NY Gov. Hochul announces $268B state budget deal, but Assembly leader says not so fast

Key Points:

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $268 billion budget framework including aid for municipalities, limits on local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, utility bill rebates, and changes to climate and auto-insurance policies, but Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said no final deal has been reached with nearly 50 items unresolved.
• The budget plan provides $1.5 billion in additional aid to New York City, $1.2 billion for childcare expansion, and proposes a tax on unoccupied second homes valued over $5 million, though details on implementation remain unsettled.
• Immigration provisions would prohibit local police from notifying federal authorities during noncriminal encounters, ban 287(g) agreements with ICE, and expand sanctuary protections to schools and hospitals, drawing threats of increased federal enforcement.
• The budget includes reforms to auto-insurance laws limiting payouts for at-fault drivers, tighter regulation of insurance companies, and $1 billion in utility rebate checks aimed at easing energy costs, while scaling back a 2030 climate emissions mandate to avoid raising utility and gasoline prices.
• Final budget legislation still requires negotiation and approval by lawmakers, with voting expected soon, despite ongoing disputes and criticism from Republicans about premature announcements and increased spending.