Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 13h

Hochul to Stefanik: 'I don't really care what she says' after internal poll shows a tight 2026 race today www.capitolconfidential.com/p/hochul-to-...

- The 5 bills the NY Pro-Choice Caucus wants Hochul to sign
- & much more in your Wednesday CapCon

Hochul to Stefanik: 'I don't really care what she says'

And New York's Pro-Choice Caucus is tired of waiting for Hochul to sign these 5 bills.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 1d

Voters in New York approved new discrimination protections last November. The 'Equal Rights Amendment' is now facing a test from three judges: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-yorks-...

- And supporters of the EPR packaging reduction bill were outnumbered 4-to-1, a new report shows
- & much more

New York's 'Equal Rights Amendment' faces a big test from three judges

And packaging bill supporters were outnumbered 4-to-1 before it was defeated this year, a new report shows.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 2d

New York's education regulators are among those preparing for a tough state budget, they said Monday www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-yorks-...

- Oberacker vs. Riley in NY-19
- New bill would ban ICE arrests in hospitals
- & much more

New York's education agency is gearing up for a tough state budget

And a state Senate Republican is running for Congress.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Reposted by Dan Clark

Casey Seiler @caseyseiler.bsky.social · 4d

Great work by @danclarkreports.bsky.social — disappointed but not exactly surprised the congresswoman didn’t respond. www.timesunion.com/state/articl...

How a New York driver’s license went viral with false claims

Rep. Elise Stefanik was among the politicians who spread the false claims.

www.timesunion.com

1 8

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 5d

How a New York driver’s license went viral with false claims this week
www.capitolconfidential.com/p/how-a-new-...

How a New York driver’s license went viral with false claims this week

And what if a late state budget meant a pay cut for state lawmakers?

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 8d

New York lawmakers are closer than ever to legalizing psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in certain mushrooms, for medicinal purposes www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-york-c...

- The DGA has created a new IE committee to support Hochul's reelect
- & much more today

New York could allow psychedelic mushroom compound for health care

And Hochul is accusing Trump of 'defunding the police' in New York.

www.capitolconfidential.com

2

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 9d

Months before a weeks-long strike from correction officers at New York’s prisons earlier this year, signs of tension between staff and the people incarcerated there had become apparent www.capitolconfidential.com/p/before-new...

- The state Senate is holding a hearing on the PSC tomorrow
- & more

Before New York's prison strike, tension was already building

And the Public Service Commission is the subject of a state Senate hearing Tuesday.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1 2

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 13d

Lawmakers and lobbyists in New York take note: here's some public ethics changes that could be considered in 2026 www.capitolconfidential.com/p/how-new-yo...

- 15 bills are on Hochul's desk
- Cannabis showcase events moving forward
- Bulk lottery ticket purchase rules
& more

How New York's public ethics rules could change in 2026

And cannabis showcase events are finally moving forward.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1 1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 15d

Hochul pushes back on claims New York could legalize prostitution www.capitolconfidential.com/p/hochul-say...

- NYSED faces a new lawsuit over its Native American mascot ban
- And a look at Jay Jacobs' survival and history w/ Mamdani

Hochul says 'legalizing prostitution' won't happen in New York

And NYSED faces a new lawsuit over its Native American mascot ban.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 16d

Why Tom DiNapoli, New York's state comptroller, is facing his first serious challenge in 18 years from within his own party: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/why-tom-di...

Why Tom DiNapoli is facing his first serious challenge in 18 years

And Manhattan will not be getting a new casino.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 19d

Here are 10 changes lawmakers could consider to the HALT Act after this year's prison strike: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/what-chang...

Plus: Betty Rosa is suing Rob Mujica. It's a small world.

What changes New York lawmakers could consider to the HALT Act

And State Ed's Betty A. Rosa is suing former Budget Director Robert Mujica. Here's why.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Reposted by Dan Clark

Casey Seiler @caseyseiler.bsky.social · 19d

In today's Capitol Confidential newsletter, @danclarkreports.bsky.social answers that musical question: Why is the state education commissioner suing the state's former budget director? Plus: How DOCCS wants to amend the HALT Act. www.capitolconfidential.com/p/what-chang...

What changes New York lawmakers could consider to the HALT Act

And State Ed's Betty A. Rosa is suing former Budget Director Robert Mujica. Here's why.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 20d

CapCon hit your inboxes an hour ago. Sorry for the late post! www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-york-j...

- New York joins states on vaccine coalition
- NESE pipeline endorsed by the PSC
- SUNY police want help after Kirk was killed
- New York lost 13,300 jobs last month
- & more

New York joins states on new vaccine coalition in rebuke to RFK Jr.

