Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State agenda, explained

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s wish list for 2024 includes a major focus on combating retail theft and bolstering mental health care — but not so much on the ongoing influx of migrants arriving in New York City.

Hochul is proposing new laws that would impose penalties for selling stolen goods online, as well as tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers. She also wants to give business owners a tax credit if they bolster their store security.

That could be a tough sell for legislative Democrats, who often oppose increasing criminal penalties. But it was welcomed by Staten Island Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, a Democrat who sponsors a similar measure.

"This would put [retail workers] in line with any other frontline worker deemed during the pandemic —bus drivers, utility workers, cops, firefighters," she said. "Having this is a really big deal to help combat retail theft, and it's a worker protection bill."

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