New York State Sen. Rachel May discussed consumer fraud enforcement, rising energy demand, the state budget process and housing policy during a recent episode of Inside Government, hosted by Guy Cosentino. The interview focused on legislative priorities in Albany and issues affecting communities in her district, which includes Cayuga County, Cortland County and parts of Onondaga County.
During the program, May said the state Legislature is currently reviewing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2026–27 state budget while also preparing for hearings and legislative work related to consumer protection and other policy areas.
Legislative hearing to address fraud and scams
May said she was scheduled to chair a legislative hearing focused on fraud and scams, an issue she described as growing in scope. The hearing was organized in collaboration with the chair of the Senate Codes Committee and will examine how state laws are being enforced.
Witnesses were expected to include representatives from the New York attorney general’s office, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the American Association of Retired Persons. The discussion is expected to cover issues such as deed theft, wage theft, bank fraud and scams targeting older adults.
May said scams involving gift cards and other payment methods have become increasingly common, noting that some retailers now train staff to identify suspicious purchases that may indicate someone is being defrauded. She also pointed to cryptocurrency as another area where fraud and financial crime can occur.
She said the state has limited authority to regulate cryptocurrency because it often falls under interstate commerce, but noted that she previously sponsored legislation requiring state officials to disclose cryptocurrency holdings in financial disclosure statements.
Energy demand and data centers
Energy costs were another topic discussed during the interview. May said rising demand for electricity has become a frequent concern among constituents.
She said increased electricity usage from data centers has contributed to the spike in demand after years in which energy efficiency measures helped reduce overall consumption.
The senator also addressed cryptocurrency mining operations, which use large data centers that require significant electricity and water for cooling. She said such facilities have raised environmental concerns in areas such as Seneca Lake, where heated water discharge can affect fisheries.
May said proposals to build new nuclear power facilities in New York are also under discussion, with Oswego County viewed as a likely location if a new plant were developed. She said she has mixed views on nuclear power, noting concerns about long-term waste storage and the time and cost required to bring new plants online.
Budget negotiations underway
The interview also addressed the state budget process. May said the Legislature has completed a series of budget hearings and work groups are now reviewing proposals before negotiations move forward.
The governor’s proposed budget includes increased spending but no new tax increases, though it extends a previously enacted tax increase. May said lawmakers are evaluating spending priorities and determining which proposals can be included in the final budget.
She said strong stock market performance has contributed to revenue growth but warned that economic uncertainty could affect projections.
May also expressed concern about potential federal funding reductions, particularly cuts affecting hospitals and Medicaid programs, which she said could place financial pressure on hospitals if uninsured patients seek emergency care.
School districts and municipalities could see additional funding in the state budget. May said lawmakers are considering increases to school aid and municipal aid, though the exact amounts are still under negotiation.
Town halls and constituent feedback
May said she recently held a town hall meeting at Cayuga Community College to gather feedback from constituents during the budget process. She said the event was open to the public and questions were not pre-screened.
She said holding open forums helps residents feel heard and allows lawmakers to learn about issues they may not otherwise encounter.
“I think the most important thing in government right now … is that people simply don’t feel heard,” May said during the interview.
She said feedback from the event has already led her to review legislation related to issues raised by attendees.
Housing and other legislative priorities
May also highlighted housing affordability as a major legislative focus. She recently attended a conference of the Congress of State Governments that examined strategies to increase housing supply and reduce costs.
One proposal she supports would streamline the environmental review process for construction projects. May said the current process can take between two and five years, increasing financing costs and contributing to higher housing prices.
Other issues discussed during the interview included efforts to expand the state’s bottle deposit law and reduce landfill waste. May said she continues to support increasing the bottle deposit from five cents to 10 cents and expanding the types of containers covered, though she acknowledged there is limited support for raising costs at checkout during a period when lawmakers are focused on affordability.
Public campaign financing
The conversation also addressed New York’s public campaign financing system for state races. May said the program provides matching funds for small donations from constituents, allowing candidates to rely less on large contributions.
“It steers the candidates to raising money from people who live in your district,” May said.
She said the program helps new candidates run for office but requires oversight to prevent misuse.
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