Every budget year faces unique challenges, and when those challenges involve major policy decisions, it is our responsibility to be both thorough and thoughtful. Throughout this budget process, I returned again and again to the data, and to ensuring that the policy in this budget truly addresses the affordability crisis and eases the burden on New Yorkers.
We talk about addressing the affordability crisis a lot in a way that can feel abstract. But I want to emphasize the reality and stories I hear from constituents every day. For families, this is sitting around the kitchen table, wondering whether to pay their high utility bills or wondering if they can afford gas to even make it to work, how they’re going to pay for rising healthcare costs and medicines when they’re burdened by overwhelming childcare costs. I am proud of the work this budget does to address those needs.
This budget process has unfolded against the backdrop of national economic uncertainty and the far-reaching consequences of a reckless war. Families are feeling it at the gas pump, with gas prices exceeding $4 dollars a gallon and no relief in sight, and they are feeling it in their daily lives as harmful federal actions threaten essential services. The effects of the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid alone are beginning to rip healthcare away from nearly half a million New Yorkers. I sounded the alarm, as did many of my Democratic colleagues, that neither our state, nor any state across this country, could fully absorb the cost of massive federal cuts.
In the face of these challenges, this budget builds on our legislative work to lower costs for New Yorkers, expands upon programs our communities rely on, invests in our schools and our children, expands childcare and economic opportunity, and supports workers across the state. It also takes responsible steps to strengthen our reserves and ensure that those most able to contribute do so, so that New York can continue to grow and deliver for its people.
After several years of the Democratic Conference fighting for progressive taxation and asking the wealthiest individuals to pay their fair share, we secured a budget that delivers on that promise and offers critical support for New York City — the economic engine of this state — while at the same time making historic investments in local governments across New York. We are supporting municipalities across the state as they work to revitalize downtowns, strengthen local programs, and invest in critical infrastructure.
At the beginning of this year, I made it clear that we must stand up to the moment on immigration. And that is what we did with this budget.
We are strengthening protections for immigrant families by ensuring every child can access a public education regardless of immigration status, while protecting schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, and houses of worship from unnecessary immigration enforcement intrusion. This budget also cracks down on local cooperation with immigration enforcement efforts that tear families apart and requires ICE agents and other law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves by removing face coverings and masks while interacting with the public.
We are standing up to ICE and acknowledging the harm and fear they are sowing in our communities.
Our Senate Majority has already passed two utility affordability packages this year, understanding the increasing burden these high costs place on ratepayers, but we also fought to include crucial provisions in this budget to continue that momentum. One of the biggest frustrations I know we all are hearing from our constituents is that utility bills keep rising while families and small businesses are left with little explanation, few alternatives, and no certainty about when relief will come.
This budget takes important steps to address that burden by holding utility companies more accountable, stopping unnecessary costs from being passed onto ratepayers, strengthening oversight of rate increases, and advancing long-term solutions aimed at making energy more affordable. The utility rebate in this budget will provide direct support to New Yorkers facing some of the highest energy bills in the country — helping ease the burden on working families.
For the first time ever, this budget takes huge steps toward truly universal childcare in New York. We are increasing funding for UPK, committing to full statewide Universal Pre-K by the 2027–2028 school year. We are expanding universal childcare to every 3-year-old in New York City, and also in the city we are beginning the rollout of universal childcare for 2-year-olds starting this fall. We are investing in programs for children under 3 across the state, and supporting our childcare workforce, because families deserve affordable childcare they can count on.
We are increasing support for public schools by continuing to fully fund Foundation Aid and bettering support for high-need students, investing in youth development and afterschool programs. We’re also supporting higher education by allocating critical funding to SUNY and CUNY and expanding the Opportunity Scholarship Program to cover all two-year degree programs — helping even more students afford college and start their future here in New York. And we are freezing tuition at all SUNY and CUNY schools.
The climate conversation throughout this budget process has been about finding the right balance between economic sustainability and environmental stewardship in the face of a federal government hostile to renewable energy. Despite that, this budget makes major investments in New York’s clean energy future by expanding access to solar energy, supporting renewable energy projects, and helping homeowners make sustainable upgrades that lower emissions and reduce long-term utility costs. It also delivers record funding for clean water and environmental initiatives while speeding up the transition to cleaner, more affordable energy.
We are taking critical steps to protect healthcare coverage, provide billions in support for financially distressed hospitals and healthcare providers, and continue safeguarding reproductive freedom and maternal health across the state. In the face of devastating federal healthcare cuts, we’ve also secured significant Medicaid investments to help stabilize hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living providers that families across New York rely on every day, while continuing to expand mental health services, gambling addiction coverage, and access to biomarker testing.
The Senate Majority has continued to stand with our brothers and sisters in labor, strengthening worker protections and cracking down on wage theft. We have continuously worked to reform Tier 6, and this budget takes important steps to address many of the concerns we have consistently heard from public workers across New York. The changes enacted in this year’s budget will help strengthen our workforce, support recruitment and retention, and reinforce that public sector jobs should continue to provide a stable path to a good living and a secure retirement.
Additionally, we continue to support our veterans by expanding educational opportunities, strengthening tax relief for disabled veterans, and investing in critical mental health and support programs for those who have served our communities and our country. This budget also continues support for our first responders by expanding cancer screening programs for firefighters, increasing grants for local sheriff’s offices and law enforcement agencies, and establishing critical incident leave protections for our State Troopers.
We continue to support New York’s robust agriculture industry at every stage, from new and historically underserved producers to established farms.
This budget also continues our conference’s commitment to expanding and preserving affordable housing across the state — investing in programs that create new housing opportunities, revitalize our neighborhoods, and support housing development in local communities. We’re expanding eligibility for critical property tax relief programs, bringing much-needed financial relief to homeowners and families across New York.
We are making our communities safer by increasing funding for our local first responders and by cracking down on dangerous super speeders, ghost guns, and illegal gun converters that put New Yorkers at risk every day. We are also strengthening our support for victims, targeting the growing threat of unlawful drones and investing in smart public safety measures that help keep our neighborhoods safe.
This budget continues to meet the challenges facing our state head-on. We believe that the government should make life more affordable, not harder, for working families. We believe in protecting essential services, investing in our communities, and ensuring that everyone in this state has the opportunity to succeed.
New York is standing firm in our values. We are lowering costs, investing in our people, and continuing to move this state forward.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins holds the positions of President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, and she is the Senator for the 35th District. As the longest-serving Democratic Majority Leader in New York State Senate history, and the first woman and African American woman to occupy this role, her tenure is distinguished by significant legislative achievements and a steadfast commitment to addressing the needs of New Yorkers.
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