As Thanksgiving Day is near, state lawmakers are trying to figure out if Gov. Kathy Hochul is in the holiday spirit.

More than 200 bills still await her possible signature and legislators and advocates are eager to find out if they’ll end up on the governor’s naughty or nice list.

Checking her lengthy list of bills, Hochul is deciding which measures will become law.

For Queens Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, it’s crunch time.

“In the U.S. Census, the Middle Eastern, North African population is considered ‘white’ and we know that because there’s a box that literally says, ‘What’s your race?’ And you’re required to include your origin,” she said. “That causes a big issue, particularly in districts like mine. I represent parts of Astoria that have a large Egyptian, Moroccan, Arab-American population that is considered ‘white.’”

She has a bill that would change how New York collects data on those of Middle Eastern and North African descent.

Gonzalez-Rojas says it’s necessary, so those communities can access benefits like health care and language assistance in schools.

“Having this data allows us to look at what are the health disparities. Are there higher rates of asthma? Is there [a] lack of access to basic healthcare? Are our children getting covered?” she added.

Another measure, the Climate Change Superfund Act, would make fossil fuel companies pay billions for past pollution.

Bill sponsor state Sen. Liz Krueger told NY1 in a statement, “$3 billion per year to ease the burden on taxpayers of paying for extreme weather events, at no cost to New York consumers, seems like kind of a no-brainer.”

She’s still waiting for Hochul’s decision.

A spokesman for the governor told NY1 she is reviewing all outstanding legislation.

But others, like Queens state Sen. Joe Addabbo, already have their answer.

Hochul vetoed his bill that would’ve sped up the deadline for the long-awaited, highly controversial and lucrative awarding of three downstate casino licenses.

Addabbo, a Democrat, says the delay costs New York.

“It’s critically important for this process to be efficient!” he said. “We do lose out. We lose out on the jobs, the revenue for the MTA, the problem gaming programs and so forth.”

Addabbo argues not only does New York need the money, but so does the MTA.

“This is significant revenue for the MTA,” he explained. “Three license fees that’s roughly $700 million, $750 million, so that’s close to $3 billion right up front for the MTA. So that’s like three years of congestion pricing right there.”  

Marist pollster Lee Miringoff argues Hochul also needs to be thinking one step ahead.

“I think we’re in for a busy and hectic couple of years in New York and I think it has to do with the sense of transition in the state that it’s not an automatic, the Democrat doesn’t automatically win,” he said.

Hochul must face reality. New York’s solid blue status faces a challenge, as does the governor herself. She’s been fielding criticism from eager politicians like Democrat Rep. Richie Torres and Republican Rep. Michael Lawler.

“It was single digits when Hochul ran last time, and clearly Donald Trump scored a lot better in New York City and New York state,” Miringoff said.

Heading into 2025, Miringoff had some advice for the governor.

“There [are] a lot of things on her to-do list. One of which is to move ahead on these pieces of legislation, but the other is: what’s the message? What is the content of what she’s trying to communicate as to what direction the state is going in?” he said.