New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday vetoed a bill that would've established a specialized electric vehicle emergency response training program.

The legislation would've tasked the state fire administrator with creating the program for all first responders. It was prompted by the growing use of electric vehicles, which use lithium-ion batteries. A 2023 national study pointed out that 40% of first responders and firefighters had no training whatsoever in how to deal with electric vehicle fires and incidents.

"While I find the goal of expanding EV training laudable, this bill would require the expenditure of funds that are not accounted for in the State's financial plan," Hochul wrote in a veto memo. "Any EV emergency response training would be more appropriately considered in the context

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