Gov. Kathy Hochul approved sweeping changes to housing, education, and election law — while rejecting new utility rules and other legislature-approved measures.
She signed 37 bills and vetoed 48, backing efforts on transparency, police oversight, and business flexibility. But she drew a firm line against added legal risks for the state and costly utility mandates.
What was signed into law?
Removal of discriminatory housing covenants
Home sellers will now be required to strip racist language from property deeds before a sale.
The covenants are legally unenforceable but still appear in historical documents. Supporters say removing them helps address housing inequities. Monroe County has already purged hundreds of them voluntarily.
College financial aid transparency
Colleges must now provide a clear breakdown of costs for students and families.
They’ll need to show the full cost of attendance, subtract any grants or scholarships, and clearly list loan amounts. The goal is to give families a real understanding of college debt before students enroll.
Recognition of certain online high school diplomas
Graduates from federally accredited online programs under Job Corps standards will now qualify for state financial aid and college admission in New York.
This change opens the door for more students from alternative education backgrounds to access higher education.
Campaign finance website disclaimers
Political committees must now add “paid for by” disclaimers to their websites.
The rule expands existing disclosure requirements, which previously applied only to digital ads. Lawmakers say this helps voters see who’s funding political content online.
Village election vacancy fix
Villages that hold November elections will now follow the same timeline rules as state election law when filling vacancies.
This prevents delays that can lead to write-in-only elections and ballot confusion.
Police eligibility standards
Police candidates who fail psychological evaluations or don’t meet “good moral character” requirements can now be barred from hiring lists.
The law aims to improve screening and strengthen trust in law enforcement hiring practices.
Emergency liquor purchasing for bars and restaurants
Bars and restaurants can now buy limited amounts of alcohol from retail stores when wholesalers can’t meet demand.
The change helps businesses stay open during supply disruptions and avoids lost sales.
What was vetoed?
FOIL records and public access
A vetoed bill would’ve forced agencies to release documents with redactions instead of blocking them entirely.
Hochul said the existing Freedom of Information Law already allows for that and called the bill “duplicative.”
Lawsuits against the state (class actions)
For the third time, Hochul vetoed a bill that would’ve expanded the ability to bring class-action lawsuits against New York.
She argued that courts already have discretion and that lawmakers shouldn’t interfere in judicial decisions.
Utility regulation bills
Hochul vetoed several utility-related bills, including:
Ratepayer advocate office
This would’ve created a new state office to represent residential utility customers during rate cases. Hochul said existing structures already provide this support.
45-day notice for rate hikes
This proposal would’ve required utilities to notify customers 45 days before raising rates. Hochul said it would increase costs due to needed system changes.
Mandatory utility maintenance notifications
This bill required utilities to alert property owners before starting maintenance. Hochul said the wording was too vague and could slow critical work.
Empire State Plaza building renaming
One proposal called for naming four unnamed buildings after New York rivers.
Hochul said she supported the concept but rejected the process, saying it lacked public engagement. She asked her staff to look into other ways to approach the idea.
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