Budget
Albany Agenda
Legislature passes $1.7 billion extender as state misses budget deadline
The budget extender will fund the state through Thursday.
Policy
State budget director warns NY will have to cut services if federal funding dries up
The state’s projected $252 billion budget includes over $90 billion of federal funding – and if the Trump administration cuts that off, the state won’t be able to backfill it.
Budget
Eric Adams and Adrienne Adams are both running for mayor. They’re also hashing out the city’s $115 billion budget.
The mayor and the City Council speaker are going to have to find consensus amid an unprecedented and fractious primary election.
Policy
Survivor groups split over Hochul’s proposed changes to discovery laws
After a number of organizations representing survivors of sexual and domestic violence called on lawmakers to support the governor’s proposal, other survivor groups called on lawmakers to reject it.
Policy
New York has debated forced psychiatric treatment for decades
Half a century after the state tightened the criteria for involuntary commitment, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to hospitalize mentally ill people against their will.
Opinion
Opinion: Distraction-free is the way forward
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban would create safer schools and better learning environments.
Opinion
Opinion: A more sustainable NY starts with empowering education
The state should increase funding for climate education programs that serve marginalized communities.
News & Politics
Fearing federal cuts, unions ask Hochul for more DOL funding
32BJ SEIU, CWA District 1, NYSNA and others are calling on the governor and legislative leaders to include an additional $200 million for the state Department of Labor in the budget.
Budget
Feds suddenly terminate funding for NY addiction recovery programs
Lawmakers and advocates are calling on the state government to backfill the federal grant funding that’s been cut.
MTA
Heastie warns state may need to raise taxes to fund MTA
The Assembly speaker said the state needs to figure out new sources of revenue to fund mass transit, especially given the uncertainty of future federal funding.
Policy
Advocacy groups demand state restore cut public health funds to NYC
The state pays for 36% of cities’ core health services costs – except in New York City, where it only pays for 20%.
Health Care
Lawmakers, advocates and contractors beg Hochul to delay April 1 CDPAP deadline
Tens of thousands of people could temporarily lose their home care if the transition isn’t completed in time
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Campaigns & Elections
NYC comptroller debate: a war of the wonks
Leading candidates Justin Brannan and Mark Levine agree that the Adams administration is as transparent as a brick wall when it comes to budgeting.
Policy
Legislature proposes spending millions to help legal cannabis industry
For the state’s legal cannabis cultivators, the Assembly and state Senate one-house budget proposals are dope.
Albany Agenda
Assembly and state Senate release ‘one-house’ state budget proposals
The Legislature’s budget proposals differ from the governor’s executive budget proposal when it comes to discovery reform, involuntary commitment and rebate checks.
Opinion
Opinion: Universal child care in NY could save the Democratic Party
Let’s show the nation that when Democrats are in power, they pass universal policies that directly improve the lives of working-class people.
Adams probes
Could deputy mayor resignations cost NYC a seat at the table?
Assembly Member Patrick Burke warned Mayor Eric Adams that the planned departure of four deputy mayors might hurt New York City during state budget negotiations.
Eric Adams
At ‘Tin Cup Day’ hearing, Eric Adams’ budget priorities aren’t the point
State lawmakers paid some attention to the New York City mayor’s requests for migrant funding and discovery law changes, but questions about Trump policies and the city budget took center stage.
Upstate
Upstate mayors rattle tin cups for increased state aid
The mayors of Buffalo, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester and Albany want a permanent increase in the state budget’s Aid and Incentives to Municipalities funding.
Budget
Hochul’s FY 2026 budget, by the numbers
The governor proposed a record-high executive budget that includes funding for her affordability agenda
