As the legislative session nears its final weeks, Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) joined host Ted Flint on the latest episode of “Assembly Update” to provide an overview of several key initiatives he’s championing on behalf of the 116th Assembly District.

One of the top issues discussed was Assembly bill A.6955, a bipartisan proposal co-sponsored by Gray to enhance safety standards for lithium-ion battery energy storage facilities. The bill establishes a minimum 1,000-foot setback from residential properties, strengthens local zoning authority and requires decommissioning bonds to protect communities.

“This legislation is a direct response to the devastating battery fire in Chaumont last July, which required a one-mile shelter-in-place order and took more than a year to clean up,” said Gray. “We’ve lived through the consequences of inadequate planning and oversight. This bill puts commonsense guardrails in place to prevent that from happening again.”

Gray also discussed a longstanding priority: Assembly bill A.40, which would restore the full 20 megawatts of economic development power allocation from the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project. “We host this critical infrastructure, and local communities should benefit from the economic development potential it generates,” Gray said.

On the local front, Gray highlighted bill A.8134, which designates a portion of a state highway in Ogdensburg in honor of the historic Fort La Présentation. “This is a meaningful tribute to our region’s deep ties to early American history and the War of 1812,” he said.

Additional legislative priorities discussed included:

• A.4944: A bill prohibiting the unauthorized use of drones over schools and critical infrastructure such as military bases, hydroelectric facilities and international bridges.
• A.8150: A proposed measure to return excess utility profits to ratepayers through credits. While it sounds beneficial, Gray expressed concerns about unintended consequences, including higher long-term rates and reduced investment in grid modernization.

“With only a few weeks left in session, we’re in the home stretch working through a flood of local bills and some contentious statewide proposals,” Gray said. “I’ll continue to fight for common-sense legislation that protects our communities, grows our economy and keeps New Yorkers safe.”

Watch the full video to hear Gray’s insights on these topics.
Watch the Assembly Update video here.