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Rensselaer County Legislature urges governor to oppose New York HEAT Act; resolution passes 12-6
Summary
After brief debate, the Rensselaer County Legislature approved a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to oppose the New York HEAT Act, with the final vote 12 in favor and 6 opposed. One legislator publicly explained his decision to vote against the county resolution.
The Rensselaer County Legislature on April 8 passed a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to oppose the New York HEAT Act, voting 12 in favor and 6 opposed.
The resolution, introduced by a large group of legislators from across the chamber, was debated before the vote. Legislator Zalewski, who spoke during the discussion, described receiving dozens of nearly identical emails opposing the Act and questioned the origin of those messages. He argued the HEAT Act contains provisions intended to cap utility spending relative to income and to reduce mandatory new gas connections, and said those provisions would help low- and middle-income families in his district. “I can’t support opposing it. So I’m gonna be voting no,” Zalewski said.
The measure as presented urges the governor to oppose the HEAT Act; the Legislature adopted that position with a 12-6 tally. The transcript does not record a formal amendment to the text of the resolution during the meeting.
Why it matters: The HEAT Act is state-level legislation that its supporters say will cap energy costs for vulnerable households; opponents, including utilities and allied organizations, have argued the bill could have other cost impacts. The county resolution formalizes a local legislative position to the governor’s office.
Vote at the meeting: 12 ayes, 6 noes. The transcript records the vote result at the meeting’s roll-call area immediately after the debate.
Next steps: The county resolution is an expression of the Legislature’s preference; it does not change state law. The transcript does not record subsequent transmittal steps or the clerk’s file number for delivery to the governor.
