Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham, Deputy Chair Wanda Willingham, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin, and Democratic Majority Leader Dennis Feeney are proud to share a look back at the body’s major 2025 highlights.

Legislature’s End of Year Newsletter

HOUSING AGENDA

The Legislature’s Housing Agenda soared in 2025.

Working in collaboration with the County Executive’s Office, the body helped create a First Time Homebuyer Navigator program to help new buyers cut through the confusion and intimidation that can come with buying a property. The body also teamed up with the Executive to create tax incentives for homeowners to improve properties with Accessory Dwelling Units.

The passage of Local Law G was a true hallmark moment for the Legislature in 2025. Local Law G, which passed in early December, makes affordable housing a governmental and public purpose in Albany County. It is not only a historic piece of legislation, but is also a pivotal component in the Legislature expanding its impact during the ongoing affordability crisis.

Thanks to the groundwork laid by Local Law G, the path was clear for the introduction of Local Law L, which outlines the creation and ongoing support of a revolving loan fund in Albany County. Even though Local Law L will likely be considered in February 2026 and is a crucial piece of legislation that will help local developers create affordable housing stock thanks to access to funding to support projects. The more housing stock created, the more affordable it becomes.

CAPITAL CENTER EXPANSION

Critical financial support from New York State, the Legislature’s Local Law D, and a pair of connected resolutions, combined to forge a new partnership between the Legislature, County Executive, and the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA), which owns the Albany Capital Center, to support the Center’s proposed expansion.

The economic ripple effects of the new partnership could reverberate throughout downtown Albany and the rest of the county for the next 30 years.

Demolition work began in the late summer on the $54.9 million project will add five new meeting rooms, a large multi-purpose room, a new ballroom and pre-function area on the first floor, and a 3,000-square-foot courtyard for outdoor events. Once completed, the rentable space will increase to 84,000 square feet.

Beyond other fees, Albany County is set to receive a portion of the ACCA’s Local Hotel Occupancy Tax as part of the agreement.

LOCAL LAWS

Two local laws also highlighted 2025 – the first focusing on notification standards when water is threatened, and the second addressing the purchase and use of flare guns.

When Local Law B passed in July, the Legislature set effective, efficient, and ongoing notification communication standards for County health officials to follow up with local municipalities, the Legislature, and the County Executive’s Office, if a threat to water in the County is detected.

After Local Law J passed unanimously in December, flare guns are now treated akin to traditional firearms in Albany County and must be primarily purchased, possessed, and used by those over 21 years old.

The law, which would give way to pending New York State legislation, carves out exceptions for the purchase or use of flare guns on boats, for official military or government purposes, or for individuals under 21 participating in recognized and supervised training programs.

GRANT PROGRAMS

The Legislature also reinvested over $1 million directly into schools, non-profit organizations, and municipalities throughout the county through both Improvement Initiative Grants and the Community Development, Public Health, and Safety Fund Program.

Funding supported anti-bullying education, tobacco use prevention, women’s health initiatives, public parks and playgrounds, and programming for youth, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and veterans in every community within Albany County.

Looking ahead, the Legislature has added $200,000 to its grant funding portfolio for 2026 to support local businesses in collaboration with the County Executive’s Office.

LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS

After the Legislative Black Caucus (LBC) led the annual Martin Luther King Food Drive that created over 3,000 meals for local families in January, the body held an in-depth educational program for Black History Month in February.

The LBC also supported the Women’s Legislative Caucus’ Women’s History Month event in March before a summer that included a Community Roundtable discussion about public safety, more educational programming for Juneteenth, and culminated with a second roundtable focusing on affordable housing in August.

The LBC capped off the year with an Intergenerational Mixer for local seniors and youth in December.

2026 BUDGET

The year culminated with the unanimous passage of the $902 million 2026 Adopted Albany County Budget in early December.

The spending plan not only aligns closely with previous budgets and legislative goals, it also remains below the county’s tax cap, and prepares county coffers for potential funding challenges that may arise from the federal “Big, Beautiful, Bill”.

Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham said: “We have come very far, but there is still so much more to do. I am thrilled by what we have accomplished throughout this year, but I am more excited about where we are going in the future. The teamwork, the drive, the passion, the service in this Legislature is unparalleled. Everything we have done thus far, and everything we are planning for the future is always in service of every resident and every taxpayer in Albany County.”

Albany County Legislature Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham said: “Looking back on such an eventful year, I am especially proud of our work on housing and affordability because of the depth of impact it will have. Every metric of success - crime rates, education, generational wealth, and many more - ties back to secure and affordable housing, and I am excited to see where we go in the future. As Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, I am also thankful for the hard work that went into the 2026 budget season and how smoothly the process went this year. Finally, I am thrilled with the success of our annual grant programs. Every year, we carefully and thoughtfully listen to the needs of communities throughout Albany County and then deliberately put resources into the hands of people and organizations that are on the ground, in neighborhoods, and making every day impacts that are desperately needed. As we expand these programs, I highly encourage everyone working on grassroots projects that address bullying, women's health, anti-tobacco programming, and so much more to reach out to us, and work with us.”

Albany County Legislature Democratic Majority Leader Dennis Feeney said: “The work of the Legislature in 2025 reflects a clear commitment to responsible governance, fiscal discipline, and tangible results for Albany County residents. From advancing a comprehensive housing agenda to investing in community grants, public safety, and long-term economic development, this body acted deliberately and collaboratively to meet real needs across our communities.”

Albany County Legislative Black Caucus Chair Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin said: “2025 has been an exceptional year for the Legislature, and especially for the Legislative Black Caucus. We have worked tirelessly to advance our priorities, including housing, health, public safety, and economic development, and to ensure those priorities translate into real results for our communities. I am incredibly proud of the work of the Legislative Black Caucus this year, from convening impactful roundtables on critical issues like housing and public safety to leading initiatives such as our annual MLK Food Drive, Black History Month, and Juneteenth celebrations that keep our communities connected. I look forward to building on this momentum and achieving even greater progress alongside my dedicated colleagues in the year ahead and beyond.”