New York lawmakers target utility companies over increased costs

And ending all odd-year elections is still on the table, lawmakers say.

Good afternoon — It’s Monday and Pharmacist Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Lawmakers rallied against utility rate hikes Monday and pledged to do something about high bills and how they’re determined.

• A proposal that would move the state’s remaining local elections to even years is still on the table, its sponsor said.

• The family of Robert Brooks Sr., who was killed at a New York prison in 2024, spoke with Gov. Kathy Hochul at the Capitol Monday.

• Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado says he’s the first statewide candidate to qualify for public matching funds in the 2026 elections.

• A new bill would make high-income tax rates on high-income earners permanent.

• The Assembly has scheduled a few committee meetings for Tuesday.

• This Week in New York History: Al Capone and Lord Stirling.

Names in today’s CapCon: Robert Brooks, Kathy Hochul, Antonio Delgado, James Skoufis, Shelley Mayer, Kevin Parker, Chris Burdick, Robert Brooks Jr., Robert Ricks, Eric T. Schneiderman, Andrew Gounardes, Andrew Cuomo, John Catsimatidis, Zohran Mamdani

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(Will Waldron/Times Union)

☑️ Update on moving New York’s remaining local elections from odd years

It’s the first working day of session in the state Legislature, during which both chambers are expected to begin passing bills.

Democrats in the state Senate, as they do each year on the first day of session, were set to approve a package of bills on voting and elections.

That includes higher penalties for deceiving voters, new protections for election workers, and moving New York’s primary election to Super Tuesday in presidential election years. Those bills haven’t passed the Assembly.

One bill missing from that package is an amendment to the state constitution sponsored by state Sen. James Skoufis that would move more elections for local offices to even years.

I’ve watched the proposed amendment with interest as court battles played out over an initial state law approved by Democrats that moved elections for most local offices from odd to even years. That law was upheld by the state’s top court.

But there are several local elections that were untouched by the law because the selection of those offices is enshrined in the state constitution.

Those can only be moved to even years if the state Legislature approves Skoufis’ bill twice, with both votes having to come in consecutive two-year legislative sessions. It would then head to voters for consideration.

The earliest it could land on the ballot is 2027. But if lawmakers don’t secure the first passage this year, the next earliest year it could be on the ballot is 2029.