Empowering Voters.
Defending Democracy.

Issues and Advocacy: March 2022

person budgeting while drinking coffee

Legislative Priority Summary The State League sent out the form for the 2022 legislative priorities late November 2021. The forms were due February 1st, 2022. Nineteen Leagues submitted their top three legislative priorities. The top three priorities (in ranked order) are election law, natural resources, and healthcare. Pre-Budget Advocacy Summary and Budget Update On Saturday, […]

Criminal Justice Committee: April 2022

Courthouse, judge's gavel and handcuffs create the concept of criminal justice

During the recent budget negotiations, reform of certain parts of our criminal justice system became a central piece of the discussions between the governor and the legislative leaders. There were significant differences with regard to this subject, but in the end a compromise was reached. That compromise resulted in amendments to the laws affecting bail […]

President’s Message: March 2022

The future depends on what you do today

It has been nine months since the LWVNY convention in 2021 when I was elected to be president of the LWVNY. This month for the first time we were able to hold an in-person board meeting. We were also able to hold two Regional Training Workshops in person with the remaining two (Scarsdale and Ithaca) […]

New York State League Receives $1M Gift

woman bearing a wrapped gift

On Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2021, the League of Women Voters of NYS (LWVNYS) announced it has received an anonymous $1 million donation to expand and strengthen its fight to defend democracy and voting rights for all. The donation, the largest ever received by LWVNYS, comes during a time of great transformation for the organization […]

Safe Staffing Legislation Passed

safe staffing means happier workers

After many years of advocacy, the Legislature passed two safe staffing bills for nursing homes and hospitals to ensure both patients and healthcare workers are protected requiring them to meet minimum staffing levels of nurses and other health care staff. Under the new laws, the state health commissioner will establish minimum staffing levels for nursing […]

Remote Advocacy Training Recap

Post Budget Advocacy Training

On May 12th, the League held a remote advocacy training on our post-budget legislative priorities. The training included an expert overview of the NY Health Act from our State Health Committee and Issues Specialists Madeline Zevon, Judy Esterquest, and Kathy Stein, and an overview of Medical Aid in Dying and Salary Parity issues from Barb […]

Restoring Voting Rights for all People on Parole

In May we were thrilled that the Governor finally signed into law legislation to allow any person on parole to have their right to vote restored automatically upon release. The law states that all individuals will be notified both verbally and in writing that their voting rights will be restored, and that the person will […]