The Capitol Pressroom

May 11, 2026- Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, talks about regulatory changes to ensure vulnerable kids are getting the behavioral health services they need. He also makes some last-minute pitches for the state budget and laments this year's budget process.

May 8, 2026- We explore the effort to preserve and grow the Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeon population in the Hudson River. Our guest is Amanda Higgs, a fisheries biologist with the State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Marine Resources and Cornell University.

May 8, 2026- We talk to New York State Association of Cemeteries Legislative Director David Fleming about issues facing non-profit cemeteries across the Empire State, including long-term financing of operations.

May 8, 2026- Legislation has been kicking around the Capitol for more than a decade that would promote more specialized care for New Yorkers with sickle cell disease. We discuss this effort with Ginger Davis, president of the Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patients Network.

May 8, 2026- Dan Clark, author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter, fills in some of the details on the proposed state budget, which is finally taking shape, despite the protestations from state lawmakers that there are still many unresolved questions.

May 7, 2026- We check in with New York Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, as part of mental health awareness month, to talk about the need for mental health services in the Empire State and what the Hochul administration is doing to meet the demand.

May 7, 2026- The state's financial regulators are in the process of implementing a law designed to regulate the evolving "buy now, pay later" lending industry. We consider what the rules should look like with Miranda Margowsky, head of communications for the Financial Technology Association.

April 30, 2026-We consider what happens to people facing criminal charges and are found not guilty because of a medical condition. We talk about reforming the mental health system with Garrett Smith, a statewide organizer for the Center for Community Alternatives, and Jayette Lansbury, a member of the New York State Criminal Justice Committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

May 6, 2026- State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, talks about updating New York's sex trafficking laws and hearing from victims of Jeffrey Epstein at a legislative committee meeting.

May 6, 2026- New York is looking for large-scale solar and wind projects to add to its green energy pipeline and receive ratepayer subsidies. We discuss the solicitation effort with Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.