Hochul indicators payments permitting one-day marriage officiants, bettering avenue design and upping penalty for pandemic value gouging

ALBANY — Anybody could be allowed to officiate at a New York marriage ceremony below a legislation permitted Wednesday by Gov. Hochul, who in a year-end flurry of invoice signings additionally gave her OK to payments that encourage safer avenue designs and crack down on pandemic-related fraud.

The brand new marriage legislation permits anybody over the age of 18 to use for a “one-day designation” that authorizes them to solemnize a single marriage.

“{Couples} in New York will now have the chance to be married by their mates or household — permitting them to additional have interaction their family members on their special occasion,” sponsor Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) stated in an announcement.

The brand new marriage legislation takes impact on the finish of March — in time for spring weddings.

One other invoice signed on Wednesday will promote safer avenue designs by rising state funding for “Full Streets” initiatives, which incorporate a holistic strategy to avenue design.

The state will present further tax {dollars} to municipalities that approve “Full Road” designs, corresponding to roadways deliberate with sidewalks, paved shoulders appropriate to be used by bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes, signage, crosswalks, and different traffic-calming measures.

The funding measure builds on a 2011 legislation meant to encourage cities and cities throughout the state to reexamine avenue security.

“This legislation will empower native governments to pursue extra of those initiatives by lowering their value burden and rising the state’s share of funding for these initiatives,” Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy stated.

“If our aim is to construct robust, multi-modal walkable communities whereas lowering transportation-sector emissions, full avenue design is a confirmed part for attaining that goal.”

Hochul additionally signed off on a legislative package deal meant to crack down on fraudsters who make the most of state emergencies.

The brand new legal guidelines will enhance rewards for reporting dangerous conduct and bump up penalties for individuals who commit fraud and value gouging throughout state emergencies just like the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re sending a transparent message: New York has zero tolerance for fraud, particularly in our most crucial occasions of want,” the governor stated in an announcement. “These new legal guidelines will defend New Yorkers and incentivize them to report fraud and help with restoration efforts whereas cracking down on dangerous actors and their deceitful makes an attempt to show a revenue throughout emergencies.”

A number of items of laws permitted earlier this 12 months by the Democrat-led Legislature stay on the governor’s desk awaiting her signature, together with the so-called “proper to restore” invoice.

The measure would pressure firms to make diagnostic and restore data for digital digital elements and gear, together with smartphones and computer systems, accessible to impartial restore retailers and customers.

Federal regulators have praised the invoice and a number of other different states are contemplating related items of laws regardless of intense lobbying efforts from massive tech firms. The New York invoice, if signed into legislation by Hochul, will go into impact in a single 12 months.

The governor might request adjustments to the ultimate invoice earlier than it’s enacted. Earlier than the invoice was overwhelmingly permitted by lawmakers earlier this 12 months, it was stripped of provisions requiring firms to offer restore data for farm gear, medical units, home equipment, and automobiles.

If Hochul doesn’t signal, amend or veto the invoice by midnight Wednesday, it mechanically turns into legislation.