Kathy Hochul

Hochul reached a final agreement with public service unions on a $557 million pension modification package that includes lowering the retirement age for Tier 6 teachers to 58 after 30 years of service, reducing pension contribution rates to a tiered range of 3 to 5.75 percent based on salary, and increasing overtime caps for calculating retirement benefits for emergency personnel and civil servants. The state will fund $118 million of the total cost, with the remaining $440 million distributed among local municipalities and public employers. The deal represents a reduction from unions' original proposal, which would have cost $1.5 billion overall with a $249 million state expense.

The New York State Legislature passed a comprehensive sanctuary state bill pushed by Governor Hochul on Thursday that bans cooperation between local law enforcement and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, expanding significantly beyond her original proposal that targeted specific localities with federal "287(g) agreements." The legislation prohibits all formal and informal cooperation between state and local authorities and ICE agents, bars ICE from most public places including hospitals and parks, creates an Office of Immigrant Trust within the Attorney General's office to enforce the provisions, allows civil suits against ICE agents for constitutional violations, and prevents federal immigration officers from wearing masks. The bill was expected to be signed into law by Hochul following passage in both chambers.

Governor Hochul provided $73 million in state funding for Mayor Mamdani's 2,000-seat 2-K pilot program, allocating approximately $36,500 per student for the universal childcare initiative. The funding was part of the Mamdani administration's efforts to expand access to free pre-K and 3-K programs across New York City. Despite the state investment and an aggressive outreach campaign, applications for the city's 3-K programs declined by 1.4% compared to the previous year.

Hochul attended a press conference where the NYPD announced the official division of the Bronx into two patrol commands, Patrol Borough Bronx North and Patrol Borough Bronx South, effective Wednesday. The restructuring included the deployment of approximately 200 additional police officers to the borough's 12 precincts, with funding included in Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposed city budget pending City Council review. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated the reorganization was intended to provide more resources, specialized units, and leadership to address increased service demands in the borough.

Hochul's office confirmed that New York State's budget had increased to $268.5 billion, up from the previously announced $268 billion figure, as lawmakers proceeded with voting on the delayed spending and policy package. The budget includes a two-year extension of mayoral control over New York City schools and a 2% increase in state aid to districts throughout the state. The spending plan, which was due April 1, incorporates provisions affecting public employee pension benefits and charter school oversight among other policy measures negotiated by Democratic leadership.

Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a labor agreement with five Long Island Rail Road unions on May 19, 2026, following a three-day strike by approximately 3,500 workers that began on May 16. The agreement provided union members, including engineers and signal workers, with a 4.5% salary increase for 2026, retroactive raises of 3% for 2023, 3% for 2024, and 3.5% for 2025, a $3,000 lump sum payment conditional on completing a 16-hour training course, and a contract extension to August 2027. Hochul stated the agreement did not require additional fare or tax increases for transit riders and taxpayers.

Hochul stated that there is no legal mechanism to suspend the $9 congestion pricing toll during the Long Island Rail Road strike, citing federal law constraints. She made this statement at a press conference where she and transit leaders presented alternative transit plans and encouraged residents to work from home during the labor action. Hochul's position contrasted with calls from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Assemblyman Ed Ra to suspend the toll while LIRR workers were engaged in the strike.

Hochul proposed legislation to establish buffer zones around houses of worship to restrict demonstrations, which would apply statewide in New York. The proposal reinforced existing city protections and was mentioned in the context of ongoing discussions about balancing public safety with First Amendment protections. The state-level buffer zone measure was presented as part of broader efforts to address security concerns at protected locations.

On April 15, 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul jointly announced an annual surcharge on secondary homes in New York City valued above $5 million, with the surcharge applying to owners whose primary residence is located elsewhere. The city projected the tax would generate approximately $500 million annually in revenue. Following the announcement, real estate activity shifted, with one Miami Beach luxury development reporting over $70 million in sales from New York buyers within 30 days, as purchasers evaluated establishing Florida primary residences to avoid the surcharge.

Hochul's office released details of a proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes in New York City, which would apply to condos and co-ops with assessed values exceeding $1 million and one- to three-family homes assessed at over $5 million, with tax rates ranging from 0.8% to 1.3% depending on property value. The proposal was developed in coordination with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and was projected to generate $500 million annually, though city officials disputed this estimate. The plan was revealed to state lawmakers through media reports rather than direct communication from the governor's office, prompting criticism from legislators whose approval is required for implementation.

