NYECA lobbyist Perry Ochacher at (914) 319-9173.
