This Week in Albany – July 3, 2026

1. Tom DiNapoli’s Victory

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s decisive victory in last week’s primary was powered by the strong support of CSEA members. DiNapoli won 65.7% of the vote in a three-way race a won every county, delivering a commanding victory and sending a clear message: pensions are not a political piggy bank.

Special recognition goes to CSEA members in Nassau County, where DiNapoli earned 83% of the vote—the highest vote share of any county in the state. He also received 80% or more of the total vote in the Counties of Seneca, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Albany, and Oswego. Thank you to all of the CSEA members who helped to make this victory possible!

2. Legislative Session Wrap-Up

The New York State Legislature passed 759 bills during the 2026 legislative session. Governor Hochul has already signed or vetoed 163 of those measures, and she has until the end of December to act on the approximately 600 bills remaining.

Among those are several CSEA priority bills, including:

• 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.

Click the links above to learn more about each proposal and how you can help to get these bills signed into law!

3. Assembly District 129

14-term State Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, who represents parts of Syracuse in Assembly District 129, has lost his primary election to Onondaga County legislator Maurice “Mo” Brown. The race was too close to call on election night. Mo Brown led by 82 votes, with about 200 absentee ballots outstanding. As the final votes were tallied this Tuesday, his lead became insurmountable. Magnarelli conceded the race Tuesday afternoon.

4. Happy Fourth of July

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate our nation’s independence, this year’s holiday is especially meaningful as America commemorates its 250th anniversary. It’s a time to reflect on our shared history, celebrate our communities, and look ahead with optimism for the future. We hope you have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable Independence Day!

5. 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 17.