There is one thing for certain here in New York State; changes are coming. Whether you are for or against the new laws that will be put in to place, New York State is getting ready to be one of the most progressive and forward thinking states in the country.

A new legislative session is about to begin this week in Albany and that will bring about votes to move current bills forward and no doubt will bring new ideas and opportunities to introduce new regulations.

New York State is such a unique place to live. You could be snowmobiling or skiing one day, visiting Niagara Falls the next and wrap it up with shopping in New York City and never be outside of state lines. But with that also comes many challenges. The cultures and the ideals and beliefs are vast from region to region. But if you ask voters in some parts of the state, they feel like they are forgotten or overlooked and New York City and down state get most of the attention.

2023 is here and like it or not, there will be changes. Even if you think your voice doesn't matter, it may be a good idea to know who is standing up for you. Do you know who your representative is? There are resources to help you find out. I have often said that it doesn't make much sense to sit back and complain if you don't get involved. It is as simple as casting a vote for or against those who you think are either improving New York State, or setting it back.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

More From 96.1 The Eagle