Gov Cuomo Release State of the State (SOS) Book

January 15, 2021

The Governor’s annual State of the State book (includes ALL 2021 State of the State proposals, not just those the Governor discussed live during the recently broadcasted SOS events this week) are linked in the article below.

Typically, some SOS proposals will be ‘lined out’ in grater detail and included as provisions in the upcoming executive budget proposal, to be released on 1/19.  Others may just require regulatory changes, while some may never see future forward movement.

———- Forwarded message ———
From: POLITICO New York Pro <alert@email.politicopro.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 3:20 PM
Subject: Cuomo releases State of the State book

Cuomo releases State of the State book
By Bill Mahoney, Marie J. French
01/15/2021 03:19 PM EST

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has released his annual State of the State policy book.

The level of detail in the annual publication is somewhere in between that offered in his oral addresses, delivered earlier this week, and in his budget documents, which are due to be released Tuesday.

The details: Most of the policies in the book are slight expansions on subjects he discussed earlier in the week. But there are a few new proposals, including ones to establish a state-run diaper bank to “keep our infants healthy, happy, and dry,” eliminate the requirement to publish name changes in newspapers, and allow for some new bars to operate before their liquor licenses are approved.

The governor also highlighted some new agency programs on green energy, including Raise the Green Roof, a partnership between NYSERDA and the state’s Housing and Community Renewal division to have new and existing affordable housing projects consider on-site solar, electrification or efficiency retrofits with low-interest financing to cover the upfront costs for buildings. It targets installing solar on 5,000 affordable housing units statewide in the next five years.

The State of New York Mortgage Agency will also offer retrofit financing for between 200 and 250 homes in targeted communities over the next two years to install flood mitigation retrofits while electrifying heating and cooling systems.

He also announced the state would continue to fund the Environmental Protection Fund at $300 million and add $500 million for water infrastructure, as advocates have pushed for. The state is also going to offer a new policy to make it easier for local governments to accelerate their review of rail-advantaged housing development with some standard criteria.