Albany, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York State lawmakers approved the 2025-2026 budget late Thursday night. The $254.3 billion spending plan is the largest in state history. Finalization comes more than a month after the April 1 deadline.
“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer. That’s exactly what this budget will do,” Governor Hochul said.
“Working with our partners in the Legislature we’ve reached an agreement to pass a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. Good things take time, and this budget is going to make a real difference for New York families.”
Here are some of the budget bulletpoints:
A $1 billion tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers.
An increase to the Child Tax Credit with a $1,000 credit for children younger than 4 years old and a $500 credit for children ages 4-16.
Inflation Refund checks, which will dedicate $2 billion to provide direct cash assistance to more than 8 million New Yorkers with checks of up to $400 per family.
Strengthening involuntary commitment, improving Kendra’s Law and investing $16.5 million in Assisted Outpatient Treatment and $2 million in OMH staffing.
Setting a statewide bell-to-bell distraction-free schools policy with a $13.5 million investment to help schools operationalize bans on smart phone and other internet enabled devices usage during the school day.
Minority Leader, Senator Rob Ortt said the budget does nothing for affordability or public safety. "This $254 billion budget is packed with outrageous spending and political window dressing that sounds good in a press release but does nothing to improve the quality of life in our state."
"The so-called criminal justice ‘fixes’ are toothless. The discovery and mask laws passed will continue to let violent offenders dodge accountability and walk free, putting public safety and law enforcement at risk," according to Ortt.
The most outrageaous move, Ortt says is the creation of a taxpayer slush fund to cover the private legal bills of politicians.