Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

May 5, 2025

What’s Inside

  • NYS Budget Update
  • Legislative Session Recap
  • Governor Seeks Budget Cutting Superpowers
  • Mayor Adams Submits New York City Executive Budget
  • Governor Outlines 100 Days of Turmoil Under Trump Administration 
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

NYS Budget Update

On Monday night, Governor Kathy Hochul held a press conference in the Red Room at the Capitol in Albany to announce that she and both legislative leaders have reached a “general agreement” as it relates to the Fiscal Year 2026 New York State Budget. The full press conference and Q&A with the LCA can be watched here. The Governor announced the budget will result in $254 billion, up $2 billion from her initial budget proposal in January. 

Below are some of the Governor’s highlights of what will be included in the budget once passed:

  • A $1 billion tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers
  • Increase to the Child Tax Credit;
  • Expanding access to child care;
  • First-ever inflation refund checks;
  • Reducing the Payroll Mobility tax for small businesses;
  • Additional funding for gun violence prevention programs;
  • Discover law reform; and
  • Bell-to-bell cell phone ban.

The Governor’s full press release on her budget highlights can be viewed here. 

While the Governor announced a budget agreement, the actual budget bills have yet to be printed and acted on. The Legislature adjourned on Thursday and is set to return on Monday, with the Assembly being adjourned at the call of the Speaker.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined Susan Arbetter last night on Capital Tonight to discuss updates on budget negotiations and stated that leaders are close to wrapping up. However, the Majority Leader noted that there are at least two outstanding issues to resolve: Foundation Aid and capital funding. The full interview can be watched here. 

Legislative Session Recap  

The Legislature convened Monday-Wednesday this week for a regular scheduled session. Both chambers are now adjourned until Monday, May 5, for a scheduled four-day session week.

In addition to passing another budget extender, the Assembly highlighted a controversial piece of legislation they passed this week: The Medical Aid in Dying Act. This would allow a terminally ill patient to request medication to end their lives (A.136, Paulin). The Speaker’s announcement on its passage can be found here. Please note, the Senate has not passed this legislation, and according to reports, it’s unclear at this point if they will.

Specifically, the Medical Aid in Dying Act would provide a mentally competent, terminally ill adult who has been given a prognosis of six months or less to live, the ability to request medication from their treating physician for medical aid in dying. The legislation includes safeguards, which would require both an oral request and a witnessed written request for the medication, as well as requiring at least two physicians to determine that the patient can make an informed decision on this request.

Medical aid in dying is already permitted in 10 states, including California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.

Governor Seeks Budget Cutting Superpowers

According to reports, Governor Hochul is seeking changes in the state budget that would authorize her to make unilateral cuts of up to $2 billion in state spending without requiring an official vote from the State Legislature, in the event revenues drop unexpectedly. The proposal would allow the legislature, if they disagree with the governor’s proposed cuts, to create their own spending reduction plan that would have to be negotiated with the Governor. The proposal is still being negotiated and it’s unclear if the legislature will be willing to cede this authority to the Governor.

Governor Hochul said:

The legislature would have to approve this, but it’s been in our laws before that give the governor in extraordinary circumstances to be able to operate very quickly to protect New York State without having to call the session, go through, as you know sometimes these debates take a long time. I want to make sure that I can work with lightning speed if a crisis arises of the magnitude that would call for this trigger.

Governor Seeks Budget Cutting Superpowers

Mayor Eric Adams delivered his fourth executive budget proposal on Thursday. The $115.1 billion spending plan looks to invest in key priority areas, including after-school programming, hiring more teachers, building more housing and increasing the size of the city’s police force.

More information on the Mayor’s Executive Budget can be found here.

