Executive Orders & Actions
A chronological public record of Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive orders, the legislation she has signed or vetoed, and the state regulations advanced under her administration. Every entry links to its official source document.
Legislation
Local Cops, Local Crimes Act
Hochul program bill banning state and local governments, police and corrections from entering or maintaining 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements that use local personnel or facilities for federal civil immigration enforcement. Enacted in May 2026 as part of the FY2026-27 budget's package of immigration protections, which also barred face coverings for officers interacting with the public, created a state cause of action for constitutional violations, restricted immigration enforcement at sensitive locations, and codified the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status. The 287(g) ban took effect Aug. 25, 2026. In July 2026 AG Letitia James notified the 12 New York law enforcement agencies holding 287(g) agreements that they had to unwind them by that date. In June 2026 the U.S. Department of Justice sued to block parts of the package; a federal court denied DOJ's preliminary injunction as to the 287(g) provision, allowing it to take effect. Fifteen county sheriffs filed their own challenge on Aug. 25 (Bourgault v. Hochul, No. 1:26-cv-01637, N.D.N.Y.). Bill number recorded here is the Governor's Program Bill number from the January 2026 program-bill memo; the chapter number and exact May signing date within the budget package are not yet verified against a primary source.
WTC-12 and pension-documentation deadline extended to Sept. 11, 2030
Extends to Sept. 11, 2030 the deadline for WTC rescue/recovery/cleanup participants to file Form WTC-12 with the Workers' Compensation Board and participation documentation with the retirement system. Requires the Board to reconsider claims disallowed for the deadline where disability began between Sept. 11, 2021 and Sept. 11, 2025, and extends the filing window for those claims to Sept. 11, 2030. Signed Sept. 10, 2026.
National Guard WTC death and disability claims: four-year extension
Extends by four years, through Sept. 11, 2030, the deadline for National Guard members activated for WTC rescue, recovery or cleanup (and their beneficiaries) to file World Trade Center death and disability benefit claims. Signed Sept. 10, 2026.
WTC presumptive retirement eligibility extended from 25 to 35 years
Extends the 25-year presumptive eligibility period for WTC-related retirement benefits, allowing retiree deaths to be reclassified as WTC qualifying accidental deaths up to 35 years after retirement. The Public Employee Conference says the original 2005 presumption law would otherwise have lapsed on Sept. 11, 2026. Signed Sept. 10, 2026.
Penalties for impersonating a union representative
Allows the Attorney General to seek damages of $1,000 per violation from individuals who fraudulently present themselves as a union representative, aimed at outside groups collecting members' personal information. Signed Sept. 9, 2026 at the Labor Appreciation Reception. Effective date not stated in the release.
Construction Reporting Pay Act
Requires construction workers be paid two hours at their regular rate if a shift is cancelled with less than 12 hours' notice, and four hours at their regular rate if they report to a site and are sent home without cause. Prior law: four hours at minimum wage on reporting. Signed Sept. 9, 2026. Effective date not stated in the release.
Employee access to personnel files
Guarantees employees access to their personnel files and requires employers to notify employees when negative information is added. The governor's release says New York joins at least 17 other states with such a guarantee. Signed Sept. 9, 2026. Effective date not stated in the release.
NY Connects dementia and Alzheimer's resource requirement
Amends New York's Elder Law to require the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program to provide information about programs and services available to New Yorkers with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, to help individuals, caregivers and families find home-, community- and institution-based services, and to run an ongoing education and outreach campaign. Signed in Harlem on Seniors Day.
New York Whale Awareness Act
Directs DEC to establish educational guidelines and recommendations to reduce marine-mammal interactions and prevent vessel strikes in New York waters. Signed Aug 10, 2026.
Cannabis Showcase Events — microbusiness participation (Chapter 207 of 2026)
Allows licensed cannabis microbusinesses to fully participate in Cannabis Showcase Events (pop-ups, farmers markets, public market events) without partnering with standalone cultivators or processors. Signed Aug 6, 2026; effective immediately.
