New state laws taking effect in 2012

By Sen. Tom Libous

A number of new state laws take effect in 2012. Some are as important as the Property Tax Cap; Middle Class Tax Cuts or outlawing texting while driving. Others are as simple as how many rods you can use while fishing.

The laws I’m particularly proud of give you a more efficient, more effective government that can better control spending while providing important public services.

Here are some of them:

BETTER GOVERNMENT

Property Tax Cap (S.5856) – Municipal governments and school districts must keep their tax increases below 2 percent unless they have approval from 60 percent of the voting body that approves budgets.

Middle Class Tax Cut and Flood Relief (S.1 and S.2 of Extraordinary Session) – Working with Governor Cuomo, we reached an agreement on a jobs plan to create thousands of jobs, a middle class tax cut to reduce taxes for 4.4 million New Yorkers and provide an extra $50 million in flood relief.

Mandate Relief (S.5856) – Laws were amended to help communities and school districts save up to $125 million a year. Some of the changes allow:

Communities to share equipment, materials and services.

Up to three small school districts to share a single superintendent.

Agencies to file state reports electronically, rather than hard copy.

Local governments to piggyback on state authority to buy electricity, information technology, software and other items at a lower cost.