1. LOADing Act Signed
Governor Hochul signed S.7543/A.9430, the Legislative Oversight of Automated Decision-Making in Government (LOADing) Act. This new law limits and regulates how state agencies can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) when making decisions and requires disclosure by any agencies using such technology. Most notably, this bill ensures that public employees are not displaced as a result of these technologies. This is a first-in-the-nation law that ensures that the use of AI respects the invaluable contributions of dedicated public sector workers.
2. Government Shutdown Averted
President Biden has signed a stopgap measure to avert the government shutdown that was set to take effect on Saturday, December 21. The funding bill adds $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in assistance to farmers, while extending all other federal funding at current levels through March 14, 2025. Notably, this measure did not include any provisions to raise the debt ceiling, which was supported by President Trump. In March, Congress must pass a budget or another stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown.
3. Speaker Election
Today, Friday, January 3, Mike Johnson was re-elected as the Speaker of the House. Despite facing dissent from hardline conservatives within his party, Johnson secured the necessary votes to maintain his leadership position, largely aided by the endorsement of President Donald Trump. The final vote was 218-215-1, with all Republicans except Thomas Massie (KY-4) voting for Johnson and all Democrats voting for Hakeem Jeffries. Johnson’s re-election marks a significant moment for the Republican Party as they aim to unify and advance their legislative priorities in the new Congress.
4. Next Week
The 2025 Legislative Session begins on Wednesday, January 8. During the first week, legislators will elect leadership in both houses, who will then speak about their legislative priorities for the year. Wednesday is the only scheduled session day next week.
5. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. You can also check out the summary of CSEA’s work during the 2023-2024 legislative session.
Tier 6 Reform: |
Updating Civil Service Exams: |
Counting Provisional Time Towards Promotions: |
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Virtual Training for CPS Workers: | Minimum Age & Education Requirements for Exams: |
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