During New York State budget negotiations, Hochul signaled willingness to lower the retirement age for public employees as part of a proposed agreement with labor unions. The specific proposal under discussion involved reducing the retirement age for Tier VI teachers hired after 2012 to 58 years old, with other Tier VI public employees to have their retirement age lowered to 60, as part of a $500 million budget deal. Hochul characterized the pension changes as necessary to address recruitment and retention challenges in public education.

Hochul approved a $4 billion state funding package to address New York City's budget shortfall, which Mayor Zohran Mamdani had stated at $5.4 billion. The assistance included gap-closing measures such as delayed pension payments and a new pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes in New York City. Republican lawmakers from upstate and suburban regions criticized the bailout as lacking fiscal discipline and argued it would not prevent higher taxes and spending across the state.

Governor Hochul backed a proposal by New York Democratic lawmakers to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2027 that would redraw congressional districts before the 2028 elections, a measure aimed at updating New York's redistricting process. The initiative was supported by House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic officials who characterized the effort as necessary to preserve electoral integrity amid broader redistricting actions by Republicans in other states. Representative Tom Suozzi publicly declined to endorse the proposal, stating his position that redistricting should be conducted by independent commissions rather than by either political party.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the department does not partner with ICE on civil immigration enforcement, responding to criticism over police actions during a May 2 incident at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn where officers maintained order as federal agents detained a migrant. Tisch characterized the NYPD's role as preventing violence between ICE agents and protesters rather than assisting with immigration enforcement. Tisch expressed support for Governor Hochul's proposed sanctuary legislation restricting collaboration between local police and federal immigration authorities.

Governor Hochul and fellow Democrats in the state Legislature are considering providing New York City additional time to comply with a class size reduction law during ongoing budget negotiations. The law, which was championed by the teachers' union, has been characterized by education analysts as difficult to implement given the city's declining enrollment of 157,900 fewer students over the past decade. Hochul's consideration of extended compliance timelines is occurring as the city's Department of Education operates under a record $43 billion budget while educating fewer students than in previous years.

Hochul announced $4 billion in state assistance to New York City to help address a reported $5.4 billion budget gap in the city's executive budget unveiled by Mayor Mamdani in May 2026. The assistance package included $2.2 billion in restructured pension plan payments, $508 million from delaying a school class size mandate, $500 million from a proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes, $202 million in first responder death benefits, and $361 million in other unspecified actions. Critics characterized many of the measures as short-term accounting maneuvers rather than structural deficit reduction.

Hochul proposed a $500 million pension enhancement plan to modify retirement benefits for New York's approximately 780,000 public employees hired after 2012 under Tier VI retirement law. The proposal would lower the retirement age from 63 to 60 and reduce employee contribution rates by half a percent, presented as a counter to union demands for a $1.5 billion package that would lower the retirement age to 55. The proposal remained under negotiation between Hochul and AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento as of May 2026, with legislative leaders indicating they would accept whatever agreement the two sides reached.

Hochul announced that New York State would eliminate state income taxes on tips up to $25,000 as part of a budget deal with lawmakers. The exemption was proposed after public pressure and media coverage, with Hochul stating the measure would take effect for tips earned during 2026. The policy aligns New York State's tax treatment of tips with the federal elimination of the tip tax.

Hochul included the Stop Super Speeders Act in a tentative state budget deal that would require drivers receiving 16 or more speed-camera tickets annually to install Intelligent Speed Assistance technology on their vehicles, which uses GPS data to prevent cars from exceeding local speed limits by more than a few miles per hour. Drivers who fail to comply will face escalating civil fines that can result in vehicle registration suspension rather than criminal charges. The measure targets approximately 14,600 vehicles currently meeting the super speeder threshold in New York City.

Hochul acknowledged during a budget-focused press conference in Albany that union demands for expanded public employee pensions, including full pensions at age 55 and lower employee contributions, would represent "a big hit" for taxpayers. The governor stated that the requested changes would add approximately $1.5 billion annually to state and local taxpayer costs. Hochul indicated she was negotiating "much more scaled-down" modifications to the pension system rules for public employees including teachers rather than acceding to the unions' full demands.