Mayor Adams said:

Today, I am proud to present our Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget: Our ‘Best Budget Ever.’ This budget is a testament to our commitment to making New York City safer, more affordable, and the best place to raise a family. From prioritizing access to child care and launching ‘After-School for All’ to investing in permanent funding for libraries, CUNY, and our world-class institutions that make New York City what it is, to tackling quality-of-life issues and making our streets safer, the $1.4 billion we’re investing to protect and lift up critical programs will make lives better for families across all five boroughs. We are doing all of this while maintaining record-high reserves to help us face anything that comes our way. And, with the city’s largest 10-year capital plan at $173 billion, we are delivering on infrastructure improvements and transformative generational projects that were talked about for decades but never achieved. This is the budget my mom needed, that my family needed, and, with it, we’re saying to working families: your city has your back.

Governor Seeks Budget Cutting Superpowers

This week, President Donald Trump celebrated 100 days in office. Governor Hochul also issued a press release outlining the turmoil created under President Trump’s first 100 days, and warned that his administration’s retaliatory policies, deep federal cuts, and unilateral tariffs are poised to negatively impact New York’s economy, the environment, and New York families.

Last week, New York State joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s global tariffs. According to independent estimates, Trump’s tariffs will cost the State’s economy more than $7 billion, resulting in more than 280,000 jobs being lost and hitting New York families with an average cost increase of $6,400.

According to Governor Hochul, implications for New Yorkers during President Trump’s first 100 days include:

  • More than $1.3 billion in cuts to funding for State programs so far with more expected, in addition to the funding cuts to local governments, universities and other organizations delivering critical services to New Yorkers.
  • Massive fluctuation in the stock market from ever-changing tariff policies has shrunk 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans and is expected to increase the cost of living for New Yorkers by thousands of dollars.
  • Manufacturers and small businesses are reeling from severe cost hikes on some products due to tariffs, leading them to leave shipments in customs or cancel orders.
  • Canadian and European travel to New York has dropped and hotel stays and trips in regions such as the North Country and Western New York have been cancelled. 
  • The pause of construction of Empire Wind, which will have a profound impact on jobs and energy production.
  • Cutting millions in funding that allows school districts and food banks to buy produce from local farmers who rely on their purchases.
  • Three Social Security Administration offices closed in New York.
  • Eliminated every person in the office that manages a program helping over 1 million New Yorkers pay their heating and cooling bills.
  • Cuts to the NIH paused the critical research of a New York Scientist on Alzheimer’s treatments.
  • Cut over $300 million in infrastructure funding for New York communities, threatening our public safety.
  • Cutting the majority of federal AmeriCorps funding in New York, which supports approximately 1,500 AmeriCorps members working for non-profits and in low-income communities across the State.

Governor Hochul said:

The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been rife with chaos and uncertainty, from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts to vital programs, New Yorkers are paying the price. President Trump promised relief from inflation and his policies are making life harder, chaotic and more expensive for working class New Yorkers while slashing the very services they rely on.

More information can be found in the Governor’s press release here. 

In The News

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

Inside the split between Kathy Hochul and Antonio Delgado.

Taking on Musk, New York considers move to close Tesla dealerships.

Ryan unveils plan to sell bonds to address City of Buffalo deficit; Scanlon calls it ‘laughable’.

State cannabis regulators threatened with lawsuits by fed-up license applicants.

New York recreational cannabis sales reached over $1 billion in first 2 years, report says.

As Trump labels CHIPS Act ‘horrible,’ N.Y. business groups urge lawmakers to ‘protect it’.

Brennan Center urges New York state to hold the line on public campaign financing.

State Senate deputy majority leader talks state budget.

Cuomo demands $8.6M payback from sexual harassment accuser Trooper 1, calls her lawsuit ‘wholly unreliable’.

Endorsements in the 2025 New York City mayoral race.

Following The City’s trail, Campaign Board Escalates Eric Adams Fraud probe.

Kathy Hochul scored budget wins. Now comes the hard part.

Business leaders: Lack of $6.2B unemployment insurance debt payout in N.Y. budget is a mistake.

Coming Up

The NYS Board of Regents will meet on May 5 and 6.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on live entertainment event ticketing practices and enforcement on May 9.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on the safety of persons in custody, transparency, and accountability within state correctional facilities on May 14.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on May 15.