ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--A POLICY MEASURE TO TRANSITION THE STATE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR TOPIC AMONG BUDGET TALKS IN ALBANY. 

THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WOULD END WHAT IS CALLED THE 100 FOOT RULE, WHICH relieves NEW RESIDENTIAL GAS RATEPAYERS FROM THE COST OF A NEW GAS LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING LINE BUT CONSEQUENTLY THIS INCREASES BILLS FOR ALL THE OTHER RATE PAYERS. 

THE LEGISLATION ALSO TRIES TO TRANSITION THE STATE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING BY REQUIRING THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE STATE. 
 
MANY LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THIS POLICY TO BE AN ITEM IN THE FINAL BUDGET AND WHILE SOME LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE CONTINUALLY EXPRESSED, THEY DO NOT SUPPORT POLICY IN THE BUDGET THIS WEEK THEY SEEM TO BE OPENING THEIR MINDS TO IT. 
 
"If the Senate brings up a policy and the Governor brings up a policy, I'm not going to say no we can't discuss it just like I may bring up something that they didn't put in theirs but it's on the table," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Assembly District 83).
 
LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL Thursday April 4 TO WRAP UP BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS UNLESS THEY PASS ANOTHER BUDGET DEADLINE EXTENSION.