With the State Legislative Session over in NYS, It's a good time to reflect on the good and the bad re: progress on reform issues.

Check out my commentary on the session, and read below for the session's top news stories.

NYS Enacts One of Country's Tightest Gift Limits. Common Cause/NY applauded the adoption in March of a stronger gift ban by the NY Temporary State Commission on Lobbying.  State law bans gifts to lawmakers and their staffs that are worth $75 or more.  However, the rule had previously been interpreted to apply per gift rather than per year.  In other words, lobbyists could give lawmakers limitless $74.99 gifts.  The limit will now be annual.  New York's strengthened gift ban is now in the top dozen of such restrictions across the country, according to a 50 state survey released by CC/NY, the League of Women Voters/N.Y.S. and NYPIRG.

City Reins In Lobbyist Power. In May, the New York City council took a significant step towards limiting the influence of lobbyists on city politics. The council passed a bill that bans large gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, requires lobbyists to report work done on local political campaigns, and limits public matching given for lobbyist campaign contributions. The bill also included a stronger enforcement framework, such as harsher penalties for violations of lobbying laws.