Hochul and New York Democratic lawmakers moved toward reducing local law enforcement and jail cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of proposed sanctuary policies to be included in the state budget. The proposed measures would prevent local jails from holding migrants for ICE and require law enforcement to stop communicating with ICE unless a person has been charged with a felony or misdemeanor. Hochul stated she was not requesting additional ICE agents in the state, in response to Trump administration border czar Tom Homan's public statements about the federal government's enforcement approach.

The New York State Assembly passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act on April 21, 2026, which prohibits the manufacture and sale of foods containing potassium bromate, Red 3, propylparaben, and other additives linked to cancer and health concerns. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Anna Kelles and state Senator Brian Kavanagh, was passed with bipartisan support in the Assembly and unanimous support in the state Senate in March. The measure now awaits Governor Hochul's signature and would make New York one of several jurisdictions, including California and the European Union, to ban these additives from food products.

The New York State Assembly passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act on April 21, 2026, legislation that would ban potassium bromate, a common additive used in pizza dough and bagels. The bill, which mirrors existing bans in California, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, awaits Governor Hochul's signature to become law. Studies have found that potassium bromate is associated with cancer and kidney damage.

Hochul proposed a four-year extension of mayoral control over New York City schools in her spending plan, a system that has governed the city's public schools since 2002 by placing direct responsibility under the mayor rather than a school board. During state budget negotiations in May 2026, the proposed extension became subject to revision, with sources indicating the duration could be reduced to two years or eliminated entirely as discussions between Hochul and lawmakers continued over the state's $263 billion budget. The potential rollback occurred amid tensions between Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani over municipal budget negotiations and requests for additional state funding.

Governor Hochul implemented bell-to-bell phone restrictions in New York schools statewide during the 2025–26 school year, requiring schools to collect cellphones during instructional time while maintaining systems for parental communication. The policy maintained that removing phones from classrooms would reduce distraction and improve student focus, with schools directed to create their own enforcement mechanisms and apply progressive discipline. The effectiveness of the restriction depends on consistent enforcement by school administrators and alignment between school policies and family expectations.

Hochul's administration requires warnings on cannabis packaging regarding risks to breast-feeding consumers, as part of New York's regulatory framework for legalized recreational cannabis products. The state is among a limited number that mandate such health warnings, though the specific risks highlighted vary considerably across the 24 states with legalized recreational cannabis. New York's approach includes warnings about driving under the influence and other health considerations, though it represents one of multiple differing state standards rather than a uniform federal requirement.

Hochul and Albany Democratic legislators negotiated a statewide sanctuary law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie confirming approximately 95 percent of an anti-ICE immigration package had been agreed upon as of April 2026. The legislation would ban local governments from entering 287(g) agreements with ICE, restrict ICE access to sensitive locations including schools and hospitals, and establish explicit protections barring local law enforcement from communicating with federal immigration authorities except in cases involving probable cause of misdemeanor or felony crimes, though Hochul appeared to have removed even this exception during negotiations. The proposal represented an expansion of Hochul's initial January proposal and would constitute New York's first statewide sanctuary law.

Hochul is negotiating to amend the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, a state law mandating emissions reductions and clean energy transition deadlines, amid concerns from the governor's administration about rising energy costs for consumers. Seventeen current and former state legislators filed an April 17 court brief supporting enforcement of the law despite acknowledging it would increase energy expenses, arguing that the statute's framework already accounts for economic considerations and directs state agencies to manage rather than avoid those costs. A state Supreme Court judge ordered Hochul to enforce the law, but the administration filed an appeal while pursuing amendments that would resolve the underlying lawsuit.

Hochul sought to amend the 2019 climate law by moving the deadline for releasing a "cap and trade" plan from 2024 to 2028 after a court found her in violation of the original deadline. She also proposed modifying the law's 2030 greenhouse-gas emissions reduction target of 40% to instead aim for a 60% reduction by 2040 and requested that emissions be calculated using a 100-year timeframe rather than the current 20-year period. These proposed changes to the climate law remained under consideration as part of budget negotiations in the state legislature.

Hochul announced support for a proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes worth more than $5 million, which requires approval from the state legislature. The tax is intended to generate revenue for city initiatives including free childcare, free buses, and city-owned grocery stores. Hochul initially resisted the proposal before reversing her position to endorse it.

Environmental activist groups sued Governor Hochul alleging she improperly delayed drafting implementation rules for the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, which requires New York to reduce carbon emissions. A state Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of the activists in fall 2025 and ordered the state to issue the required rules. Hochul subsequently proposed amending the law to extend the compliance timeline, stating that meeting the 2030 emissions targets would impose substantial costs on New York households and businesses.

