On July 8, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order No. 61, part of the “EXPRESS NY (Expediting Processes and Regulations to Enable Streamlined Services)” initiative, directing state agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of existing regulations and administrative procedures to identify inefficiencies. The order directs each affected state entity to review regulatory submission requirements that demand delivery by mail or fax, multiple printed copies, obsolete communication methods, check payment, or wet signatures, and to identify opportunities for hybrid hearings or meetings and for eliminating unnecessary notarization requirements. The order also directs agencies to review any regulatory requirement that adds significant compliance costs to small businesses or individuals without providing a clear public benefit.

The order further directs agencies to review fee schedules and penalty structures to ensure they are fair, transparent, and proportionate, including identifying fines or fees that disproportionately affect low-income residents or small businesses, and penalties that could be reduced, waived for first-time non-willful violations, or replaced with cure periods. It also directs agencies to identify opportunities for consolidating or streamlining fee requirements across agencies in situations where multiple agencies require fees for the same action by an applicant. Separately, the order directs agencies to identify mandated reports that are no longer used, are redundant, or can be consolidated, and to evaluate all boards, councils, task forces, and commissions within their purview for potential dissolution or reform if they have not recently met, no longer serve the public interest, or have had their functions superseded by other entities.