Photos courtesy of Jennifer Stearns/Principal of Clifford Wise Intermediate School – Lee Teitsworth, senior vice president at Liberty Balloons in Groveland, brought a hot air balloon to Clifford Wise Intermediate School on Friday and let students go inside it. This group includes fifth- and sixth-graders. Teitsworth also spoke with third- and fourth-graders.
Information courtesy of Medina Central School
MEDINA – Students in grades 3–6 at Clifford Wise Intermediate School celebrated their academic efforts and success for Marking Period 2 on Friday with an unforgettable, sky-high experience.
As part of the celebration, Liberty Balloons visited the school with a presentation – “The Sky Is the Limit” – encouraging students to keep reaching for their goals while learning the science behind hot air ballooning. The interactive program combined motivation with hands-on learning, giving students a closer look at how hot air balloons work and the physics that allow them to soar.
Lee Teitsworth discusses the science behind hot air balloons taking flight.
Students first viewed an informational presentation explaining the principles of hot air balloon flight, including how heated air creates lift and how propane burners are used to control altitude. The excitement continued in the Wise gymnasium, where a real hot air balloon was fully inflated, on its side, indoors. Students were given the rare opportunity to sit inside the balloon, experiencing its size and structure up close.
To complete the experience, students briefly stepped outside—just under five minutes—to safely observe the lighting of the propane flames, a dramatic highlight that brought the science lesson to life.
Remax Reality and the Clifford Wise Student Council sponsored the event. For more information on Liberty Balloons, click here.
These third- and fourth-graders see a brief outdoor presentation.
‘The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to ensure citizenship for newly freed slaves and their children, not to create a permanent incentive for illegal immigration,’ – Rep. Claudia Tenney
Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney
OSWEGO – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today led an amicus curiae brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara, a major constitutional case addressing the scope of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The brief was joined by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Cory Mills (R-FL), John Rose (R-TN), and Barry Moore (R-AL).
The brief was submitted in support of President Trump’s Executive Order 14160, which clarifies that birthright citizenship does not automatically extend to children born in the United States to individuals who are unlawfully present or visiting temporarily.
The case centers on the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, specifically whether the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” applies to individuals who have violated U.S. immigration law or who lack permanent legal status.
The amicus brief argues that historical precedent, English common law, and Supreme Court jurisprudence make clear that citizenship at birth was never intended to apply universally without regard to allegiance, obedience, or lawful presence.
Congresswoman Tenney is also the sponsor of the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act, legislation that reinforces Congress’s constitutional authority to define the terms of U.S. citizenship consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Trump v. Barbara on Dec. 5, and oral arguments are expected later this year.
“The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to ensure citizenship for newly freed slaves and their children, not to create a permanent incentive for illegal immigration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Constitution requires allegiance and lawful subjection to U.S. jurisdiction. Granting automatic citizenship to the children of those who have broken our laws stretches the amendment far beyond its original meaning and undermines Congress’s authority over naturalization.”
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health), with funding from the New York State Department of Health, will offer free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets in 2026.
Important Information:
• To receive a 3-year certificate for a dog or cat, please bring proof of prior rabies vaccination (metal tags or licenses will not be accepted as proof).
• Ferrets must receive vaccinations annually, regardless of previous immunization.
• All animals must be leashed or crated and kept under control during the clinics.
Why should your pets be vaccinated?
• Protects Your Pet: Rabies is a deadly disease that can affect both animals and humans. Vaccination is the best way to keep your pet safe.
• Protects You, Your Family, and the Community: Rabies can be passed to humans through bites or scratches from infected animals. Vaccinating pets helps prevent outbreaks.
• Required by Law: According to New York State Law, all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
“Rabies continues to be a public health problem in Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We remind all residents to keep their animals’ rabies vaccinations up to date.”
