The Senate One House bill is a significant victory for construction industry and transportation advocates, including those of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc., who have lobbied state lawmakers for additional funding for CHIPS and for Region 8 to help fix the worst road and bridge conditions in New York State.

Executive Director John T. Cooney, Jr., of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc., thanked Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the New York State Senate Majority for their one-house budget proposal. “The additional $100 million included for Region 8 is a vital investment for the Hudson Valley, where the leader and her conference have long advocated for more road and bridge funding. This increased support helps restore the purchasing power of NYS DOT and local communities, addressing the impact of rising construction material costs. The CIC and our labor partners thank the Senate Majority for adding $250 million to CHIPS and for all their efforts to secure funding that will put local companies and workers to work improving New York’s infrastructure.”

He added, “Also, we thank the Senate Majority for standing up for transportation worker safety. The construction and transportation industries deserve to have all workers involved to have a safe and protected work environment. The proposals for the expanded work zone camera program and expanded transportation worker harassment and assault protections deserve to be a final product of this year’s New York State Budget.”

The State Assembly, which had not released its budget resolutions at press time, included an additional $50 million for CHIPS and $50 million for the State Touring Routes program in its One House budget proposal.

Among the key items in the Assembly One House bill is utility cost relief from the Protecting Out Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) Checks program. Eligible residential ratepayers with incomes below $150,000 would receive a $500 check, while those with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000 would receive a $300 check. Overall, this would provide $2.6 billion in relief to New Yorkers struggling with the rising cost of utility bills.

The proposed Assembly budget would include a two-year moratorium on approving new rate cases or implementing already approved rate increases that would result in an increase in electric or gas rates. It would also establish the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Residential Affordability Through Energy Savings to study the causes and origins of rising rates and recommend actions to reduce rates.

The proposal would provide $163.3 million in relief to ratepayers across New York State by shifting an existing assessment from ratepayers’ monthly utility bills to the General Fund, including $134.6 million for Department of Public Service operating costs and $28.7 million for NYSERDA operating costs. The Assembly budget includes $2.1 million to establish the State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate and $1 million for utility intervenor reimbursements.