The state Assembly has some significant catching up to do starting bright and early Monday morning.

After budget negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul led to the latest state budget in 15 years, the Assembly tacked three extra days onto the legislative session. The state Senate declined to add extra days and wrapped up early Friday morning before bolting to their districts, not to be seen in Albany again until January but for the occasional legislative hearing or the hypothetical special session legislative leaders have been dangling to address federal cuts.

In that marathon session which started earlier Thursday, the Senate finished approving what amounts to 1,742 bills for the entire session, more than in recent years. To even approach that number, members of the Assembly on Monday and Tuesday will be subjected to marathon days of their own after a low-key Friday session, with many members absent for former US Rep. Charles Rangel’s funeral.

Among the bills left on the Assembly’s plate are big ones and small ones, but Blair Horner, NYPIRG’s senior policy advisor, explained that the big ones could squash the small ones in the stampede that will be the final two days of the 2025 legislative session. 

“There are some big-ticket items that the Senate was willing to do, but the Assembly, it’s not clear what they are going to do,” he said. “The Senate, for example, passed versions of their NY HEAT proposal and allowed the Assembly, I guess, to be goldilocks and pick which one they liked best.”

Amid a significant reconstruction of NY HEAT Act, so much so that it was renamed the Customer Savings and Reliability Act, state Sen. Liz Krueger explained that the Senate has given the Assembly the option of going all the way with the revised bill and its provisions dealing with transitioning away from natural gas, or simply repealing a law that requires gas companies to provide gas hookups to new customers on the rate payers’ dime if within 100 feet of an existing line.

“If nothing else happens, we can just repeal the mandate for the 100-foot rule,” she said.

Then there is the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which seeks to put the responsibility for disposing of plastic packaging on the producer while reducing overall plastic packaging and phasing out the use of some toxic chemicals. 

Those pushing the bill are confident it could make it to the floor as soon as Monday despite stiff opposition over concerns that it could harm businesses and drive up prices.

“This is the environmental bill that will be the signature for the Assembly,” said Assembly Sponsor Deborah Glick.

Horner explained that because those controversial bills are prone to fireworks on the floor, other bills will likely get pushed aside.

“If those are to be debated, it will take time. One thing the Assembly doesn’t have is time. A major debate can take hours,” he said. 

Possible casualties include bills that passed the Senate but are stuck in Assembly committee waiting to move forward, like one that would provide incentives for electric lawn equipment, and another to reform lobbying laws.

“There’s no opposition to that one, so what’s the problem?” he said.

That's in addition to those that could be in trouble in the Assembly regardless, like portions of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus’ Robert Brooks prison reform package that didn’t make it into the omnibus bill passed Thursday— like one to guarantee in-person visits for incarcerated individuals.

“Being able to see your loved one in person is way better than seeing them on a video call. While video calls are great and all, it may be a good option, we also want to consider those who may not have access to technology,” said advocate Elianny Innocent.