Abortion rights, gun safety bills to highlight State Legislature's final week

Abortion rights and anti-gun violence measures are at the top of the docket for the Democratic-led New York State Legislature during the final week of its 2022 session, spurred by a series of national events.

Legislators also are likely to act on bills tailored for localities, such as extending mayoral control of New York City schools. But they’re not likely to renew a controversial tax break for housing developers.

Dozens of other bills hang in the balance. Among them, the “Clean Slate” bill for expunging some criminal records and another that would move town-level elections to even-numbered years, ensuring that they are held in presidential or gubernatorial election years.

The session is scheduled to end Thursday. Even if it spills into Friday or Saturday, officials have said there are no plans to continue the session into the following week.

Here are some things to watch in the final days.

Gun safety

A number of bills are under consideration, following a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last week and a white supremacist’s killing of 10 African Americans in a Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14.

Among them is one to tighten the “Red Flag” law, which provides a process for removing firearms from people who might be a danger to themselves or others.

Another would raise the age from 18 to 21 for purchasing semi-automatic weapons, such as an AR-15-style rifle used in the Buffalo shooting. Another could restrict the availability of body armor, such as worn by the accused Buffalo shooter.

Another bill would require “microstamping” of ammunition, making it easier to trace.

Abortion rights

Democrats are poised to take up a number of measures, four weeks after a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion suggested a majority of justices could soon overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which ensured abortion rights nationwide.

Among the proposals, lawmakers are considering giving first passage to an amendment to the state constitution to guarantee abortion access. The amendment would need to be passed by lawmakers in two legislative sessions, then approved by voters in a statewide referendum.

Other bills that might gain approval are one to protect health care providers in New York from being prosecuted for providing abortion services to a woman who travels from out of state for the procedure. Another would allow for civil lawsuits against those interfering with a woman’s attempts to travel to New York for abortion access.

NYC and housing

The law giving the New York City mayor’s office control of the city's schools is set to expire, and lawmakers are sure to renew it. The question is: for how long?

Though Mayor Eric Adams would prefer a longer extension, lawmakers are looking at two to three years, sources said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for renewal of “421-A,” a law that gives developers tax incentives if projects include a certain amount of affordable housing units. It’s popular among developers and political donors as well. But many Democrats don’t want it renewed — making its chances appear unlikely.

The proposed renewal of 421-A comes as Hochul is locked in a Democratic primary for governor with Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

With 421-A fading, so too are the chances for the “Good Cause” eviction bill, which would make evictions harder.

Elections and voting

Some Democrats are backing a bill to move town-level elections to even-numbered years.

Each side is making high-minded claims about the idea. Republicans say it would change long-standing traditions and would amount to a power grab.

“New York Democrats are at it again, working to sneak through legislation that would illegally seize power and upend our entire election system in New York,” said state Republican chairman Nick Langworthy.

Democrats say it will boost voter participation in local elections — and Republicans are afraid of anything that increases turnout.

“The hysterical, hair-on-fire statements from local partisan officials about legislation to consolidate elections into even years prove just how petrified they are to have to face voters,” said Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall), sponsor of the bill.

The political reality is that each side is trying to improve its chances of winning local elections. In New York, Republicans tend to fare better in odd-numbered, low-turnout elections and Democrats do better in even-numbered presidential or gubernatorial election years.

But even some who might support the principle believe the bill is being rushed and without enough consultation with local governments. They want to hold off on the bill this year.

Separately, legislators might pass a bill to further protect voting rights, including the right to sue for acts of voter suppression.

'Clean Slate'

The "Clean Slate" bill would open the door for sealing records for misdemeanors and certain felonies after a specific time: 3 years for misdemeanors, 7 for felonies.

But with crime rates up and the fall elections looming, some upstate and suburban Democrats are uneasy about the proposal. Further, some legislators and Hochul disagree on when the clock would start running for sealing the records.

Multiple sources said the issue would “go down to the wire” before it becomes clear whether lawmakers will act on that bill.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy