Overview

• Governor Kathy Hochul seeks changes to New York's bail reform and criminal discovery laws in the state budget.
• Progressives are advocating for alternatives that would increase penalties for shoplifting and lower the burden of proof for prosecutors.
• Moderate Democrats oppose changes to bail reform but support reforming criminal discovery laws to allow more dropped cases to move forward.
• With the budget deadline passed, Hochul's leverage is increasing to broker a deal between Democrats before legislators miss their paycheck.
• Business groups and district attorneys blame the current laws for rising crime and dropped cases, while left-leaning groups argue the proposed changes are too punitive.