New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 requires the state to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, with 70 percent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030. Co-Op City, a large affordable housing complex in the Bronx governed under the state's Mitchell-Llama program, would be required to comply with these standards and the city's Local Law 97 greenhouse emissions reduction program by 2035, which would necessitate shutting down its natural gas power plant and replacing it with renewable energy sources. Co-Op City officials stated that this transition would require approximately one billion dollars in infrastructure changes and could increase monthly maintenance fees from $950 to over $4,000 per unit.

Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes worth more than $5 million in New York City, projected to raise $500 million annually for the city budget. The proposal requires approval from the state legislature and lacks specifics on implementation, particularly regarding whether property assessments or market values will determine tax liability. Real estate experts have cautioned that ambiguities in the tax structure could prompt extensive legal challenges from property owners disputing valuations.

Governor Hochul supported a proposed tax on luxury second homes, known as a pied-à-terre tax, alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the state legislature. The tax was designed to generate revenue as the city faced a $5.4 billion budget gap. Business leaders subsequently lobbied both the mayor's office and the governor's office seeking an exemption from the tax for job creators, citing potential economic consequences.

Hochul proposed a tax on second homes in New York City valued at more than $5 million. The proposal was announced alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani's advocacy for the same policy. The article discusses the tax as part of a broader political approach to addressing wealth inequality and government revenue.

Hochul proposed a pied-à-terre tax on second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more as part of state budget negotiations, with rates to be set on a scale based on property sale values and vacant or vacation homes targeted while rentals and owner-occupied homes would be exempted. The governor also provided New York City with a partial $1.5 billion bailout to address the city's $5.4 billion budget shortfall amid ongoing state budget talks. The proposed tax and financial assistance to the city drew criticism from upstate and suburban lawmakers who contended that their own municipalities were not receiving sufficient state funding for infrastructure maintenance and other needs.

Hochul included a provision in her 2027 proposed budget that decouples New York's tax code from federal rules on business research and development deductions, reversing a federal allowance for immediate deduction of R&D costs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The decoupling is projected to generate $1.68 billion in additional tax revenue from businesses conducting research and development activities. The budget proposal requires approval from the New York Legislature before implementation.

Hochul unveiled a new pied-à-terre tax on multi-million dollar second homes in New York City, which she stated would raise approximately $500 million annually to address the city's budget shortfall. The governor stated she had completed tax increases as part of state budget negotiations and declined to entertain additional revenue-raising measures, instead directing city officials to find cost containment solutions. Hochul indicated willingness to consider legislative changes related to class size laws and other cost management proposals where the state has involvement.

Hochul announced a proposal to reform New York's car accident liability laws, which she stated are contributing to soaring vehicle insurance costs for fire departments and other agencies that operate vehicles. The governor's proposal includes changing the legal definition of "serious injury" to address fraudulent claims stemming from staged accidents and bogus medical claims. Hochul made these remarks while visiting the Westmere Fire Department in Albany as part of budget negotiations with the state Legislature.

In 2024, Hochul secured legislation that allowed multiple thefts by a single person to be combined to reach the $1,000 felony threshold, changing the prior law that had set a $1,000 minimum for individual incidents. The change enabled store owners to report thefts and law enforcement to pursue prosecutions more effectively, as offenders could then face felony charges and other consequences including store trespass orders and jail arraignments. According to the article, retail theft declined 20% citywide and 41% during the 2025 holiday season following implementation of the revised law alongside increased police foot patrols in high-crime areas.

Governor Hochul proposed legislation to bar local police departments from partnering and cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement operations. The proposal followed a case in which New York City Department of Corrections refused an ICE detainer request for Roman Amatitla, a Mexican national accused of setting a Queens apartment building fire that killed four people and injured seven. According to Department of Homeland Security data cited in the article, New York's policies regarding ICE detainers resulted in the release of thousands of individuals accused of various crimes between January and December 2025.

The Trump administration's Department of Transportation withdrew $74 million in federal highway grants from New York in April 2026, citing the state's refusal to revoke commercial driver's licenses held by non-residents whose work authorizations had expired. The DOT letter, signed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs, stated that New York's Department of Motor Vehicles had failed to comply with federal demands to audit approximately 32,000 CDLs held by non-residents, with a federal audit finding that roughly half had expiration dates extending years beyond the holders' work authorization periods. The administration warned that continued non-compliance could result in the withholding of an additional $147 million in highway funding.

