New York lobbying spending hits record high, includes data center moratorium efforts
New York lobbying spending reached a record high of $213 million in the first half of this year, with rideshare, gambling, and healthcare industries leading efforts to influence state policy. A proposed data center moratorium bill was among the most heavily lobbied legislation, and Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently announced her own version of a data center moratorium.
Lobbying expenditures in New York reached a record $213 million in the first half of the year, according to a report from the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. This significant increase from the previous year highlights heightened efforts to influence state policy across various sectors.
Among the top lobbying causes, efforts to change auto insurance laws led the spending, with groups like Citizens for Affordable Rates and rideshare giant Uber investing heavily. Other major spenders included autonomous vehicle company Waymo, gambling groups like Genting New York LLC and the Sports Betting Alliance (representing apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel), and various healthcare and economic development organizations.
Notably, a bill proposing a moratorium on new data centers in the state also emerged as one of the most heavily lobbied pieces of legislation during the recent session. Following the legislative discussions, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her own initiative for a data center moratorium, indicating the issue's prominence in state government decision-making.