The New York state budget, which is already over two weeks late, is likely to be even later, after the Legislature’s bill drafting office was the victim of a cyberattack.

The legislature approved one budget bill, to authorize the state to continue paying its debts, and adjourned until next Tuesday, April 2, one day after the budget is due.

A bill that would extend New York state’s ban on natural gas fracking is heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk after the State Legislature acted recently to prohibit using liquid carbon dioxide to extract the gas from shale rock. It’s one of a number of measures that lawmakers are considering to combat climate change. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul this week took charge of New York’s troubled recreational cannabis rollout, appointing one of her top commissioners to temporarily oversee the process.

While birth control medicines remain legal in the U.S., some states are placing restrictions on obtaining the pills or contraceptive devices. Gov. Kathy Hochul says in New York, there will be full access.

New York legislators are beginning what they hope is the final stretch to accord on a state budget before it’s due at the end of the month.

The latest funding will help finish work on the third and fourth floors of the four-story building. A lot of the work on the lower floors has already been completed.

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to raise criminal penalties for anyone who assaults a store employee. Democrats in the Legislature say they'd rather focus more closely on repeat offenders.

Some state lawmakers want to take health insurance companies out of the business of providing home health care. They say it’s a failed experiment that’s costing the state too much money that could better go to directly paying for that care.

The proposal is part of the Senate's one house budget plan, which lawmakers will use as a basis of negotiating a final budget with Gov. Kathy Hochul.