Hochul is negotiating a $1.5 billion annual pension enhancement plan that would allow civil servants hired after April 2012 to retire at age 55 instead of 62 and contribute less toward their pensions, while increasing state and local government contributions. The proposal, under consideration as part of ongoing state budget negotiations, would cost New York City an estimated $328 million annually according to budget watchdog estimates. The plan would modify the "Tier 6" pension reforms enacted by Governor Andrew Cuomo a decade earlier that had reduced benefits and raised retirement ages for public employees hired after April 2012.

Hochul announced several new restrictions on cooperation between state and local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of budget negotiations with the Democrat-controlled Legislature in April 2026. The proposed measures would ban police cooperation with ICE unless involving criminal convictions or probable cause for misdemeanor or felony offenses, make it a misdemeanor for ICE agents to wear masks in the state, and expand areas where ICE is prohibited from operating without judicial warrants to include parks, shelters, and housing accommodations. Hochul also proposed preventing public employees from using state resources or working hours to assist federal immigration authorities and would prohibit ICE from operating alongside local law enforcement at checkpoints and traffic stops.

Hochul proposed a new tax on pied-à-terre properties, or second homes in New York City, as part of ongoing state budget negotiations in April 2026. The proposal generated acknowledgment from Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins as a potential area of compromise, though several other contentious issues remained unresolved in the $263 billion budget package. Negotiations continued on multiple fronts including Hochul's proposals on auto insurance liability reform, protest buffer zones around houses of worship, and restrictions on local government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Hochul proposed implementing an annual surcharge on second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more, commonly referred to as a pied-à-terre tax and modeled after similar legislation in Rhode Island. The proposed tax would apply to approximately 13,000 properties and include additional levy tiers for homes valued at $15 million and $25 million. The Real Estate Board of New York opposed the proposal, stating it would reduce property values and weaken the broader economy.

Hochul announced a proposal to impose a tax on secondary residences valued at $5 million or more in New York City, targeting approximately 13,000 properties. The governor's office projected the levy would generate at least $500 million annually to address the city's budget deficit. The proposal requires approval from the state Legislature before implementation.

Hochul signed approval for the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline project in November after the proposal had been rejected multiple times by previous state leadership on environmental grounds. The pipeline, built by Williams Companies, runs underwater off New York City's coast to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to the region. Hochul did not attend the ceremonial groundbreaking in April 2026, her office stating she was attending an event at Syracuse University instead.

Hochul entered into negotiations with labor leaders regarding modifications to the Tier 6 pension plan as part of state budget discussions, with unions seeking to allow government workers hired after 2012 to retire at age 55 instead of 63. The proposed changes would cost approximately $1.5 billion and would decrease some employees' pension contributions. Local government officials including the Conference of Mayors, Association of Counties, and Association of Towns stated that any modifications to Tier 6 must be fully funded by the state rather than imposing costs on local budgets through unfunded mandates.

Hochul proposed changing the legal definition of "serious injury" in New York auto insurance law to reduce frivolous and fraudulent claims, including staged accidents, and to cap damages for uninsured drivers, those convicted of impaired driving, or those with felony convictions related to the accident. The Trial Lawyers Association presented cases of accident victims claiming the proposal would negatively impact their ability to collect damages, but Hochul's administration reviewed those cases and determined none of the presented victims would have been affected by her proposal. Hochul sought to include the auto insurance proposal in the state budget as part of her affordability agenda.

Hochul is pushing for legislative reforms to reduce auto-insurance rates in New York, including measures to crack down on personal injury lawsuits similar to those implemented in Florida. New York residents currently pay an average auto-insurance premium of $4,000 annually, approximately $1,500 more than the national average, with rates increasing 13.1 percent in 2024 and 11 percent in 2025. The governor's proposed reforms face resistance in the state Legislature from interests connected to personal injury litigation.

The Public Campaign Finance Board, a Democrat-controlled panel, voted to disqualify Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman from New York's public matching funds program in April 2026, citing incomplete paperwork from his running mate. Blakeman filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court challenging the board's decision as "invalid, arbitrary, and capricious," seeking to reverse the disqualification that would cost him up to $4.38 million in publicly matched funds. Governor Hochul declined to participate in the matching funds program herself, maintaining a campaign fund of over $20 million as of the end of the previous year.