Cooling tower inspection certification and penalties (NYC)
Requires NYC cooling tower owners/operators to certify twice yearly (January and July) that towers were inspected, tested, cleaned and disinfected per the NYC Administrative Code. Sets remediation deadlines: maintenance deficiencies within 48 hours; microbe levels posing a serious health threat within 24 hours, with NYC DOB notification. Raises civil penalties to $2,500 (first violation), $7,000 (second/subsequent), up to $12,500 if a violation results in fatality or serious injury. Sponsored by Sen. Cordell Cleare, who drafted it during the 2025 Harlem Legionnaires' outbreak; Assembly sponsor Jordan Wright. Signed Aug 5, 2026.
Orange County sales-tax sharing restoration
Restores Orange County's authority to share sales-tax revenue with its municipalities at 3.75% rather than the authorized 3%. The State Comptroller found in May 2026 the county had improperly distributed the extra 0.75% for over a decade; without the fix, cities, towns and villages stood to lose millions ($5M in Q1 alone, to be reimbursed) and faced property-tax hikes. Passed with bipartisan Orange County delegation support; Hochul signed Friday Jul 17, about a week after delivery. Prime sponsors Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) and Asm. Chris Eachus (D-New Windsor).
New York Health Information Privacy Act
Would add consumer protections for non-HIPAA health data; vetoed Dec 2025.
Repeal of the gas "100-Foot Rule" subsidy
Ends the subsidy requiring ratepayers to cover new gas hookups.
Medical Aid in Dying Act
Allows terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to request life-ending medication after meeting statutory safeguards. Signed Dec. 17, 2025 after more than a decade of legislative debate; effective Aug. 5, 2026. Backfilled row — the signing predates this tracker's legislation seeding. Facing federal litigation: state consented to a temporary injunction exempting Catholic plaintiffs (four religious orders, Diocese of Rockville Centre) pending their First Amendment suit; a separate ADA-based suit by disability-rights plaintiffs was dismissed for lack of standing (both rulings week of Jul 27-31, 2026). Bill number not stated in cited source; left null rather than guessed. Took effect Aug. 5, 2026 as Public Health Law Article 28-F.
Grieving Families Act (fourth veto)
Revised wrongful-death expansion; vetoed for a fourth consecutive year.
Climate Change Superfund Act
"Polluter pays" fund seeking ~$75B over 25 years from fossil-fuel companies. UPDATE (Aug 31, 2026): struck down by N.D.N.Y. Chief Judge Brenda Sannes as preempted by the Clean Air Act (West Virginia v. James, summary judgment for 22 states and industry groups). Hochul says the state is reviewing appeal options to the 2nd Circuit; a separate DOJ challenge is pending in S.D.N.Y.
Pistol converter ("Glock switch") accountability
First-in-nation manufacturer duty on pistol converters.
Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act
Would let defendants who pleaded guilty challenge wrongful convictions.
Noncompete agreement ban
Would have banned nearly all employment noncompete agreements.
Clean Slate Act
Automatically seals eligible criminal records after set waiting periods.
Telehealth abortion shield
Protects providers of telehealth abortion medication.
Grieving Families Act (first veto)
Would expand wrongful-death grief damages and extend the statute of limitations.
Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA)
Post-Bruen sensitive-location bans and licensing requirements, passed in extraordinary session.
Abortion provider shield package
Six-bill package shielding NY abortion providers and expanding access.
Body armor purchase restriction
Bars body-vest sales outside eligible professions.
Microstamping
Directs DCJS to certify microstamping-enabled pistols.
Red Flag (ERPO) expansion
Adds petitioners and requires police/DAs to file extreme-risk protection order petitions.
Semiautomatic rifle license (raise age to 21)
Requires a license to purchase a semiautomatic rifle and raises the age to 21.
Less Is More Act
Ends incarceration for most technical parole violations.