Sen. Michelle Hinchey

The bill allows PSC to consider mental anguish only in cases of egregious utility conduct, such as the Central Hudson billing crisis where constituents faced potential loss of farms, inability to pay rent or mortgages, and suicidal ideation. Penalties would be paid by utilities, not ratepayers, under Public Service Law Section 25.

Representing the Hudson Valley where Central Hudson is under investigation for billing errors, she cited four years of inaccurate bills and the company's request for 16-19% rate increases. She argued utility companies have been "running amuck" and the bill holds them accountable while protecting customers from gouging.

Emphasized the bill addresses the housing crisis by providing data on short-term rentals that have been pulled off the market, ensures tax parity, and generates revenue for state and municipalities. Noted support from all 62 counties and major organizations.

Planning and zoning boards play a critical role in shaping communities and advancing climate goals. The bill provides necessary training to help boards understand and access available grants, technology, and best practices from federal and state programs to support their communities' climate efforts.

Sponsor of the bill who praised the EMS support package and explained that the legislation will reimburse EMS providers for treatment in place via Medicaid and allow transport to alternative care locations. She noted that EMS providers, particularly volunteers, are critical to healthcare delivery in rural areas without hospitals.

Supported good-cause eviction as a tool requested by municipalities, noting communities like Albany and Poughkeepsie asked for tenant protections. Praised restoration of Foundation Aid cuts that would have devastated Hudson Valley school districts.

Sen. Hinchey acknowledged Charles Boughton, a Korean War veteran who attended last year's ceremony and passed away on March 9, 2024, noting that Boughton said being recognized in the chamber was one of the best days of his life.

Recounted personal involvement in efforts to ban fracking in New York and meeting with residents whose land was devalued after selling mineral rights. Distinguished supercritical CO2 from atmospheric CO2, arguing the former is dangerous when used to fracture bedrock.

The bill will help identify healthcare deserts and ensure access to reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, and end-of-life care in rural and marginalized communities where healthcare networks and hospitals have denied such services through policy-based exclusions. She cited closed maternity services in Columbia County and Troy as examples of the healthcare access crisis the bill addresses.

Representing Hudson Valley communities, praised the bill for protecting the river's economic vitality and thanked activists for pushing for alternatives to discharge.

Stated that rural upstate constituents are asking for Clean Slate to have chances at better lives, stable housing, and jobs without stigma, rejecting fearmongering rhetoric.

The bill sponsor emphasized that cellphone service gaps are unacceptable in 2023 and pose safety risks in rural areas. She stated the bill will create a statewide coverage map and set standards similar to other states to ensure reliable service infrastructure across New York.

The sponsor emphasized the bill provides transparency on short-term rental proliferation, helps municipalities that lack enforcement capacity, creates a state registration system as an alternative to local systems, and ensures municipalities receive tax revenue owed from short-term rentals. She noted the bill does not mandate occupancy taxes for communities without them and compared insurance requirements favorably to other states like Massachusetts.

Explained the bill closes a loophole that prevented adult family members from being included in orders of protection. Referenced the May 29, 2022 murder of Melanie Chianese in Dutchess County, whose mother had an order of protection but could not extend it to her 29-year-old daughter, and praised the victim's mother Cheryl Chianese for her advocacy.

The bill is necessary to fulfill the state's promise to hemp farmers who were given conditional cultivator licenses to support New York agriculture. Farmers invested their savings and livelihoods based on assurances of market success, and the one-time purchase will help them recover losses and prepare for the next season as retail infrastructure develops.

The bill codifies PSC recommendations and addresses egregious billing practices that have caused financial and emotional harm to constituents. It ensures utilities bill customers monthly and prevents large lump-sum bills through no fault of customers, while protecting small businesses struggling with cash flow.

The bill protects prime agricultural lands by requiring ORES to consider soil classifications in the four classes when siting solar energy projects, ensuring farms remain viable while New York scales renewable energy development.

The bill requires property owners to complete vacancy rate surveys honestly and consistently, using Kingston as an example where the official survey showed 6.7% vacancy but the city's own study found 1.57%, enabling municipalities to enact necessary tenant protections.

The bill is a commonsense measure that creates a publicly accessible map of renewable energy projects to support CLCPA goals, protect agricultural land in rural areas, and give communities visibility into project siting and the pipeline of approved projects.

The bill requires in-person safety assessments of freight trains before they leave New York rail yards instead of video inspections. This is necessary to protect Hudson Valley communities from potential hazardous chemical spills and explosions, particularly given recent derailments across the country.

Praised new investments in climate-resilient farming with first-ever agroforestry funding and a new $25 million volunteer firefighter capital fund to support rural communities.

Explained that the bill eliminates estimated billing and requires utilities to provide accurate monthly meter readings so customers pay only what they owe, addressing a problem where estimated bills were often astronomically higher than amounts actually owed.

Emphasized that New York must improve traumatic brain injury services and ensure equitable access to care regardless of location. She cited a constituent case where a family had to leave the Hudson Valley to find adequate TBI care for their daughter, and thanked advocates for their work on the legislation.

Sponsor argued the bill is critical to supporting New York's agricultural industry and farmers as the state becomes the nation's breadbasket amid climate change. Emphasized the bill ensures state agencies buy New York food, keeping tax dollars local and creating a circular economy while supporting farmworkers.

The sponsor explained that the 10-year and 350,000-mile standards came from task force recommendations including industry leaders and victims' families. She emphasized that the Long Island crash involved a 9-year-old limo with deteriorating rims, demonstrating why phaseout timelines are critical for safety, and noted upstate communities face additional wear from road conditions and salt.

Healthcare is a human right, and upstate and rural communities are losing access to reproductive care, gender-affirming care, and end-of-life care due to hospital consolidation and policy-based exclusions. The bill will provide transparency about healthcare deserts and require hospitals to disclose which services they do not offer, enabling patients to make informed decisions about their care.