Page 15 - This Year in Albany 2025

Local Governments
Exempting EMS from the Property Tax Cap
S.1515 (May) / A.2177 (Lupardo)
CSEA Position: Support
This legislation removes emergency medical services (EMS)
from the limit on real property tax levied by local governments.
Under the current property tax cap, local governments face
strict limits on how much they can increase their property tax
levies each year. This restriction has created significant budgetary
challenges for funding vital emergency services. By exempting EMS
expenditures from the real property tax levy limit, this bill gives
municipalities the ability to better staff, equip, and maintain their
emergency medical services.
Faculty/Staff Seat on Community College Boards
S.4685 (Stavisky) / A.5979 (Bronson)
CSEA Position: Support
This legislation adds a non-voting faculty or staff representative to each community college board
of trustees. Employees bring invaluable on-the-ground perspectives to governance decisions that
affect campus operations, student success, and institutional priorities. Their presence on the
board promotes transparency, collaboration, and more effective decision-making.
Freedom to Read Act
S.1099 (May) / A.7777 (Simone)
CSEA Position: Support
This bill protects the rights of school library employees to curate materials without political
interference and ensures that communities maintain access to diverse viewpoints. It prohibits
censorship of library materials based on political or ideological disagreement and affirms that
reading choices belong to individuals, not to government bodies or vocal minorities.