A bill meant to strengthen oversight of economic development spending in New York is heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk for her consideration.

The measure would restore in law the ability of the state comptroller's office to review many state contracts before they are signed — addressing what has been a long-standing concern of good-government organizations in New York.

The issue of the comptroller's pre-audit authority was first raised in the wake of the bribery and bid-rigging scandal that engulfed then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo's western New York economic development efforts, which ultimately drew in a close former aide to the governor, as well as prominent upstate developers.

But at the same time, groups like Reinvent Albany are also raising concerns with what did not get done in the legislative session, pointing to legislation that would have ended non-disclosure argeements in state contracts. The measure was approved in the state Senate, but failed to gain final passage in the Assembly.