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New York State lawmakers have approved another budget extender to keep the government running through Monday (April 7). The decision comes as discussions over the state's $252 billion budget remain stalled, primarily due to disagreements on criminal justice policies. Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature have yet to reach a consensus on key issues, including changes to pretrial criminal discovery laws and involuntary commitments for mentally ill individuals.
Governor Hochul has expressed no urgency in finalizing the budget, stating, "I’m not in any rush," according to the Times Union. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the budget deadline has been missed, with the original deadline passing on Tuesday (April 1). State Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger voiced frustration over the delay, noting that fiscal items are being held up by policy negotiations.
The latest extender will allow the state to meet payroll and fund programs such as Medicaid through Thursday (April 10). Lawmakers and Governor Hochul are expected to continue negotiations over the weekend. Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie indicated that resolving the discovery law issue could pave the way for a budget agreement by the end of next week.
Meanwhile, Republicans have criticized the repeated use of short-term spending bills, with Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay calling the process "dysfunctional" as reported by the New York Post. If no agreement is reached soon, lawmakers may face further delays, potentially impacting their planned two-week break after Passover.