Hochul's $263 billion state budget proposal, due April 1, remained unresolved as of April 7, 2026, with legislative leaders and the governor continuing to pass weekly stopgap spending measures to extend government funding. State Sen. Michael Gianaris characterized the budget delay as routine under Hochul's administration, noting that lawmakers had become accustomed to budgets arriving several weeks late. All five of Hochul's budget proposals to date have missed the statutory deadline, with the previous year's budget passing on May 8.

Governor Hochul stated she does not support Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to provide free bus rides for all New Yorkers regardless of income level. The New York City Council proposed expanding the Fair Fares program to cover 100 percent of subway and bus fares for approximately 1.3 million eligible low-income residents, rather than the current 50 percent subsidy, at an estimated cost of $150 million to $175 million annually. Hochul's position differs from the Council's budget response, which prioritizes targeted assistance to low-income transit users over universal free bus service.

Hochul engaged in negotiations with New York AFL-CIO leadership regarding a pension modification proposal for public sector workers hired since 2012, which would lower the retirement age from 62 to 55 and reduce employee pension contribution rates from 4.5 percent to 3.5 percent. The proposal carried an estimated cost of approximately $1.5 billion, with $835.9 million attributed to the retirement age reduction and $593 million to the contribution rate decrease. The negotiations were conducted outside the formal legislative process and remained under discussion as a potential component of the state budget package.

Governor Hochul announced a proposal to implement commonsense measures blocking the production of 3D-printed firearms, which includes requiring state notification of any recoveries and preventing the conversion of pistols to automatic weapons. The announcement followed the arrest and indictment of Martin Streich, a Brooklyn resident charged with 73 firearm-related offenses for manufacturing and distributing ghost guns through his home. The proposed policy measures aim to address the proliferation of untraceable firearms in New York State.

Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York indicted four individuals on bribery and conspiracy charges related to city-run migrant shelter contracts, including former NYPD sergeant Edouardo St. Fort and nonprofit executives Jean Ronald Tirelus and Roberto Samedy. The investigation, which became public in March 2026, also examined the conduct of City Councilwoman Farah Louis, her sister Debbie Louis (an aide to Governor Hochul), and others in connection with contracts awarded to BHRAGS Home Care Inc. St. Fort was arrested in Boston and released on a $500,000 bond, while the other defendants pleaded not guilty in federal court.

Federal prosecutors investigated whether Debbie Louis, an aide to Governor Hochul serving as assistant secretary of New York City intergovernmental affairs, received bribes in exchange for actions taken on behalf of BHRAGS Home Care Inc., a migrant shelter provider that received approximately $200 million in city contracts. Louis was placed on leave immediately after the governor's office was informed of the federal investigation. Sources familiar with the probe stated that the investigation did not involve her role at the governor's office or state funds.

Hochul proposed delaying the state's Climate Act mandates from 2030 to 2040, arguing the change would prevent utility cost increases for New York residents. State legislators, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, indicated they would resist the delay as budget negotiations continued. Hochul released detailed plans for the proposal on March 20, 2026, citing potential costs to households including up to $4,000 annually for natural gas and oil heating and increased gas pump prices.

Governor Hochul allocated $4.5 billion in state funding for free childcare statewide in the next fiscal year, which includes $73 million to support the first 2,000 seats of New York City's new 2K preschool program for 2-year-olds. This funding initiative was announced jointly with Mayor Zohran Mamdani on March 3. Hochul's approach differs from alternative proposals that would expand childcare eligibility to children through age 12 at a higher estimated cost of $8 billion to $13 billion annually.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a 2023 New York law that moved local elections to even-numbered years to coincide with federal and state elections, a change initially backed by Democratic state lawmakers and Gov. Hochul's administration. The law, upheld by the New York Court of Appeals as constitutional, reshapes the state's political calendar beginning in the fall and requires officials including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to serve shortened terms to align with the new election schedule. A separate federal lawsuit challenging the law remains pending in the Eastern District of New York, where plaintiffs including Nassau County may now proceed with their claims on the merits.

Mamdani announced a street redesign project to improve bike and pedestrian access to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, expanding bike connections along Centre Street and doubling the width of the southern crosswalk between the bridge and City Hall Park. The project, set to begin in spring, will be completed before the FIFA World Cup tournament in June to accommodate the anticipated influx of over one million tourists to the tri-state area. Mamdani stated the redesign aims to improve safety and ease of travel for those driving, walking, or biking across the bridge.