Genesee County Rabies Walk-in Clinic at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, February 5, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Genesee County Rabies Drive-Thru Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020)
Thursday, May 14, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, August 13, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, October 8, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Orleans County Rabies Drive-Thru Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411)
Saturday, April 25, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 17, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, August 19, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, October 7, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department at:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2026 at 10:06 am
Majority of board believes used fire truck with no fire hall addition makes most sense
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board moved its meeting on Thursday evening to the high school auditorium due to a larger crowd expected as the board tries to determine whether it will put a new ladder truck into service and put an addition on the fire hall for the new truck. From left include Village Trustee Debbie Padoleski, Trustee Jess Marciano, Clerk/Treasurer Jada Burgess, Mayor Marguerite Sherman, Trustee Mark Prawel, Trustee Scott Bieliski and Village Attorney Matt Brooks.
MEDINA – In a meeting that stretched more than four hours, Village Board members and the pubic debated on Thursday night whether to keep a $1.7 million ladder truck for the fire department and put an addition on the fire hall.
Three of the board members – Debbie Padoleski, Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski – voted to have the board pursue options to sell the new truck and see if a used ladder truck is available that would fit in the existing fire hall.
That trio of trustees said the new truck and an addition is too costly for the community where many residents are already overwhelmed by taxes.
Padoleski said the truck and addition would raise the village tax rate by at least $1 per $1,000 of assessed property, and it would be a 20-year commitment to pay off the truck and addition.
Bieliski noted that Medina in March 2023 agreed to pay $1,698,995 to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc. for a new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. It took nearly three years for the truck to be manufactured. It hasn’t been put into service yet.
Since Medina’s contract nearly three years ago, the costs for ladder trucks have continued to escalate. The Albion Joint Fire District on Aug. 14 voted to buy a new ladder truck at a cost of $2,480,698 from Pierce Manufacturing.
Bieliski said he will reach out to a broker to see if there is interest in Medina’s new truck and at what price. He expects the truck could command $2 million, which would allow Medina to pay off its loan for the truck and have extra money to pursue a used ladder truck.
If Medina would take a loss on selling the truck, Bieliski said it shouldn’t be sold.
Village resident Brian Wiesinger speaks during Thursday’s board meeting. About 150 people attended the meeting that stretched more than four hours, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 10:20. Wiesinger said the village should look at a more affordable option with a ladder truck.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Jess Marciano said they remain committed to keeping the new ladder truck and putting on a one-bay addition.
Marciano noted the fire hall addition and upgrades were cut from about $6 million to just over $1 million.
Sherman said she continues to seek grants and assistance with the addition. She met last week with representatives from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. The village needs more detailed drawings and cost estimates for the addition to move forward with seeking grants, Sherman said.
She hasn’t been able to get the majority of the board’s support to hire a firm for those cost estimates.
Village resident Robin Wehling said she supports giving the Medina firefighters the equipment they need to best serve the community. She said the new ladder truck would account for a 48-cent in the tax rate.
Trustees and Padoleski and Bieliski said the cost of the addition puts the total expense for the new truck closer to about $4 million when financing is included over 20 years. They said that amounts to about $1 more in the tax rate.
(Left) Jason Cogovan said he supports the Medina Fire Department but it needs to be at an affordable level for the community. “It’s about delivering services in a responsible way,” he said. He suggested going to a volunteer fire department and looking at contracting for EMS services.
(Right) Village resident Linda Limina, who is also a Shelby town councilwoman, said the Medina board needs to reach out to neighboring towns about helping to pay more for services provided by the village.
“Village residents shouldn’t be the only ones funding the service,” she said.
She worries the added debt from the ladder truck and addition will push village taxes even higher.
Medina firefighter Steve Miller said the Village Board has known for many years the fire hall needed upgrades and that a new ladder truck wouldn’t fit in the current building.
He said the board hasn’t been properly planning for the fire department for more than a decade.
Trustee Bieliski told Miller and the firefighters in attendance they were using “fear-mongering” to pressure the board into keeping the truck and putting on an addition.
