Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The State Legislature is considering a few high-impact bills, several of which could burden taxpayers and consumers. While some may be well-intentioned, others risk creating more problems than they solve.
Bottle deposit hike. Lawmakers are seriously weighing a proposal to double the current 5-cent deposit on bottles and cans to 10 cents. At first glance, that may seem insignificant. But for families who consume two 12-packs of soda, juice or seltzer each week, the change could add up to an extra $430 annually.
Is there a need for it? Litter in the form of cans and bottles has become increasingly rare, in part due to the existing redemption incentive. Doubling the deposit seems more like a symbolic gesture than a practical solution — and one that places real costs on working families.
‘Kill the Heat’ Bill. This proposal, backed by environmental advocates, would phase out natural gas in favor of renewable sources like wind and solar — energy options that, while promising, currently lack the reliability and affordability to meet demand.
The bill would also shift the cost of connecting homes to natural gas lines (within 100 feet) from utilities to homeowners — an expense traditionally absorbed by energy companies. On top of that, it would impose vague, undefined costs tied to fossil fuel use — costs that would inevitably be passed on to consumers.
Leaf blower legislation. One bill gaining traction would incentivize a switch from gas-powered to electric leaf blowers. While not an outright ban, this legislation would encourage landscapers to adopt quieter, cleaner equipment. Given the excessive noise and emissions of gas-powered models, this is a reasonable approach that would promote healthier neighborhoods without heavy-handed mandates.
Packaging reduction bill. While overregulation should be avoided, anyone who has received a small item delivered in an oversized box filled with unnecessary padding knows that packaging waste is a problem. This bill aims to curb excessive packaging. Though mandates should be limited, encouraging companies to reduce waste is a step in the right direction.
Spending cap for state government. Over a decade ago, Albany imposed a spending and tax cap on schools and local governments. However, the Legislature exempted itself from the cap’s requirements. Had lawmakers capped state spending, New York’s current budget wouldn’t have ballooned to $254 billion — a $17 billion increase over last year.
If a federal balanced-budget amendment is worth debating in Washington, why not implement a spending limit in Albany?
MTA control board. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing plan was just the latest burden on taxpayers, commuters and motorists. But the MTA’s issue has never been a lack of revenue — the problem is excessive spending. Our proposed bill would place the MTA under a financial control board, which would have the authority to monitor spending, cap borrowing and renegotiate contracts. This oversight is long overdue.
Bail reform and raise the age. April’s state budget included minor revisions to the 2019 bail reform law, such as allowing judges to require only “relevant” discovery materials. While this was a nod to prosecutors’ concerns, it falls short of addressing the broader problem.
Under current law, judges in New York no longer have discretion to hold a defendant based on his or her perceived danger to society. We are the only state in which this is the case. Since the reforms’ enactment, violent crime has risen by roughly one-third.
Another major change was raising the age for prosecuting violent offenders from 16 to 18. Now minors accused of violent crimes are sent to Family Court rather than Criminal Court. This has allowed gangs to exploit the system, using younger teens to commit serious crimes with little consequence. The result has been an increase in both youth crime and fatalities among minors. These laws need immediate revision.
Steve Levy is president of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He is a former Suffolk County executive and state assemblyman, and he hosts “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” Comments? Steve@commonsensestrategies.com.
