Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

December 5, 2025

What’s Inside

  • Legislature Releases 2026 Session Calendar
  • Governor Announces Details for State of the State Address
  • Three Downstate Casino Licenses Approved
  • Governor Announces Child Care Capital Construction Funding
  • Grand Jury Declines to Re-Indict Attorney General
  • Governor Announces Additional Funding for County Infrastructure Grant Program
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Legislature Releases 2026 Session Calendar

The New York State Legislature has released the 2026 Legislative Session Calendar, which can be accessed here. The 2026 legislative session will be convened on Wednesday, January 7, and conclude, tentatively, on Thursday, June 4.

According to the calendar, the Legislature will convene for 61 legislative session days, down one day from last year, which had 62 session days. Please note that the 2026 Legislative Session is scheduled to conclude earlier in June to accommodate the numerous primary elections taking place at the end of the month, including those for Governor, State Comptroller, Attorney General, State Senate, State Assembly, and Congress.

Governor Announces Details for State of the State Address

Governor Kathy Hochul’s office issued a media advisory this week announcing that the 2026 State of the State Address will be delivered on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the Hart Theater at the Egg in Albany.

Currently, the Governor has not announced a time for her FY 2027 Executive Budget presentation, which is required to be submitted by January 20.

Three Downstate Casino Licenses Approved 

New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board voted to recommend all three available downstate casino licenses for projects in New York City, selecting Genting’s Resorts World New York City and Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park in Queens, along with Bally’s proposal at Ferry Point in the Bronx. The decision followed a years-long competitive process and means two full-scale casinos will be sited in Queens and one in the Bronx, with the recommendations now moving to the state Gaming Commission for final licensing action.​

In approving all three projects, the board emphasized their projected economic impact, estimating close to $7 billion in gambling tax revenue from 2027 to 2036, as well as $1.5 billion in one-time licensing fees from the developers. The projects are also expected to generate an additional $5.9 billion in other state and local taxes over the same period, reinforcing the board’s conclusion that no alternative mix of projects would provide comparable fiscal benefits for New York.

Following these approvals, Governor Hochul issued the following statement:

From the moment that three downstate casino licenses were authorized in the 2022 State Budget, I have been clear: any approved project must provide real benefits to its community and have sustainable economic plans. I am grateful to Chair Been and the Gaming Facility Location Board for their careful review of the applications according to these high standards.

The three projects approved today promise to unlock billions in funding for the MTA and create tens of thousands of jobs. It is critical that they keep those promises. I look forward to the Gaming Commission’s review of the Board’s recommendations in the weeks ahead.

Governor Announces Child Care Capital Construction Funding

This week, Governor Hochul announced the launch of a new $100 million Child Care Capital Construction Funding Program designed to increase the availability of quality care and expand the capacity of child care, including school-age programs, across New York State by funding the construction of new child care facilities or expanding existing ones. The initiative is expected to add between 6,000 and 10,000 new seats at child care programs for New York families.

Governor Hochul said:

I deeply understand how important it is for New York State to continue to address the critical child care shortage that makes it difficult for families to find the safe, quality child care services they need. Our construction grants will go a long way to increase the availability of quality child care statewide. Affordable, high-quality child care is a necessity that I want to see extended to all New York families.

The Child Care Capital Construction Funding Program is overseen by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The program will provide funding for design, construction, reconstruction, renovation, equipment, and other capital assets for existing or proposed not-for-profit or municipal OCFS-licensed child day care centers, OCFS-registered school-age child care programs, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene permitted group day care programs. The facility must be intended to be used as a child care program for at least eight years and should be located in an area with a current shortage of regulated child care services. More information on the program can be found here. 

Applications will be accepted from February 2, 2026, through March 13, 2026. Awards will be announced no earlier than May 4, 2026.

Grand Jury Declines to Re-Indict Attorney General

According to reports, a grand jury has declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James in a mortgage fraud case, just 10 days after a federal judge dismissed the initial charges against her. The rejection marks the second failed attempt by prosecutors to pursue the case, though it may not be the end of the matter — sources familiar with the situation warned that the Justice Department could try for a third indictment. Officials declined to comment publicly, saying grand jury proceedings remain confidential.

This case has been particularly controversial since a federal judge last month ruled that Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney who brought the charges, had been unlawfully installed.

Following the grand jury’s refusal to re-indict her, Attorney General James issued the statement below:

As I have said from the start, the charges against me are baseless. It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop. 

I am grateful to the members of the grand jury and humbled by the support I have received from across the country. Now, I will continue to do my job standing up for the rule of law and the people of New York.

Governor Announces Additional Funding for County Infrastructure Grant Program

This week, Governor Hochul announced a second round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, which will provide an additional $50 million to support small- and medium-sized county-led infrastructure projects. Applications will be accepted now through April 1, 2026. Empire State Development (ESD) requires submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) before filing a final application. Links to the LOI and application are available here.

Governor Hochul said:

Coming from local government, I know firsthand how funding for local infrastructure projects can change a community — uplifting residents and providing those communities with a sense of purpose. When counties are offered assistance to build more infrastructure, it gives these communities the opportunity to attract more visitors and spur housing development for generations to come.

An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, December 18, at 11:30 a.m. More information will be posted on the County Infrastructure Grant Program website.

The County Infrastructure Grant Program was established to assist counties in developing infrastructure to better meet the needs of New Yorkers. The original $50 million program was included in the State’s FY 2025 Enacted Budget, with an additional $50 million included in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget.

Grants of up to $1 million are awarded to priority projects that propose the creation of 10 or more housing units. Projects with fewer than 10 housing units, or no housing creation, can receive up to $500,000. Projects are identified by the county and must support economic development, contribute to placemaking, or encourage tourism.

In The News

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

New York cellphone ban helping student engagement, teacher effectiveness, survey says.

Several of Schumer’s N.Y. offices targeted with email bomb threats.

Hochul signs bill into law to build first New York state Holocaust memorial.

Public comment on state’s SAFE For Kids Act wraps up Monday.

Application period opens for home energy assistance in New York.

Starbucks to pay about $35M to NYC workers to settle claims it violated labor law.

No decision yet from Hochul on whether to sign Medical Aid in Dying bill, but she may propose changes.

Hochul signs bill to expand lung cancer screenings, calls it ‘personal’.

Prosecutor who subpoenaed Letitia James could be disqualified, judge suggests.

Report: Wine in supermarkets offers major benefits, minimal harm.

The $50M fight around potential changes to New York’s ‘Raise the Age’ law.

Advocates brace for 4th Grieving Families Act veto from Hochul.

Gov. Hochul considers amendments to legal suicide bill.

State Senator vows to tackle foreclosure ‘injustice’ after NY focus-Gothamist investigation.

Rich New Yorkers are again threatening to leave. Here’s why they don’t.

Attorneys square off in court over appointment of US Attorney John Sarcone.

Hochul edges toward tax hikes after Mamdani win.

NYC Council overrides mayor’s veto, stopping rent hike for city’s housing voucher program.

Stefanik, lawmakers say Hochul derailed North Country hospital partnership.

As LIRR strike deadline looms, MTA and union talks stall.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the status of the behavioral health workforce on December 10.

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.