Miller said not getting the new ladder truck could result in higher insurance costs for residents and businesses if Medina’s ISO rating is negatively impacted.
He also said there could be delays in response times if the community needs to wait for a ladder truck from elsewhere.
“This is not a scare tactic,” Miller said. “This is simply the truth.”
Trustee Debbie Padoleski, left, says Medina is bearing too much of the expense for fire protection and EMS services in the community.
Padoleski said data from 2024 shows Medina’s ladder truck only was used for 33 calls, with 12 inside the village and 21 outside.
“The Village of Medina taxpayers cannot and should not subsidize mutal aid in the county,” Padoleski said.
Medina’s Ladder 40 is 30 years old and has been out of service since June due to mechanical issues.
The village put it up for sale and sold it for $8,700 at Thursday’s meeting. It was listed online for sale through an auction company. Trustee Mark Prawel wanted to oppose the sale but the title had already been signed over and the deal done without a final village vote. Prawel thought the old truck was worth more than $8,700.
In the future, the board said none of the sales from items declared surplus will be finalized until a board vote to approve the sale.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 January 2026 at 7:59 am
Photos courtesy of Scott Robinson: Adrienne Belson, center, activities director and MDS coordinator at Orleans Community Health, sits with residents of the North Wing during a bake sale she helped organize last summer. Belson was one of three North Wing employees recognized during National Activity Professionals Awareness Week.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health observed National Activity Professionals Week by celebrating the dedicated activity professionals serving residents in the North Wing, along with the community partners who support individuals in long-term care, assisted living and memory care.
Organized by the National Association of Activity Professionals, National Activity Professionals Week is celebrated Jan. 26-30, focusing on the theme “Beyond the Ordinary.” The week recognizes staff who foster independence and joy through meaningful, person-centered engagement, going above and beyond to support cognitive and physical health.
Activities Assistant Angel Mackey helps a North Wing resident paint a pumpkin during a special fall activity. Mackey was another employee who received recognition at OCH this week.
This national observance honors professionals whose creativity, compassion and commitment enhance residents’ emotional, social, cognitive and physical well-being, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at OCH.
“At Orleans Community Health, activity professionals play a vital role in promoting connection, dignity and purpose, ensuring residents continue to live full and meaningful lives,” Robinson said.
Among those recognized are Adrienne Belson, activities director and MDS coordinator; Anna Lewis, activities leader; and Angel Mackey, activities assistant.
Belson, a Lyndonville resident, has served Orleans Community Health for 19 years. She has dedicated her career to the elderly population and emphasizes that activities extend far beyond recreation. Her team builds trusted relationships, provides advocacy, supports residents through life transitions and creates opportunities for continued engagement within the community.
Lewis joined OCH in 2020 and celebrates five years of service this year. Known for her creativity and enthusiasm, Lewis brings versatility to each day and focuses on learning residents’ life stories to better support and individualized care. She encourages community involvement, noting that residents thrive when volunteers share their time and talent.
Angel Mackey, Activities Assistant, is also being highlighted for her compassionate approach. After beginning her career at Medina Memorial Hospital in the dietary department, Mackey transitioned into activities, where she enjoys building meaningful connections with residents. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work and remains deeply committed to making a positive impact.
Orleans Community Health also expressed gratitude to the broader community for its continued support, including fundraising efforts which helped provide transportation for residents’ outings. These experiences allow residents to reconnect with familiar places, memories and traditions, often creating powerful moments of recognition and joy, Robinson said.
“Activity professionals bring life, purpose and connection into each day,” Robinson said. “Their dedication reminds us that quality of life matters at every stage.”
Orleans Community Health extends sincere appreciation to its Activities Department, North Wing care teams, volunteers, families and community partners whose compassion and collaboration continue to enrich the lives of its residents.
Anna Lewis, activities leader at OCH, also recognized during National Activity Professionals Awareness Week. She is shown here with two North Wing residents on a field trip to the lake.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 5:17 pm
ALBION – The replacement of the Eagle Harbor Road bridge in the Town of Barre is moving forward.
