Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

January 17, 2024

What’s Inside

• Executive Budget Presentation Details Announced
• 2025 State of the State
• Legislative Session Recap
• In the News
• Coming Up

Executive Budget Presentation Details Announced

The Governor is scheduled to present her Fiscal Year 2025-26 Executive Budget on Tuesday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. in the New York State Capitol Red Room in Albany. Following her presentation, Division of Budget Director Blake Washington will hold a technical briefing at 3:00 p.m. in the Blue Room of the New York State Capitol.

Once the Executive Budget is submitted, Governor Hochul may submit amendments to her original proposal after 21 and 30 days. The Senate and Assembly will release their respective one-house budget proposals in early to mid-March, kicking off final negotiations between both legislative leaders and the Governor ahead of the final budget due date, which is April 1.

2025 State of the State Recap

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her fourth 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’s office issued press releases for each proposal, which can be found below.

• Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State: Fighting for Your Family
• Unplug and Play: Governor Hochul Announces New Initiatives to Promote Kids’ Mental and Physical Health as Part of 2025 State of the State
• Governor Hochul Proposes New Laws to Protect Consumers and Keep Money in New Yorkers’ Pockets
• Governor Hochul Proposes Strengthening Involuntary Commitment Laws and Kendra’s Law to Provide Support and Resources for New Yorkers Experiencing Serious Mental Illness
• Governor Hochul Launches New Programs to Make New York the Best, Most Affordable Place to Start a Family
• Governor Hochul Announces Proposals to Combat Crime and Strengthen Criminal Justice System
• Governor Hochul Proposes New Initiatives to Address the Housing Crisis and Make Rent and Mortgages More Affordable
• Governor Hochul Announces New Initiatives to Protect Subway Riders and Transit Workers By Increasing Police Patrols and Installing Additional Safety Features
• Money in Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Proposes $110 Million Child Care Construction Fund to Build and Renovate Child Care Facilities
• Money In Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Proposes Sweeping Expansion of the Child Tax Credit to Deliver Up to $1,000 Per Child
• Money in Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Proposes Sending 8.6 Million New Yorkers an Inflation Refund Check as First Proposal of 2025 State of the State

Legislative Session Recap

The Legislature convened on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The Legislature will reconvene on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

This week, the Senate issued both majority and minority committee assignments:

• Senate Majority Committee Assignments
• Senate Minority Committee Assignments

New State Lawmakers

The New York State Legislature has welcomed 24 new legislators from all corners of the state this year. With the 2025 Legislative Session just beginning, City & State NY has put together a list of all new legislators with distinctive information regarding their background, district, and more.

Meet the 2025 class of new state legislators here.

Senate Democratic Majority

The Senate Democratic Majority advanced a package of legislation to further protect election workers, prevent voter disenfranchisement, introduce a process for “back-end” automatic voter registration, grant voters the ability to register at a secondary residence, partner with agencies to promote voter registration and establish a uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners. The voting reforms passed by the Senate, include:

• Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression: This bill, S1085, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increases penalties for violations of the elective franchise.
• The Democracy Preservation Act: This bill, S324, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, would ban political spending by foreign-influenced business entities in New York’s state and local elections.
• Implementing ‘Back-End’ Automatic Voter Registration: This bill, S88, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, would upgrade automatic voter registration and preregistration procedures to include provisions like ‘back-end’ registration.
• “Paid for by” Language: This bill, S1030, sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez, would require public-facing websites operated by political committees to contain “paid for by” language and adds such public-facing websites to the list of political communications that qualify as independent expenditures.
• Establishing county-wide polling places: This bill, S569, sponsored by Senator May, would authorize county boards of elections to establish county-wide polling places.
• Granting Commissioners Full-time Employee Status on BOE: This bill, S1087, sponsored by Senator Mayer, would make commissioners full time employees on board of elections.
• Registering to Vote at a Secondary Residence: This bill, S1036, sponsored by Senator Myrie, would permit a voter to register to vote at a secondary residence to which they maintain a continuous connection with an intent to remain.
• Training for BOE Commissioners: This bill, S1035, sponsored by Senator Myrie, would require the State Board of Elections to create a mandatory, uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners.
• Joining Multi-state Voter List Maintenance Organizations: This bill, S1356, sponsored by Senator Skoufis, would permit the SBOE to join and share information with a multistate voter list maintenance organization such as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).

Further highlights can be found in a press release here.

Senate Republican Minority

The New York State Senate Republican Conference unveiled their 2025 legislative agenda named “Liberate New York.” The plan, released on Monday, prioritizes improving affordability, improving public safety, and building an overall stronger New York – similar to some of Governor Hochul’s key points in her 2025 State of the State Address.

Some of the key outlines of the Republican Senate agenda include the following:

• Provide Affordability and Economic Opportunity
• Create a Safer, Healthier New York
• End the Migrant Crisis
• Protect Students and Defend Parental Rights
• Call for Government Accountability

More information can be found here.

In The News

Judge rules raids of hemp stores by NYC sheriff, state officials were improper.

State will protect 1 million additional acres of wetlands by 2028.

GOP pushes focus on cost of living, crime ahead of NY budget talks.

‘Blindsided’: Joseph Gramaglia out as Buffalo police commissioner; Alphonso Wright to serve in acting role.

Adams administration to study discrimination in commercial real estate.

Hochul’s soft launch for reelection.

Hochul’s public safety proposals set stage for discovery law debate.

Semiconductors in spotlight in Hochul’s proposals.

Stringer unveils child care plan to kick off his mayoral campaign.

Schumer: Deal done for $825M Albany NanoTech chip lab.

Tague emerges as top GOP pick to succeed Stefanik in special election.

Ken Martin gets another endorsement in DNC race as James Skoufis drops out.

Rep. Torres re-ups call for probe of $9B Medicaid home care contract.

New York Education Department will now calculate chronic absenteeism using algebra.

Cuomo has nearly $8M in his warchest.

Hochul’s ‘bait and switch’ on climate: State of the State 2025.

Legislators seek greater loan forgiveness for prosecutors, public defenders.

Eric Adams heads to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump.

Zeldin pledges more ‘common sense’ at EPA during Senate hearing.

McLaughlin applies for HVCC president’s position amid congressional bid.

Coming Up

The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government will hold a meeting on January 22.

The State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) will hold a meeting on January 22.

The PSC will hold its next meeting on January 23.

The New York State Assembly will hold a public hearing to review the status of charging stations available to the public for zero emission vehicles on roadways across the State on January 23.

The New York State Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the MWBE program and the results from the most recent MWBE disparity study commissioned by the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development on January 23.

The New York State Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine current horseshoe crab management practices on January 29.