Education

Policy

State leaders agree to school cellphone ban as rest of budget remains in limbo

Legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul have settled on a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools, a top priority for the governor and the first budget item that appears settled

Taxes

Policy

Bill to limit taxpayer funding of Cuomo’s legal fees worries public sector unions

The STOP Act would apply to all public workers, not just elected officials like former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Fixing the double standard that silences survivors of sexual abuse in prison

The Fair Access to Justice Act would let survivors bring lawsuits against the state even if they cannot remember the precise time, date and location of their abuse.

Immigration

Policy

Immigrant advocates demand local jails stop working with ICE

The Dignity Not Detention Act would ban New York jails and prisons from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Policy

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.

Policy

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

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.

Policy

Policy

NYC politicians urge state to fund child care assistance program in new letter

With a broad coalition of support, the signees are seeking an additional $900 million in the state budget.

Policy

Policy

Department of Health and PPL: CDPAP transition issues are not our fault

The state is offering a 30-day grace period for those who don’t finish registering with a new state-approved payment processor by the April 1 deadline, while blaming misinformation and uncooperative fiscal intermediaries for any problems with the transition.

Policy

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

Policy

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

Technology

Policy

City & State’s 2025 Digital Summit explores AI, vulnerabilities to cyberattacks

The event featured keynote remarks from Dru Rai, the state’s chief information officer and a fireside chat with New York City Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser.

Special Reports

Personality

Matt Fraser still wants to expand MyCity and AI chatbot

The city’s Chief Technology Officer provided some updates on some of the administration’s major tech-related promises in a recent conversation with City & State.

Immigration

Policy

Nassau enters controversial ‘task force’ agreement with ICE

The Long Island county’s police department is working with federal immigration officials under a type of agreement that was banned during the Obama administration.

Policy

Policy

Advocates for domestic violence survivors back Hochul’s proposed discovery changes

Groups that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence are asking lawmakers to approve controversial changes to the state’s discovery laws that are favored by prosecutors and opposed by criminal justice reformers.

Policy

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.

New York City

Policy

NYC DOT falls far short of '24 targets for bike and bus lanes – but touts progress

The city Department of Transportation is anticipating more blowback from the City Council for missing Streets Plan requirements they say are unrealistic.