New York State Legislature pauses packaging EPR bill, eyes election reforms for 2027

New York state lawmakers ended the 2026 session without advancing extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation that would place packaging waste costs on manufacturers of items such as mattress sleeves. Lobbyist Andy Hackman of the International Sleep Products Association said the “core arguments were that this is a punitive bill that is going to increase the cost of goods to consumers,” and that stance helped halt the proposal, which may be re‑filed next year under a new sponsor.

Separate proposals are expected to surface in the 2027 session, including a constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age for most state judges from 70 to 76, and a redistricting amendment that would allow mid‑decade boundary changes and remove the ban on partisan gerrymandering. These measures follow earlier debates on election administration and recent court rulings involving New York’s redistricting plans.