New York State Budget Delayed as Policy Disputes Persist

Governor Hochul remains firm on key reforms while lawmakers pass another emergency extender to avoid a shutdown.

The New York State Legislature has passed a $2.4 billion emergency extender to fund government operations through April 15, as budget negotiations remain stalled.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is holding firm on policy proposals, including changes to criminal discovery laws and involuntary mental health commitments, which lawmakers have resisted.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie introduced a bill to allow lawmakers to receive paychecks during budget delays if the governor includes non-budgetary items, though the proposal is unlikely to pass.
Economic concerns, including potential impacts from federal tariffs and recession risks, are adding pressure to resolve the overdue $252 billion budget.
Legislative leaders have expressed frustration over the inclusion of non-budgetary policy items in the budget process, with tensions escalating between the governor and lawmakers.