ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York lawmakers have passed the 2024-2025 state budget. The state Assembly and Senate enacted the nearly $237 billion spending plan after final deliberations on numerous state bills on Saturday.
The budget will now head to the desk of Governor Kathy Hochul to be approved. The Governor, as well as several state lawmakers, issued statements on the budget being passed by the legislature.
“This budget agreement represents the most significant improvement in housing policy in three generations. It includes transformative investments in health care and education that will put our State on the path to fiscal stability. It will end co-pays for insulin, establish first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave, and launch the EmpireAI consortium. This budget cracks down on retail theft and gives us new tools to shut down illicit cannabis storefronts. It helps the children of New York City by extending mayoral accountability for public schools,” Gov. Hochul said. “And we got it all done without raising income taxes by a single cent. I’m grateful to Speaker Heastie, Leader Stewart-Cousins and my colleagues in the Legislature for their collaboration on this agreement, and look forward to continuing to work together.”
“When we talk about the Assembly Majority’s Families First agenda, we’re talking about crafting thoughtful legislation that makes our state more affordable, more accepting and better place to live,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “In this year’s budget we were able to include critical funding for affordable housing across the state, increases in TAP funding to put higher education in reach for more students, restoring education funding, investments in our hospitals and nursing homes, and provisions that help new parents and working families. We will continue working with our partners in government to craft thoughtful legislation to uplift New Yorkers.”
While state democrats have expressed enthusiasm for the plan, some state republicans have issued criticisms of the budget. Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay said “After six budget extenders and three weeks past the statutory deadline, the 2024-25 state budget has been delivered to New Yorkers. Hardworking taxpayers will subsidize a record-high $237 billion spending plan. While the process is now final, it will take time before the public knows exactly what it’s paying for. Yet again, the basic standards of public input, open government and transparency continue to erode in Albany.”
Stay with NEWS10 on air and online as we continue to bring you coverage of the passing of the budget as this story continues to develop.
Jackson Tollerton
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