And why a controversial pipeline was endorsed by New York's utility regulator Thursday.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 20d

New: Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders are being sued after approving changes to the state's substantial equivalency standards for nonpublic schools, including yeshivas, in this year's budget www.timesunion.com/state/articl...

Hochul, top lawmakers sued after shifting yeshiva, nonpublic school standards

Because of its last-minute, hurried inclusion in the $254 billion budget, outside observers chalked it up to politics.

www.timesunion.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 22d

After the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, New York approved a law intended to help prevent more people from being racialized online. Its fate is now unclear: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-york-l...

- Where Hochul and Mamdani are in sync and where they're not
- Hochul widens her lead
- & more

New York law spurred by Buffalo mass shooting faces federal test

Plus: Where Hochul and Mamdani are aligned — and where they're not.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1 1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · 23d

I'm back with a packed Monday CapCon, leading with Hochul's call for a "reset" on rhetoric: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/kathy-hoch...

- Social media proposed regs are out
- The Assembly is holding a psilocybin hearing
- Reax to Hochul's Mamdani endorsement
- AD115 special elex scheduled
- & more

Kathy Hochul wants you to get off social media

And a hearing on psilocybin has been scheduled by state lawmakers for later this month.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Sep 4

As environmental advocates push Hochul to reject new pipelines, lawmakers told me Thursday they're open to changing state law for future projects. Thursday CapCon: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/hochuls-pi...

- Hochul convenes nuclear roundtable
- Scaffold Law faces fresh challenge
- & much more

Hochul's pipeline ponderance could prompt new legislation

And New York's 140-year-old Scaffold Law is the target of a new coalition.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Sep 4

New York faces new pressure to scrap 140-year-old Scaffold Law
www.timesunion.com/state/articl...

New York 140-year-old worker protection law targeted by new coalition

Build More New York, a new coalition of powerful business and civic groups, is supporting a federal bill that could put pressure on state lawmakers.

www.timesunion.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Sep 3

'Kiss of death': Cuomo apparently favored by Trump for New York City mayor
www.capitolconfidential.com/p/kiss-of-de...

- Another Democrat is now running to replace U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik
- The bill that would give DOH more power over vaccines
- & more

'Kiss of death': Cuomo apparently favored by Trump for New York City mayor

And another Democrat is now running to replace U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hakeem Jeffries may be inching closer to endorsing Zohran Mamdani www.capitolconfidential.com/p/stay-tuned...

- Who could succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler
- Candidates for AD115 are set
- Health insurance rates came out Friday
- & more

'Stay tuned,' Jeffries says of Mamdani endorsement

And who could succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler, who's no longer running for reelection.

www.capitolconfidential.com

2 2

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Aug 29

New York's landmark social media regulations for minors are close to completion but implementation is still months away www.capitolconfidential.com/p/why-new-yo...

Why New York's social media regulations haven't taken effect yet

Also: Lawmakers want to give the state Health Department more power over vaccines.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Aug 28

Weed billboards no more! Cannabis regulators are pitching new packaging and advertising rules in New York: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/cannabis-r...

Cannabis regulators in New York pitch new packaging, advertising rules

And a few new bills are introduced in the state Legislature.

www.capitolconfidential.com

2

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Aug 27

New York's new health insurance rates for 2026 are expected from the state's regulator soon. Wednesday CapCon: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-yorks-...

- Another veterinary drug (not xylazine) in NY's illicit drug supply
- Crossbow hunters rejoice
- & more

New York's new health insurance rates are coming

And another veterinary sedative has become prevalent in New York's illicit drug market.

www.capitolconfidential.com

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Aug 26

Hochul said Tuesday that judges still don't know how New York's bail laws should be applied. Court officials say they don't need more training. www.capitolconfidential.com/p/hochul-bla...

- Title VI coordinators now required on campuses
- Drinking water protection power
- & more

Hochul blames judges for bail law back-and-forth

They don't know how the law is supposed to be applied, Hochul said.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1

Dan Clark @danclarkreports.bsky.social · Aug 25

Trump targets cash bail laws and threatens to pull funding from states that require release on certain charges, including New York. Monday CapCon: www.capitolconfidential.com/p/new-york-m...

- Hochul's first ad of the 2026 race
- Movie trailer madness prompts new bill
- & more

New York may lose even more federal funding under latest Trump order

And Hochul is out with her first campaign ad in the 2026 race for governor.

www.capitolconfidential.com

1