Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the Republican held state Senate Mon., May 22, passed legislation that would consolidate the federal and state primary election dates to the third Tuesday in August. This would change the current practice of holding the federal primary in June and the state primary in September, on top of the November general election. The majority Democrat Assembly, however, continues to push a bill that would require the primaries to be held on the fourth Tuesday in June. That bill passed last week. Consolidating the primary date is projected to save taxpayers $25 million. A 2012 federal court decision required the state to move its federal primary date because New York was out of compliance with the 2009 federal MOVE Act that requires states to provide absentee ballots to military and overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal general election. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.