Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's almost a month late, but legislative leaders in Albany have reached an agreement on New York's budget for FY 2026.
Policy held up the budget. One of those policies is a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools, which Gov. Hochul touted in her address Monday.
"Starting in September, all public schools will implent policies that free students from smart phones and other devices bell to bell," says Hochul. "We've protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol and drunk driving, and now we're protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention."
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The budget also takes steps to address the state's housing shortfall. Private equity firms will be banned from bidding on single and two-family homes for the first 90 days that they're on the market.
"It gives New Yorkers...a fighting chance to finally own their own home," said Hochul.
Crime has taken an increase focus in this year's budget, most notably with increased punishments for masked offenders. Other crime-fighting policies include $357 million in gun violence prevention and changes to discovery laws.
The $254 billion budget is expected to pass "in the coming days" according to a release from the Governor's office.