New York State’s legislative session came to a close early this morning with the state Senate gaveling out shortly after 6:45 a.m. following a final all night session. The Assembly, which stayed in session from Thursday through to the early morning hours on Friday adjourned for the year at around 9 p.m. Friday evening.
Among those measures passed by both houses was Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Start-Up NY plan, formerly known as Tax Free NY, which would give large tax breaks to new businesses located near state college campuses.
Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act failed to pass due in large part to a Senate block on a proposal to codify abortion rights.
A sweeping package of ethics reforms pushed by Cuomo also failed to pass, but Cuomo has said he is prepared to convene a Moreland Act Commission immediately following the close of the session to investigate legislative ethics and elections reform.
This year’s session was marked by scandal, including the arrests of several state legislators on charges including federal bribery and corruption indictments.
