Looksie at who’s footing the bills.
New York State lawmakers won’t be able to get away with promoting legislation without spelling out its cost, thanks to a new watchdog website.
The site launched by the Business Council of New York State will track bills introduced in Albany and evaluate how they could impact affordability for consumers, workers, and corporations.
“Legislators will be held accountable,” said Paul Zuber, the business council’s executive vice president.
“At a time when affordability remains one of the top concerns for New Yorkers, it is critical that residents have access to clear, accessible information about how proposed legislation could impact their financial well-being.”
State lawmakers are supposed to issue a fiscal impact statement for introduced bills, but often this document whiffs on any details — only listing “to be determined” or “unknown.”
The business council’s analysts aim to fill in that convenient-for-lawmakers gap by providing information on how price measures could impact New Yorkers.
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Their site will also track the cost of laws deemed “not affordable.”
One of them is the controversial Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 — a measure that Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking to delay.
Hochul has argued the 2030 timetable to comply with green energy mandates is too stringent— and costly.
“Since its passage, the state has struggled to meet the goals outlined in the bill, making the legislation not only unachievable but also costly for businesses and consumers,” the business council website contends.
A memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in March 2026 estimated that transition costs will increase home and business heating sources by $4,000 a year upstate and as much as $2,300 in the New York City region.
Additionally, the memo stated that gas prices at the pump would increase by more than $2.
The original law did not include a fiscal impact statement.
But another bill that would provide employees a tax break for participating in ride-share or bike-share benefits, as well as other transit and parking options, is rated as “affordable.”
“It’s a two-way street,” Zuber said.
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