Court Sides With Couples Over Cuomo’s Wedding Restrictions
On August 7, 2020, Judge Glenn Suddaby of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York ruled that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 50-person limit on non-essential gatherings was unconstitutional as applied to religious wedding ceremonies. According to the New York Post, two couples sued the Governor on the grounds that the 50-person limit…
Massachusetts City Provides Legal Recognition For Polyamorists
In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that defining civil marriage as an opposite-sex union violated the United States Constitution. Could legal recognition of polygamy or polyamory be next? If recent developments in the City of Somerville, Massachusetts are any indication, the answer may be “yes.” On June 29, 2020, Somerville Mayor…
New Hope Wins at Second Circuit Court of Appeals
On July 21, 2020, Christian adoption provider New Hope Family Services won an important legal victory for religious freedom at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of New Hope Family Services v. Poole. Based in Syracuse, New York, New Hope Family Services has been in existence for over 50 years. The State…
State Releases New Guidance for Group Homes
On July 10, 2020, the State of New York’s Office For People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) released new guidance for group homes for the disabled. According to CBS 6 News, home visits and community outings had been banned since March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new guidelines, which went into effect on July…
State Releases School Re-Opening Guidelines
A recent blog post on AlbanyUpdate.com indicated that the State of New York was in the process of making decisions on fall school re-opening. Last week, there was more news. On July 13, 2020, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) made a presentation to the Board of Regents entitled “Recovering, Rebuilding, and Renewing: the…
State Set To Release School Re-Opening Guidelines
Government officials, school administrators, and parents across New York are wondering whether—and how—schools will re-open this fall. On July 8, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out a timeline for plans and decisions regarding school re-opening. The Governor stated that his administration was in the process of finalizing guidance on school re-opening, adding that the guidance…
In School Choice Decision, U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights, Religious Liberty
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, 591 U.S. _____ (2020). In this case, the State of Montana created an education tax credit program. That program provides tax credits to persons who donate funds to organizations that give scholarships to students at nonpublic schools. The…
Hoylman Outraged That Social Conservatives Have Representation In Albany
Following the announcement that State Sen. Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) had been named Senate Minority Leader, liberal voices wasted no time pressuring Leader Ortt to distance himself from social conservatives. On June 23, 2020, the Niagara Gazette reported that Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) had criticized Leader Ortt for having attended an event held by a…
Tell Cuomo To Focus On Finance, Keep Controversy Out Of The Budget
The 2020-2021 New York State Budget is due to be passed no later than April 1, 2020. Obviously, the coronavirus outbreak has complicated the effort to negotiate and pass the budget in a timely manner. To date, four Members of the State Legislature have tested positive for the coronavirus. The workplace restrictions and social distancing…
Parents Can Now Change Children’s Sex On Birth Certificates
Over the past several years, New York government has made various policy changes to accommodate persons who believe themselves to be members of the opposite sex. Recently, a misleading and damaging new ‘transgender’ policy has gone into effect. On March 10, 2020, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced that the New York State…
Hoylman Bill Would Establish LGBT History Curriculum
Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) wants schools to teach your kids about LGBT history. Bill S.1478-Hoylman.A.4744-Seawright would require the State of New York “to establish curriculum or instruction for school districts in the historical treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.” The senator doesn’t just want schools to teach students about homosexuality in…
Legislature Urged To Pass Adoption Tax Deduction
Bill S.5084-Salazar/A.6689-Crespo, the Adoption Tax Deduction Bill, would provide a personal income tax deduction for all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the adoption of a child in New York’s foster care system during a given tax year. Many foster parents do a commendable job caring for their foster children, but the permanence and…
State Legislators Want To Introduce Students To Sex
Do you believe that the State of New York should direct public schools to provide “comprehensive sexuality education” to students, beginning in kindergarten? Bill S.4844-Metzger/A.6512-Nolan would require public schools to do exactly that. The bill calls for public schools to provide “a medically accurate, age-appropriate sequential learning program which addresses physical, mental, emotional and social…
Cuomo Rolls Out Contractual Surrogacy Campaign
Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo rolled out a troubling new campaign to push for the passage of paid surrogacy legislation within the 2020-2021 New York State Budget. Echoing past movements for same-sex “marriage” and adoption by same-sex couples, the campaign asserts that “love makes a family.” Furthermore, the Governor has formed a Love Makes…
Ten Bad Bills Pending in Albany
At the New York State Capitol in Albany, thousands of bills are introduced for consideration every year. Many of those bills are inconsequential, many are ill-advised, and a few are good. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms spends a significant chunk of its resources on a fourth category of Albany bills: Bills that are morally unacceptable…
State Ed Gets Schooled On Private School Regs
Christian New Yorkers and parents of various faiths were outraged last year when the New York State Education Department (NYSED) proposed a massive regulatory power grab that threatened the continued existence of some nonpublic schools. Under the guise of ensuring that nonpublic schools provide their students with an education that is “substantially equivalent” to the…