Asm. Albert A. Stirpe

Explained that the bill allows restaurants and bars to purchase wine and liquor from local retailers when facing supply shortages, benefiting all parties: establishments keep customers happy, wholesalers maintain sales volume, and drivers continue regular shipments.

Noted the key difference from other toll exemption requests: Central New York drivers don't normally use the Thruway, so the toll revenue loss should be minimal since these are new users, not existing ones.

Explained the bill establishes a workgroup to coordinate water management across the Oswego River Basin's ten lakes and multiple controlling entities, addressing flooding issues that can last weeks or months. Characterized costs as minimal, noting it would be an all-volunteer organization operating largely via Zoom.

Assemblymember Bores explained that the bill addresses consumer frustration with automatic subscription renewals and hidden charges. He noted the legislation passed unanimously through three committees and has support from business groups including the Business Council and Tech NYC because it aligns with regulations in other states without imposing new compliance costs on New York businesses.

Mr. Goodell supported the bill while criticizing the Advisory Panel's seven-year delay in delivering a report originally due in 2018. He noted the panel received multiple one-year extensions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 without producing the requested report.

Mr. Goodell supported the bill while criticizing the Advisory Panel for failing to deliver a report due in 2018. The panel has received multiple one-year extensions over seven years without producing the requested report on employee-owned enterprises.

The bill expands municipal Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Road programs to include Adopt-a-Lake initiatives, allowing volunteers to clean up lake shorelines under municipal auspices. Asm. Goodell supported the measure, noting it encourages volunteer cleanup efforts in his district with five lakes. He acknowledged opposition from the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, which opposes the liability waivers included in such volunteer programs.

Sponsor argued the study is necessary to determine if existing utility line heights are adequate for modern agricultural equipment and to address farmer safety concerns from recent incidents of equipment contacting lines.

Assemblyman Tague commended the sponsor and praised the bipartisan Nourish New York Program. He requested that whole milk and 2 percent milk be brought to New York schools, noting the program has successfully helped dairy farmers and calling for expanded support across the state.

Sponsor explained that Farm Bureau has documented multiple incidents of agricultural equipment contacting utility lines in various counties, and that a PSC study is needed to determine if current height standards are adequate for modern equipment.