Hochul announced at a roundtable meeting that she is pushing reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, which she stated has driven up development costs and slowed homebuilding across the state. Hochul attributed delays in housing construction partly to the environmental and social impact review requirements mandated by the law and indicated that updating these outdated regulations would encourage increased housing production. She stated that building more housing supply would naturally suppress price increases, with the objective of stabilizing or reducing housing costs in some communities.

Hochul proposed postponing by one decade the state's greenhouse-gas emissions reduction targets established by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which had mandated a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. In an opinion column, Hochul cited factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, local opposition to renewable energy projects, and federal policy changes as reasons for the timeline adjustment. The governor stated that New York would maintain one of the nation's most ambitious climate plans even with the extended deadline.

Hochul formally proposed delaying the implementation deadline of New York's Climate Act from 2030 to 2040, while maintaining unchanged emissions reduction goals for 2050 and revising the methodology for calculating the state's emissions to align with other states. The governor cited analysis from her administration showing that meeting the 2030 targets under the current plan would impose approximately $4,000 in additional costs per household through increased gasoline and utility expenses by that year. Hochul announced the proposal in an op-ed published Friday as the state budget negotiations with the legislature approach their April 1 deadline.

Hochul announced the creation of the "FutureWorks Commission," a new body tasked with studying how artificial intelligence will reshape New York's economy and workforce. The commission will include leaders from business, labor, academia, and government, and is expected to deliver policy recommendations to help the state adapt to technological changes, including studying job impacts and identifying opportunities and disruptions. Hochul stated this initiative builds on recent state efforts including a $500 million Empire AI computing center and workforce training programs designed to prepare students, small businesses, and government employees for artificial intelligence technologies.

Governor Hochul proposed legislation to strengthen New York State's ability to stop illegal drone activity in response to an incident at Marcy Correctional Facility in which a drone delivered contraband including knives, drugs, and a cell phone onto the prison grounds. The proposed law would prohibit illegal drone use and restrict drone activity over sensitive locations including correctional facilities. Department of Correction Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III stated the legislation would provide tools to prevent unlawful drone activity and protect people living and working in state facilities.

Hochul announced and implemented congestion pricing, a tolling program that charged drivers $9 to drive in Manhattan below 60th Street beginning January 5, 2025. At a press conference marking the first anniversary of the toll, Hochul stated that speeds had increased, buses were faster, and transit ridership had grown in the congestion zone. The governor's office released materials attributing increased subway ridership to the congestion pricing program, though data showed ridership growth had been occurring for years prior to the toll's implementation.

Mayor Mamdani's administration issued a Request for Proposal through the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City seeking a vendor to conduct family and provider focus groups to inform branding and messaging for an expanded early childhood education program. The contract, valued at no more than $250,000, requires the selected vendor to conduct eight to ten focus groups with diverse families in multiple languages and five to seven focus groups with early childhood providers and educators, with work to be completed in fall 2026 for use in marketing campaigns for the 2027-28 school year. The marketing initiative aims to create a unified brand for the city's publicly-funded early care and education programs for children under five, including 2-K and 3-K classes.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims against the Trump administration on March 17, 2026, seeking the release of approximately $60 million in federal funding for the Second Avenue Subway expansion project in East Harlem. Governor Hochul stated that the White House's withholding of the promised funds had endangered the $7 billion project to add new Q train stops at 106th, 116th, and 125th streets. The Trump administration's budget director had previously announced a freeze on the funding pending a federal review of the MTA's contracting practices, which the MTA asserted it had completed in compliance.

Hochul announced an auto-insurance reform plan that includes placing a cap on damages for pain and suffering in cases involving drivers at fault or engaging in criminal behavior, as well as targeting uninsured motorists and those convicted of driving while impaired. The proposal also includes legislation to enable prosecutors to seek criminal penalties against individuals responsible for organizing staged accidents. Trial lawyers' advocacy groups, which spent over $1 million on political contributions and $1.579 million on lobbying in the previous year, have emerged as a significant opposing force to Hochul's reform initiative in the state legislature.

