State budget 'at the beginning of the end', expected deal on illegal cannabis enforcement

Plus, Adult Survivors Act cases are in legal jeopardy and a CapCon Q&A with Reinvent Albany.

Good afternoon — it’s Tuesday, and Unicorn Day.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Budget talks '“at the beginning of the end,” Senate leader says

• Illegal cannabis deal expected to give localities enforcement power

• Adult Survivors Act cases in legal jeopardy

• Senate advances Thruway nominee

• CapCon Q&A with Reinvent Albany

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? No.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Mostly cloudy, chance of rain, high 40s. New York City: Mostly cloudy, low 50s (National Weather Service)

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Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins with reporters. (Dan Clark/Times Union)

💵 The state budget is ‘at the beginning of the end,’ Senate leader says

💰 We’re in the final stretch of state budget talks, Senate Majority Leader Andrea STEWART-COUSINS said Tuesday, but it’s not over yet.

“We are at the beginning of the end, but the end is hard,” Stewart-Cousins said. “We’ve still got work to do obviously.”

That work, she said, is likely to stretch into next week, as we already expected.

• Lawmakers are planning to pass a fourth extender Thursday. It would continue spending through next Tuesday.

• Members are expected to be sent home after Thursday’s vote as budget talks continue.

But we got an update on where key items in the budget stand, like housing, health care, and social media.