We're focused on the Sen. Robert Jackson-sponsored bill for custom fabricators in public projects, which has become the latest flashpoint in discussions about affordable housing in New York. Plus, two Republicans have entered state Senate races in upstate New York.

ICYMI: Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado was at the state Capitol and The Public Campaign Finance Board and Board of Elections have voted to allow campaign funds to be used for security.

It’s rare that an advocacy group holds a rally at the state Capitol when the state Legislature isn’t in session. But it’s even rarer that Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado makes an appearance in the building, as he did Wednesday.

ICYMI: We've got the details on the 155 bills Hochul's called up yesterday. Spoiler alert: She's not called up four controversial/high-profile bills. Also, the Assembly Ethics Committee is meeting in Albany next week. The committee is allowed to investigation complaints made against members.

Only four more bills remain after this, including the RAISE Act.

Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino hasn’t always had kind words for Charlie Kirk, who he accused of trying to “grift off” people influential in government and politics.

A third high-ranking member of the State Police is abruptly leaving the agency amid an expanding investigation into the misuse of PGA credentials by members of the agency who attended the Ryder Cup.

Blakeman's entrance to the race for governor is set to divide Republicans across New York.

Among the dozens of bills Gov. Kathy Hochul will consider before the end of the year is one that would allow debt incurred by victims of domestic violence at the hands of their abuser to be removed.

ICYMI: Gov. Kathy Hochul signed 37 bills into law, including legislation on police officer candidates, online “sweepstakes casinos,” and financial services loopholes. Hochul also vetoed 48 bills, and we've got the full list in the newsletter.

Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed more bills than she signed Friday evening in a flurry of actions under the cover of night.

Three bills have been introduced last week that seek to keep track of where immigration officers are making arrests and restrict them from entering certain locations. And the fallout continues from the state’s pause of the All-Electric Buildings Act.

New York created a new state registry for multi-family dwellings built before 1980 in designated “communities of concern.” That list includes 25 cities across the state in which owners of those kinds of dwellings must add them to the registry.

The legality of the appointment of acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III was argued in front of a judge on Thursday by attorneys for the Justice Department and state Attorney General Letitia...

Elise Stefanik and state allies say the Health Department halted talks and payments, imperiling North Country hospitals, and seek a probe.

Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to announce new ways the state can find “efficiencies” in spending and here’s the date for State of the State. We've got how much she said the state is projected to save from the CDPAP transition. It’s more than expected.

ICE is on track to arrest twice as many people in New York in 2025 than in 2024. But the pace of arrests fell slightly in recent months compared to summer highs.

A state audit says New York health agencies must tighten funeral oversight after risks of misidentified bodies and invalid burial permits.

After the shooting of two National Guard members, immigration officials are targeting Afghans for deportation. At least 10 were arrested this week in the Albany area.

More than 150 community, prisoner-advocacy and faith-based organizations are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that its supporters contend will improve conditions in state prisons.

ICYMI: Gov. Kathy Hochul said again Wednesday she won’t raise income taxes but signaled she’s eyeing other revenue sources for the state budget. And New York’s presidential primary would be set for Super Tuesday each cycle under a new bill from state lawmakers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has about a month and a half to finalize her executive budget proposal, which is required by the state constitution to be balanced. But with a budget gap on the horizon, we’ve got some details on how she’s planning to deal with that.

ICE is on track to arrest twice as many people in New York in 2025 than in 2024. But the pace of arrests fell slightly in recent months compared to summer highs.

Another 93 bills have made it to Hochul’s desk with a decision deadline of next Friday. Here’s the full list and some highlights. And Stefanik is publicly feuding with House Speaker Mike Johnson, accusing him of ‘torpedoing the Republican agenda.’

Three new casinos have been recommended for approval in New York City, employing the same strategy used upstate a decade ago. And supportive housing providers are asking Hochul for a funding bump amid recent changed anticipated for federal funding sources.

RealPage New York seeks to block a new state law that bans algorithmic rent pricing.

Clean energy and greenhouse emission reduction requirements are years behind schedule.

Renters, often living in squalid conditions, are now emboldened by the Tenant Dignity and Safe Housing Act. They spend months, sometimes more than a year, suing their landlords, property managers or housing authorities.

Hochul has about a month left to either sign or veto more than 200 bills. Here are eight you’ll want to watch between now and the end of the year.

The focus on affordability by Democrats is giving hope to supporters of a bill to create a new advocate for residential ratepayers.

A federal judge tossed the U.S. Department of Justice’s mortgage fraud case against New York Attorney General Letitia James but it likely isn’t over. And NYRA is asking lawmakers to carve horse racing into mobile sports betting.

Some, including western New York Democrats concerned over the impacts of the electric building mandate, say the Gov. Kathy Hochul is deftly responding to emerging concerns about the viability of the electric grid and specter of inflation.

ICYMI: There's much more to CapCon than the lead story. New York’s ethics agency finally closed its sexual harassment probe into Jeff Klein, the former IDC leader in the state Senate. And Attorney General Letitia James now has a second Republican challenger as she heads into reelection in 2026.

After meeting at the White House, Trump and Mamdani had nice things to say about each other.

ICYMI: There's much more to CapCon than the lead story. A Republican candidate for state comptroller has emerged, the first Republican has filed to run for Stefanik’s seat in Congress, and a state lawmaker wants Hochul to use state funds to pay for HEAP.

And now introducing: Capitol Confidential Pro. More details inside.

Big day! We just launched Capitol Confidential Pro — a new collaboration between Hearst Newspapers and USLege that pairs real journalism with real-time legislative intelligence. For anyone tracking state politics or government affairs, it’s a total game changer. #HearstNewspapers #GovTech

The Republican congresswoman says she misspoke in 2024 radio interview in which she said she opposed in vitro fertilization.

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to claims that he solicited campaign contributions from Jeffrey Epstein in 2013.

There's much more to CapCon than the lead story. In case you missed yesterday's: Advocates are asking a federal appellate court to review a controversial gas pipeline. And Hochul 69 more bills to consider. We have them all for you to review and a few to highlight.

Buffalo Mayor-Elect Sean Ryan says the City of Good Neighbors is in dire financial straits and will need help from the state to fund a fix. And these two Republicans may announce campaigns over the next week to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who’s running for governor.

No layoffs are expected as New York closes its 13th prison in the last decade.

Family searches through North Country jail ledgers recall a hidden history that shaped today’s ICE detention network.

While Hochul's support in a gubernatorial race with Stefanik did not budge since September, Stefanik's support rose 5 points.

Clerks in seven counties say federal agency under Department of Homeland Security did not explain the sudden cancellations, which have left hundreds of lawful permanent residents in limbo.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says what comes out of Washington will ultimately drive whether she pursues tax hikes next year.

The New York tax department has begun issuing significant penalties to dozens of licensed hemp retailers whose stores were raided over the past several years by regulators and police agencies.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stopped in Albany to chat with reporters as the Republican considers a run for governor. Here's why he says he's a better Republican for governor.

The Board of Regents is requiring climate change education. But almost half of middle school science teachers currently tell students that humans haven’t caused climate change.

New York’s budget outlook has improved from bleak to “manageable,” the state budget director says. We dug into how those projections on revenue and spending for the next state budget compare to the Legislature’s view. This is what we found: