ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on the New York Legislature passing a new $175.5. billion state budget (all times local):
9:15 a.m.
New York lawmakers have wrapped up approving a $175.5 billion state budget that includes a statewide ban on plastic bags and new tolls for driving into the busiest sections of Manhattan.
Lawmakers began debating budget legislation Sunday afternoon. The Democrat-controlled Senate finished passing budget bills around 2:30 a.m. Monday, followed about five hours later by the Assembly, also controlled by Democrats.
The ban on most single-use plastic bags will take effect March 1, 2020, while congestion pricing for driving into Manhattan south of 61st street isn’t expected to start until the following year.
Legislators also approved Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to make the 2 percent cap on local property taxes permanent and passed legislation eliminating cash bail for most criminal charges.
___
12:34 a.m.
The Democrat-controlled New York Legislature is poised to give final approval to a state budget that bans plastic bags statewide and imposes new tolls in Manhattan.
Lawmakers began voting on the $175.5 billion budget Sunday and hoped to wrap up their final votes early Monday morning.
When the ban takes effect next year New York will follow Hawaii and California as the third state in which single-use plastic bags are banned.
The tolls on motorists driving south of 61st Street are expected to start in 2021 as a way to discourage traffic and raise money for New York City subways. The specific toll amount will vary based on time and day and will be set by a review panel.
The budget also eliminates cash bail for most criminal defendants.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.