Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

January 16, 2026

What’s Inside

  • Legislative Session Review
  • 2026 State of the State Recap   
  • Two Assemblymembers Announce Departure
  • Governor Announces Appellate Divisions Designations
  • Governor Announces State Funding for First Responders
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Legislative Session Review

The Legislature convened for session on Monday and Tuesday this week, and will meet Tuesday and Wednesday next week, following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

This week, the State Senate announced the following Majority Conference Committee Assignments:

  • Senator April Baskin – Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business
  • Senator Luis Sepulveda – Chair of the Committee on Judiciary

2026 State of the State Recap

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her fifth State of the State Address in the Hart Theater at The Egg in Albany. The full briefing book can be accessed here. The Address can be watched here and the Governor’s transcript remarks can be read here.

The Governor presented a multi-faceted agenda focused on affordability, public safety, and modernizing New York’s infrastructure and economy. Her message’s overarching theme is “Your Family. Your Future. My Fight,” with a specific focus on countering federal headwinds and reducing the cost of living for New Yorkers. The Governor also participated in an interview with Errol Louis on Spectrum News NY1 to discuss her State of the State proposals, which can be viewed here. 

The New York State Constitution requires the Governor to deliver an annual message to the Legislature regarding the “state of the state.” The proposals outlined in the State of the State are the first step in defining the Governor’s agenda for the coming year. Her policy and funding proposals will be forthcoming in the Executive Budget, due January 20.

A review of some of the initiatives announced by Governor Hochul in her 2026 State of the State message follows:

Affordability – One of Governor Hochul’s priorities is to reduce costs for families, ranging from childcare to utilities and insurance.

Universal Child Care: The Governor proposes a roadmap to universal childcare, including a $1.7 billion investment increase and the creation of a new Office of Child Care and Early Education.

  • Universal Pre-K: A commitment to implementing universal Pre-K for four-year-olds statewide by the 2028-29 school year.
  • NYC Initiatives: Partnering with New York City to launch “2-Care” (free care for two-year-olds) and strengthen the 3K program.

Insurance Costs:

  • Auto: Proposals to crack down on staged accidents and fraud to lower premiums, including limiting damages for drivers committing crimes or those “mostly” at fault.
  • Home: Increasing transparency on insurer profitability and requiring discounts for homeowners who install safety upgrades.

Utilities & Food:

  • Utility Reform: Legislation to tie utility executive pay to affordability.
  • Food Security: Launching “New York PLATES,” a grant program to upgrade food bank infrastructure, and using chip-based EBT cards to prevent theft.

Public Safety and Justice – The Governor’s agenda focuses on illegal guns, transit safety, and retail theft, including.

  • New legislation to crack down on 3D-printed guns and DIY machine gun converters.
  • Continued funding for police on subway platforms and expanding teams to address mental health crises in the subway system.
  • Continuing efforts to curtail retail theft.
  • Establishing a state-level right to sue federal officers for constitutional violations.

Housing and Infrastructure – The Governor intends to accelerate affordable housing development through new capital investments coupled with regulatory reform, and the following initiatives.

  • A major reform of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). This would fast-track housing and infrastructure projects that have no significant environmental impact.
  • An additional $250 million capital allocation to accelerate affordable housing development.
  • A five-year, $3.75 billion commitment to upgrade water and sewer systems.
  • Developing High Falls State Park in Rochester and revitalizing Riverbank State Park in Harlem.

Economy, Innovation, and Technology – The State of the State also proposes the following:

  • Launching a Downstate Semiconductor Chip Design Center.
  • Establishing the Empire AI Student Challenge and an independent AI Research Center at SUNY Binghamton.
  • Eliminating state income taxes on tips for service workers up to $25,000.
  • Creating a new state office to oversee digital safety, and requiring labels for AI-generated content.
  • Modernizing alcohol laws to allow dancing in bars by default and creating hybrid restaurant-tavern licenses.

Education and Healthcare – The Governor proposes new state spending for workforce development, mental health, and disability access.

  • Implementing evidence-based instructional practices for math, similar to the Science of Reading initiative.
  • Providing Teen Mental Health First Aid training to all 10th graders statewide.
  • Freezing tuition for resident undergraduates at SUNY and CUNY campuses.
  • Expanding the Safety Net Transformation Program to support struggling hospitals.
  • Removing restrictions on healthcare workers to expand their scope of practice (e.g., allowing medical assistants to vaccinate).
  • Directing the Department of Health to negotiate directly with manufacturers for high-cost drugs.

Energy and Environment – The Governor outlines a strategy balancing reliability with meeting the state’s climate goals.