The County Legislature on Tuesday accepted a bid from Nardozzi Paving & Construction of Geneva for $979,000. This project is 100 percent reimbursable and won’t need any local dollars, county legislators said.
The Legislature also approved a bid for $1,077,947 for preventive maintenance on bridges in Kent. Keeler Construction in Barre submitted the low bid for a project that is 95 percent reimbursable.
ALBION – The Orleans County Board of Elections (BOE) reminds all registered voters that Saturday, February 14, is the deadline to change your party enrollment before the 2026 Primary Election on June 23.
Primary elections are a way for political parties to choose who will be their candidates on the General Election ballot in November. New York State has closed primaries, meaning that to vote in a party’s primary election, you must be an enrolled member of that party on or before Feb. 14.
Enrollment requests must be received by the BOE no later than Feb. 14 to be effective for the June Primary Election. Any enrollment changes received after the deadline will take effect June 30.
The Orleans County Board of Elections will be open Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to receive any last-minute enrollment changes.
Paper forms are available at your local post office, municipal building, or over the counter at the BOE. Call the BOE at 585-589-3274 if you need a form mailed to you or have any other questions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 2:46 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, speaks on July 6, 2025 during the annual patriotic service held near the Fourth of July in the Cobblestone Church.
BUFFALO – The Cobblestone Museum and Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council have both been approved for $13,500 grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.
The money comes through the 2025 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative awards, which total over $421,000 to support 46 small to mid-sized arts organizations.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative was established at the Community Foundation to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy.
The grants are in two categories:
Category 1 – Combined Capacity-Building and General Operating Funds for organizations with at least one full-time staff member to help organizations build the solid foundation necessary to pursue an ambitious mission and vision.
Grantees include:
Alfred Box of Books Library – $13,500
Beau Fleuve Music & Arts – $14,500
Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $13,500
Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art – $13,500
Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Inc. – $13,500
Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $13,500
The Cobblestone Society – $13,500
Community Canvases – $13,500
Cordelia A. Greene Library – $13,500
Danceability, Inc. – $13,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $13,500
Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, New York – $13,500
The Fountain Arts Center, Inc. – $13,500
Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $13,500
Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, Ltd. – $13,500
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center – $13,500
IndicatorArt Corporation – $13,500
KORP Foundation Inc. – $14,500
Lewiston Council on the Arts Inc – $13,500
Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc. – $13,500
North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $13,500
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $13,500
Shake on the Lake – $13,500
Sukanya Burman Dance Inc. – $13,500
The Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. – $18,515
West Falls Center for the Arts – $13,500
Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc – $13,500
Category 2: General Operating Micro Grants up to $2,500 for organizations with less than one full-time staff member to execute immediate programming.
Grantees include:
Arts Services Inc. – $5,000 (for two separate projects)
Aurora Players – $2,500
Batavia Players – $2,500
Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus – $2,500
Buffalo Heritage Carousel – $2,500
Chautauqua Youth Symphony – $2,500
Community Canvases – $2,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $2,500
Genesee Symphony Orchestra – $2,500
Harmonia Chamber Singers, Inc. – $2,500
LMCimpact Inc. – $2,500
Minerva Free Library – $2,500
Polish Arts Club of Buffalo – $2,500
Sotto Voce Inc. – $2,500
Starring Buffalo – $2,500
Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $2,500
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Buffalo, NY Branch – $2,500
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:55 pm
State now contributing nearly $1.7 million to $5.2 million project
This rendering from Passero Associates shows the front of the library in Medina, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.
MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina has received confirmation of an additional $874,124 grant from New York State Public Library Construction Aid towards the library’s $5.2 million expansion.
This is the second state library construction grant. Lee-Whedon also received a $795,320 grant in construction aid which brings the total from the state to $1,669,444.
