Yes. If Hochul signs the Responsible Data Center Development Act, New York becomes the first state to enact a statewide data centre moratorium.Source: event

Why does a North Country lawmaker want Hochul to veto the data centre bill?

The lawmaker argued on 30 June 2026 that the one-year permit freeze would deter data centre investment in upstate New York.Source: event

What does New York's Responsible Data Center Development Act do?

It imposes a one-year freeze on state permits for new data centres of 20 megawatts or more, plus an environmental impact review, labour standards and ratepayer protections.Source: event

Background

Kathy Hochul became New York State's 57th Governor in August 2021 when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, making her the first woman to hold the office. A Buffalo-area Democrat, she won a full term in November 2022, narrowly defeating Lee Zeldin in a race that exposed Democratic vulnerability in suburban New York. She occupies the party's centrist lane, more moderate on crime and fiscal policy than her New York City counterparts. Her tenure has been defined by a landmark $32.8 billion MTA capital plan and managing New York City's migrant crisis, which strained federal-state relations.

In March 2026, Hochul announced $17.2 million in federal funding for 2026 FIFA World Cup security: $6.46 million to NYPD, $6.65 million to the New York State Police, $2.61 million to MTA, and $1.5 million to the Port Authority.

In June 2026, both chambers of the New York legislature passed A9581 and its Senate companion S8706, sending the bills to Hochul for signature. The legislation would require firms with more than 50 employees to file an annual report with the state Labour Department on artificial intelligence's effect on hiring, filling a gap exposed by the federal WARN Act's first year of AI-disclosure data, in which zero of 162 companies covering 28,300 workers cited AI as a reason for any cut. Her decision whether to sign sets the template for whether centrist Democratic governors treat AI workforce disclosure as uncontroversial governance or a political liability.

As of 7 July 2026, Hochul had neither signed nor vetoed New York's Responsible Data Center Development Act (A11560/S10642), which passed the Assembly 102-39 and the Senate 44-16 on 4 June 2026. The bill would impose a one-year freeze on state Department of Environmental Conservation permits for new data centres of 20 megawatts or more, alongside an environmental impact review, labour standards and ratepayer protections. A North Country lawmaker publicly urged Hochul to veto the bill on 30 June 2026, warning it would deter upstate investment; if signed, New York would become the first state to enact a statewide data centre moratorium.