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Lawmakers in Albany have just six days left to pass the state budget before the April 1 deadline. The proposed budget totals range from $250 billion to $265 billion, as put forth by Governor Kathy Hochul, the Senate, and the Assembly. Governor Hochul has expressed concerns about potential cuts to the $90 billion in federal funding New York receives annually, which could impact vital services like Medicaid and school lunch programs.
Governor Hochul has warned that federal funding cuts could severely affect health care and education programs. She stated, "School nutrition programs, school lunch programs — a lot of these kids are gonna have their stomachs growling throughout the day if they don’t have that money" (Spectrum News). Despite these concerns, she has no plans to reduce her $252 billion spending plan and is considering a special session to address any federal funding changes.
There are four key issues that lawmakers need to resolve before the budget deadline: involuntary commitment standards for psychiatric facilities, a proposed mask ban at protests, a cell phone ban in schools, and changes to pre-trial evidence sharing requirements. Each of these issues has sparked debate among lawmakers and stakeholders (Politico).
Governor Hochul has announced a conceptual agreement with legislative leaders on key budget priorities, estimating the Fiscal Year 2025 budget at $237 billion, without raising income or statewide business taxes (Governor's Office). However, the possibility of a special session remains as lawmakers brace for potential federal spending cuts.