In December, Lee-Whedon also received $25,000 in funding from the Garmin Family Foundation administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
“Lee-Whedon has received a total of $1,697,444 in grants toward expansion costs exceeding our goal of $1.5 million,” said Kristine Mostyn, the library executive director.
Lee-Whedon will host a gala and auction from 7 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 6. That is expected to be the final big fundraising event for the library expansion. Click here for more information about that event.
Lee-Whedon celebrated a ground-breaking on Aug. 22, 2025 for a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet. That project is expected to be complete in July.
The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, an art gallery, a teen room and 14 parking spots.
There will also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.
“The library’s expansion project is designed to meet growing community needs and ensure the facility can continue to provide high-quality service for decades to come,” Mostyn said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:02 pm
ALABAMA – The public can hear from the developer of a proposed data center at the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama during a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Stream Data Centers will host an information session at the Alabama Fire Hall, 2230 Judge Rd.
The event is open to the public and advance registration is not required.
In addition, Stream has created a website which summarizes the project and responds to many of the concerns which have been raised to date in various forums. Visit streamwny.com to learn more about the project.
Stream Data Centers is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company is looking to build a 2.2 million square foot facility on 90 acres of the Western New York’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).
“When completed, the project would immediately create hundreds of construction and trade jobs to support development across years, offering stable, high-paying employment,” the company states on its website. “Once operational, 120+ long-term employment opportunities for high-tech, full-time jobs in operations, management, and trades. This is in addition to the hundreds of jobs required during the construction phase, which spans over multiple years.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 9:46 am
ALBION – Harry Papponetti, Albion’s animal control officer for more than 30 years, knew we were in for a rough winter.
In the fall he saw squirrels furiously stacking pine cones around his property. He had never seen anything quite like it. In October, he told the Village Board to expect a punishing winter based on what he was seeing from the squirrels.
“I told you,” Papponetti told the Orleans Hub before Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. “The squirrels were right.”
The area has been in the grip of bitter cold temperatures and frequent bouts of snow this winter.
The stacking of pine cones by squirrels as a sign of a brutal winter is believed to be folklore. But Papponetti is a believer that squirrels and wildlife knew extended harsh conditions were in store this winter.
He told the board deep cold and frozen landscape is bringing foxes and other wildlife farther into the village than in a normal winter looking for food. These creatures weren’t stocked up on pine cones.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 7:49 am
Orleans also could get 6 to 12 inches more of snow today through Saturday
With wind chills expected to plummet to as low as minus 24 degrees tonight, the National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a cold weather advisory for Orleans County and much of Western New York.
The advisory begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 10 a.m. on Friday.
“This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors,” the Weather Service said. “If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.”
Orleans County also is included in a winter weather advisory with Monroe and Wayne counties from 10 a.m. today until 10 a.m. on Saturday. Those counties could see 6 to 12 inches of snow in the most persistent of snowbands.
“Greatest snowfall amounts will be closer to the Lake Ontario shoreline and across eastern Monroe to Wayne County,” the Weather Service said.
Today is forecast for a high of 15 degrees with the temperature dropping to 0 overnight.
The highs in the forecast then show 10 on Friday, 14 on Saturday, 18 on Sunday, 25 on Monday and 26 on Tuesday.
Photo from State Sen. Rob Ortt’s Office: State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt joins his colleagues in the State Senate today during a press conference in Albany, unveiling their recommendations to bring down the cost of living in the state.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference today unveiled “An Affordable New York,” a comprehensive report including legislative recommendations to ease the high cost of living for New Yorkers.
The report is the result of a series of roundtable discussions held by the Senate Republican Conference throughout New York that focused on the key areas driving New York’s affordability crisis.
During the roundtables, the Senators heard from stakeholders and community organizations about a variety of issues including taxes and regulations, energy and utility costs, childcare, housing, insurance, transportation and commuting costs, and the cost of food and groceries.
Participants emphasized that while each of these components present affordability challenges on their own, together they form an unsustainable climate that makes the cost of living increasingly unaffordable for New Yorkers.
