ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — From Gov. Kathy Hochul's swearing-in, to lawmakers holding their breath waiting to see if their legislation would be signed into law, no doubt it was a weekend to remember in Albany.
Perhaps one of the biggest outstanding items was that of a legislative pay raise, with many Democrats breathing a sigh of relief as they woke up in the new year.
Just hours before being sworn in as New York's first elected female governor, Hochul quietly signed the bill bumping state legislators' annual salary from $110,000 to $142,000. The $32,000 pay raise went into effect immediately, making New York legislators the highest paid in the country.
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy was one of the Democrats who voted for the raise, telling CBS 6 on Monday that this was one of the most difficult decisions she's ever made as a legislator.
"For me it was uncomfortable but I also, in the end, felt I had to for the good of the institution because we have seen a very unhealthy turnover or churning in the body," said Fahy.
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The legislative pay raise was just one of several bills to get the greenlight from Hochul leading up to the end of the year.
On Wednesday, Hochul sign the right to repair bill, making it easier for consumers to get parts for and repair electronic devices like smart phones and tablets.
On Thursday, the governor's office announced Hochul signed the living donor support act into law, making New York the first state in the country allowing people to be reimbursed for costs associated with donating a kidney or a liver.
And on Friday, Hochul signed a bill related to contractors and protecting the integrity of public work projects.
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Fahy says five bills she sponsored just passed in the last week as well, telling CBS 6 this was one of the most stressful end of the year experiences she's had in office.
"You have a very new governor, right?" Fahy said. "She had been one year in and then running for election in her own right, so we've seen a lot of changes in staffing. I guess it was just a whole combination of things, but I have to say it was, in my 10 years, I've rarely had one go this late, let alone five."
CBS 6 reached out to the governors office to see how many bills she signed, vetoed or left tabled in 2022. A member of her press team said due to the holiday we probably would not get an answer Monday, but they are looking into the request.