Stec Outlines 2024 Legislative Priorities

Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) is outlining his top legislative priorities for the 45th Senate District prior to the start of Legislative Session on Wednesday. Specifically, Stec is looking to advance measures that would expand cell phone service in the Adirondack Park, increase affordable housing in the North Country, secure a rate increase for the Nursing Home Medicaid Program and restore safety inside correctional facilities by repealing the HALT Act. Additionally, Stec will be joining his Senate Republican colleagues at a press conference in the next few weeks to announce a comprehensive economic and public safety legislative package.

“As the 2024 Legislative Session commences, I’m committed to taking actions that would have a direct, positive impact on our quality of life,” said Stec. “Last year, I sent out a legislative survey concerning cell phone coverage in the Adirondack Park and the results made it clear just how much more work, whether it’s through the state budget or private-public partnerships, needs to be done to ensure all our residents have access to reliable cell service. Every New Yorker needs and deserves access to cell phone coverage. This year, I’m optimistic we can take meaningful strides toward addressing this need.

“Affordable housing remains an urgent need in our region,” he continued. “One of the biggest impediments to its expansion remains the high cost of construction in New York. If we’re going to finally make headway in ensuring residents can find and afford housing here, and across our state, it’s time to reduce costs and red tape and make resolving this crisis the priority it needs to be.

“Despite rising labor and other costs associated with caring for our seniors, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for nursing homes hasn’t been increased for more than a decade,” Stec added. “The stagnant reimbursement rate in the face of rising costs has real consequences for the people and families who depend on skilled nursing care, and on the medical system generally. An increase in the reimbursement rate would help facilities hire and retain staff, and maintain available beds for our aging population. I recently wrote to Governor Hochul to call for increasing this rate in the upcoming state budget and I plan on making this one of my top budget priorities this year.

“I’m proud to stand in solidarity with our corrections officers and civilian staff. Time and again, I’ve heard from them directly that their safety is at risk due to the HALT Act. A failure to protect the men and women working inside these facilities is a failure to ensure that our correctional facilities are secure. To that end, I will continue to sponsor legislation to repeal HALT and restore safety inside correctional facilities,” he continued.

“In addition to these priorities, in the days ahead, I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to advance measures that will grow our economy and expand opportunity throughout our state,” Stec concluded.