“Over the past few months, members of the Senate Republican Conference heard first hand from community members, business owners, and other stakeholders from across the state – and one thing is abundantly clear: New Yorkers are facing an unsustainable affordability crisis, and we continue to lose residents and businesses because of it,” Ortt said. “Despite Albany Democrats catching on to this buzzword, they continue to increase state spending, discuss raising taxes, and do nothing for business owners, all of which will only exacerbate affordability issues.”
The report makes a series of recommendations to help ease the burden on New Yorkers in several areas that were identified as major drivers of the high cost of living and doing business. Some highlights from the report include proposals that would:
Reduce Taxes
Eliminate state personal income tax on the first $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for married filing jointly. Lower the tax rate to 4% for single filers up to $250,000 and $500,000 for married filing jointly and 5% for single filers of more than $250,000 and more than $500,000 for married filing jointly that are below the millionaire tax threshold. This would provide a personal income tax cut for all New Yorkers, providing $30 billion in tax relief over its 10-year implementation without having to cut funding from vital state programs (To Be Introduced, Senator Rhoads)
Exempt tips from state income tax (S.587, Senator Martins)
Exempt overtime wages from state income tax (S.3914, Senator Martins)
Freeze real property taxes for three years (S.8489, Senator Weber)
Reduce Regulations and Government Spending
Create a task force to review the State Administrative Procedure Act, making the regulatory process more business-friendly by ensuring state rules are consistent, efficient and not overly burdensome (S.930, Senator Gallivan)
Reduce bureaucratic red tape by requiring that when a rule is adopted that imposes a new administrative burden on a business, one or more existing rules must be amended or repealed to offset the cost (S.2371, Senator Ortt)
Establish the New York State Commission on Regulatory Efficiency to examine state regulations and identify unnecessary and wasteful state regulations. New York has over 300,000 regulations, the second most of any state only behind California (S.6724, Senator Ortt)
Require the Governor to hire an independent private professional service firm to audit state agencies and public authorities for any payments, claims or expenditures that appear improper, fraudulent or abusive. Such wrongdoing would be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency (S.8661, Senator Ortt)
Lower Costs of Basic, Everyday Necessities
Energy
Return unused funds held by the State from the New York State Climate Investment Account to ratepayers, providing nearly one billion dollars in relief to ratepayers at a time when utility bills are skyrocketing. (S.8461, Senator O’Mara)
Provide a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and two-year green energy tax holiday. Government taxes and fees account for between 25 to 50% of a customer’s utility bill. (S.8463, Senator Rolison)
Repeal the system benefit charge. The system benefit charge is a fee imposed on all ratepayers that provides money to NYSERDA and the PSC. Repealing such fees would lower utility bills. (S.7075, Senator Walczyk)
Housing
Establish the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act. (S.850, Senator Helming)
Repeal All-Electric Building Act, which adds approximately $20,000 to $25,000 to the construction cost of a single-family home. (S.1167, Senator Mattera)
Allow developers to comply with the less costly and less burdensome 2020 Energy Codes in lieu of the 2025 Energy Code, a $7,400 savings per single family home. (S.8621, Senator Mattera)
Childcare
Ensure the Child Care Assistance Program is fully funded in the 2026-27 State Budget, so all eligible families receive proper help with childcare expenses.
Supplement the State’s existing child tax credit by providing a $1,000 “baby bonus” refundable tax credit for all parents of newborns. (S.4487, Senator Ashby)
Allow the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to grant temporary staff to child ratio flexibility during documented staffing shortages (similar to ones granted during COVID) and clarify regulations to permit directors to serve as classroom staff during shortages without penalties. Currently, directors stepping into classrooms to maintain ratios are cited. Citations have led to insurance cancellations, threatening center viability. (S.9049, Senator Rolison)
Senate Republicans will continue to roll out key initiatives under their Save New York agenda through the coming weeks.
