NY Gov. Hochul Reaches $254B Budget Deal After Month-Long Delay
Agreement includes changes to discovery laws and mental health policies
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a preliminary agreement with state legislators on a record $254 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, nearly a month after missing the April 1 deadline. The budget represents a 6% increase over last year's spending plan and includes several of Hochul's key policy priorities. The deal follows weeks of negotiations between the Democratic governor and the Democrat-controlled state legislature, particularly regarding changes to discovery laws governing evidence-sharing in criminal cases.
The budget agreement includes modifications to New York's discovery laws aimed at addressing what Hochul described as criminal case dismissals due to technicalities. It also expands provisions for mandatory mental health treatment and Kendra's Law, which governs assisted outpatient treatment. Additional measures include a school cellphone ban and a $2 billion inflation refund program providing payments to qualifying families and individuals based on income thresholds.
KEY POINTS
- •NY budget $254B, 28 days overdue
- •Changes to criminal evidence laws
- •Includes $2B in inflation refunds
Funding for transportation infrastructure features prominently in the budget with an increase to the payroll mobility tax on businesses in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority region. This tax increase is intended to support the transit agency's $68 billion five-year capital plan. The budget also includes some form of masking restriction, reportedly adding penalty enhancements for individuals who conceal their identity while committing crimes.
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