  • Launching a “Nuclear Reliability Backbone” initiative to develop 4 gigawatts of new advanced nuclear power to work toward a zero-emission electric grid.
  • Advancing “FloodSafe NY” to manage flood risks and investing $425 million in the Environmental Protection Fund.
  • Proposing a sales tax exemption for electricity sold at commercial EV charging stations.

Inclusion and Community – The State of the State includes the following new initiatives:

  • Launching the “These Lands are for Everyone” initiative to make state parks more accessible, and an Adaptive Clothing Grant Program for fashion innovation.
  • Doubling the size of the Empire State Service Corps for SUNY students.
  • Establishing Veterans Services Clinics on every SUNY and CUNY campus.

Lastly, the Governor’s office issued press releases for each proposal, which can be found below.

Two Assemblymembers Announce Departure

This week, two more State Assemblymembers announced that they would not be seeking re-election.

First, Democratic Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon, who represents the 119th Assembly District, which covers Utica and Rome, as well as several surrounding communities in Oneida County. She was first elected to the Assembly in 2018.

According to Spectrum News, Assemblymember Buttenschon issued a statement saying:

I was honored to help draft and pass legislation for our veterans, first responders, our youth, and seniors, to name a few. While these legislative and resource wins are important, the most rewarding part of my job has always been engaging directly with residents and business owners in the 119th Assembly District.

The second Assemblymember to announce their departure this week was Republican Angelo Morinello. First elected in 2016, the Assemblymember represents the 145thAssembly District, including Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, and Lewiston in Erie and Niagara counties. As part of his announcement, the Assemblymember formally endorsed Rebecca Wydysh – a former Niagara County legislator and Niagara County Legislature chair – to succeed him as assembly member for the 145th District. His full statement can be found here. 

Governor Announces Appellate Division Designations

On Thursday, Governor Hochul announced the designation of Justice Lisa Ottley as an Additional Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, and Justice Christina Ryba as an Additional Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Third Department.

In a statement, Governor Hochul said:

Today, I’m strengthening New York’s Appellate Courts by announcing the designations of two women whose legal expertise, judicial temperament and commitment to justice will ensure New York’s laws are applied fairly and correctly. With the appointment of Justice Ottley and Justice Ryba, our courts will continue to uphold the public trust and serve as places of integrity and justice for all New Yorkers.

Learn more about each of the designees here. 

Governor Announces State Funding for First Responders

This week, Governor Hochul announced that more than $38 million in state funding has been awarded to 17 counties and New York City to improve emergency communications for first responders. The Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant program supports local governments’ efforts to build and repair radio towers that allow them to communicate with other emergency responders during disasters and emergencies. Installing and maintaining these towers ensures that lines of communication continue to be clearly accessible in situations when they are needed the most.

The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will administer the funding, which is available under the Combined 2024 & 2025 Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant (SICG) Targeted Grant Program. The goal of the SICG-Targeted program is to close gaps in interoperability infrastructure, regional communications deficiencies, improve redundancy and resiliency of existing systems and support the implementation of National Interoperability Channels.

The grants awarded can be found here.

Governor Hochul said:

Saving a life can come down to one call, and our first responders need to have the most reliable emergency communications systems to help their fellow New Yorkers during their most critical moments. Investing in emergency response to enhance first responder readiness is a matter of life and death — I remain committed to prioritizing public safety throughout our state.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

Working Families Party backs Brian Romero in NY Assembly race in potential rift with Mamdani.

Nydia Velazquez gives Mamdani a warning as she endorses a successor.

Hochul raises nearly $12 million for her own reelection, state Democratic Party.

Brisport ‘asked to leave the state’ at Hochul event after endorsing Antonio Delgado.

NY governor’s race tit-for-tat. Hochul touts support at Delgado stops.

New York’s economy can’t afford to cut environmental funding.

Judge hands offshore wind another victory against Trump, clearing way for NY project.

NUMC to receive $109.6 million bailout to stabilize hospital.

New York lawmakers eye new AI regulations for ‘high-risk’ decisions.

Pataki weighs in, as his former NY lieutenant governor launches bid for CT governor.

Poloncarz: no ‘blank check’ from taxpayers for Buffalo Bills stadium.

Climate activists find little comfort in Gov. Hochul’s State of the State message.

Former Dannemora Mayor charged with falsifying records to boost retirement benefits.

Police probe another device at New York school with ‘timeout box’.

Coming Up

The Senate will hold a public hearing to discuss risks, solutions, and best practices with respect to the use of artificial intelligence in consequential or high-risk contexts, and related issues, such as classification of the types and risk levels of AI uses, frameworks for auditing AI tools for bias, and transparency improvements, on January 15.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the effects that e-bikes and e-scooters have on mobility, traffic congestion, and public safety on January 22.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the root causes of chronic absenteeism and low attendance in primary and secondary schools in New York State and explore solutions to help increase attendance rates on January 22.