This Week in Albany – July 17, 2026

1. Data Center Executive Order 

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul signed an Executive Order putting a one-year pause on the construction of hyperscale data centers — data centers which use 60 or more megawatts of power to operate. During the pause, state agencies are tasked with developing a regulatory framework for assessing how these projects affect the environment, energy grid, and ratepayers.

2. Take Action on CSEA Priorities

CSEA was successful in getting several bills passed both houses of the State Legislature during the 2026 session. Now, we need the governor to sign these bills into law. Click the links below to send a letter to Governor Hochul! 

• A.2535 (Paulin): Gives counties the option to provide probation officers with full salary and medical coverage when they are injured in the line of duty.
• S.6987-A (Harckham): Requires panic button technology for social services caseworkers to improve worker safety.
• S.7635-B (Ryan): Authorizes the state and local governments to offer a 25-year retirement plan for emergency dispatchers.
• A.11387 (Pheffer Amato): Allows court officers to retire at age 55 after 30 years of service.

3. Next Week

For the remainder of the summer, “This Week in Albany” will be published every two weeks. The next edition will be in your inbox on July 31.

4. 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. A summary of the FY 2027 New York State Budget is available, here.