The legislative session in Albany is ending this week with little happening in its final days. After a protracted budget fight between Gov. Kathy Hochul and the legislature, the two sides have few big pieces of legislation they can now agree on.

The one significant piece of legislation Hochul and the legislature have been working towards is a bill known as the Clean Slate Act.

What You Need To Know

  • The Albany legislative session is expected to finish this week with almost no deals on big pieces of legislation

  • The lack on of progress comes after a very contentious budget process where the state’s budget ended up being more than a month late

  • After they leave town this week, lawmakers are not expected back until January

It would seal conviction records for most crimes and misdemeanors after a specified period.

But during her most extensive comments on the issue with reporters Wednesday, Hochul said there is still no deal with the legislature to move forward on Clean Slate Act, even after the bill was amended earlier this week.

It still fails to address some of her concerns.

“We also have to be smart about it,” Hochul told reporters in Albany. “And are there opportunities to find out, is there a record in another state, for example. And is someone else convicted of a crime related to sexual assault, or something dealing with children? So there are areas we want to fine tune. But that was an outgrowth of what we talked about in the budget.”

But this end of session might best be remembered for how little got done in its final days.

Despite big promises from Hochul at the beginning of the year to help build more affordable housing, the issue fell off the table during budget talks.

Legislators have been working to revive the housing issue before they leave town, but Hochul appears not to be part of that working group.

“I will look to see what the legislature puts forth and be open to conversations going forward,” Hochul says.

Hochul also declined to comment on a historic bill expected to pass both houses that would create a commission to study the issue of reparations for slavery.

“I have not had a chance to review it, consider it. Think of it. A lot of new things,” Hochul says.

Advocates have come up from the city and camped out in the halls of the Capitol to demand passage of “Sammy’s Law,” which would enable the city to set its own speed limits.

But the Assembly has refused to pass it.

“No, this is a very compelling and sympathetic issue,” Hochul says. “As a mother, I know how hard this is for individuals. But I will defer to the Speaker to see what occurs in the next few days. He has his reasons, so I’m not going to speculate on what his rationale is.”

The Albany legislative session could go as late as Saturday as both houses work to pass hundred of local bills that need to get done before lawmakers leave Albany for the remainder of the calendar year.