New Laws for 2023 In New York State

With every new year, comes new changes, rules, and laws. Some are good, some not so good. One good change that happened for 2023 for those on Social Security not just in New York State, but the entire country, was a monthly increase put into place at 8.7 percent.

That's the largest cost of living adjustment in 40 years. NBC News reported the average monthly benefit increased by $146 per month, and the average disability benefit increased by $119 per month. Also, persons on the standard Medicare Part B premiums dropped 3 percent to $164.90 a month. That's a good thing.

Here's a question for you: Have you ever shown up to vote, but ended up at the wrong polling place in New York State? I did once, but only because my polling place had moved. A new law went into effect on January 1st, 2023 from the New York Senate website with Senate Bill S284C. It states: "Requires counting affidavit ballots of eligible voters if a voter appears at a polling place in the correct county but in the incorrect election district."

New York Election Law § 9-209(7) (d) allows a ballot to be cast and canvassed where a person was entitled to vote, but either the ballot envelope was invalid on its face due to ministerial error by the board of elections, or where the voter appeared at the correct polling place, but in the incorrect election district. This bill would allow a ballot to be cast and canvassed when a voter appears in the correct county and a polling place that includes their correct assembly district, even if the voter casts their ballot at a polling place for which they are not assigned. - The New York State Senate

Nonetheless, It would probably be a good idea to check ahead of time to find where your polling place is before heading out to vote.

And another new law that went into effect in New York State on January 1st, 2023, is the Electric Vehicle Rights Act S8518A, which says that a homeowners' association can't "Adopt or enforce any rules or regulations that would effectively prohibit, or impose unreasonable limitations on, the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station."

Also, the New York State Department of Labor increased the minimum wage by a dollar an hour for 2023 from $13.20 To $14.20, adding another step to an eventual $15 dollar an hour minimum wage for all workers in the State of New York. Plus minimum wage for home care aids increased to $16.20 per hour this year (2023.)

[via NBC News, New York State Senate, New York State Department Of Labor]