Hochul sought to delay the implementation timeline of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, arguing that the 2030 compliance deadline for green energy mandates was too stringent and would impose significant costs on businesses and consumers. According to a state energy authority memo, the transition costs outlined in the legislation would increase home and business heating expenses by approximately $4,000 annually upstate and $2,300 in the New York City region. The Business Council of New York State subsequently designated the 2019 climate law as "not affordable" on its newly launched website that tracks the fiscal impact of state legislation.

New York law enforcement agencies have awaited $86 million in counterterrorism funding from the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Grant Program for five months following a $187 million cut implemented in October. Hochul's office stated that the governor took action to restore the funding after the initial cut by former DHS Secretary Noem. The delayed disbursement affects the NYPD, FDNY, and other agencies' ability to fund patrols around sensitive locations, hire intelligence analysts, and deploy equipment such as radiation detectors and bomb squads.

Hochul announced a plan to address auto-insurance fraud and reduce personal injury litigation costs in New York, where average annual premiums are approximately $4,000, or $1,500 above the national average. The proposal includes implementing a cap on damages for pain and suffering in cases involving criminal behavior such as driving while impaired or operating uninsured vehicles, and creating criminal penalties for individuals organizing staged accidents. Law enforcement unions including the New York City Police Benevolent Association and United Firefighters Association publicly supported the measures as part of the state budget negotiations.

Charter school advocates sent a letter to Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani requesting that charter schools receive equal per-pupil funding in the proposed $4.5 billion universal childcare expansion that includes pre-K and 3-K programs. The advocates noted that charter schools currently receive $20,000 less per child than traditional public schools and argued this funding gap would prevent the expansion from being truly universal. Charter schools serve approximately one-in-six public school students in New York City, with over 80 percent from economically disadvantaged families.

Hochul's administration had been engaged in a legal battle with New York City over the city's 2019 foie gras sales ban, with the state arguing that the ban would negatively affect upstate agricultural districts. An appellate court ruled in March 2026 that the state legislature did not intend to limit local governments' home rule authority based on potential effects to agricultural districts elsewhere in the state, clearing the way for the city's ban to proceed. Hochul's administration retained the option to appeal the decision to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals.

Hochul included $535 million in her executive budget for continued National Guard deployment in state prisons, a practice that began following a three-week correction officers' strike. Approximately 3,000 National Guardsmen are currently stationed across the state's 42 prisons to address staffing shortages, with roughly 4,600 corrections officer positions remaining unfilled one year after the strike ended. The deployment, combined with existing overtime costs for correction officers, represents a continuation of interim measures without changes to the HALT Act, which restricted solitary confinement practices in 2021.

Hochul oversaw the award of an $11 billion Medicaid contract to Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) to manage the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) beginning in April 2025. A state performance audit found that the state "ignored many red flags that PPL was not fully prepared" to offer services and characterized the transition as "problematic." PPL had previously lost or failed to renew contracts in six other states, with complaints in those jurisdictions including missed paychecks, service interruptions, and technical failures in managing similar home care programs.

Hochul issued a statement condemning an ISIS-inspired attempted terrorist attack at an anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion, in which two teenagers allegedly threw improvised explosive devices at protesters on Saturday. In subsequent remarks to reporters on Monday, Hochul stated she rejected "hate in all of its forms" and condemned both the terrorist attack and the anti-Muslim protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang. Hochul announced that an investigation into the incident would be conducted, and stated that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced that his office is conducting an extensive probe into Hochul's administration's management of New York's $124 billion Medicaid program. Oz stated on a radio program that Hochul has not been serious about addressing Medicaid fraud in the state, specifically citing concerns about the number of employees in home care and personal care programs and spending on community care centers. The Justice Department is separately set to file a lawsuit against Hochul's administration regarding its revamp of the state's Medicaid home care program.

Hochul met in a closed-door session with Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, in Albany on March 5, 2026, to communicate her opposition to ICE expansion in New York. During the meeting, Hochul stated she does not want large-scale detention centers or expansion of existing detention facilities in the state and made clear that New York would not request additional ICE agents. The governor and Homan also discussed how federal immigration agents conduct pickups at New York jails following the completion of inmates' sentences.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called on Hochul to reopen the Indian Point nuclear plant, which closed in 2021 and previously provided approximately 25 percent of New York City's electrical power. Lawler and Wright argued that reopening the facility would address rising energy costs in New York, with Lawler stating that electricity bills had reached 59 percent higher than the national average. Hochul has acknowledged that the closure of Indian Point was a mistake and has signaled openness to delaying mandates of the state's 2019 climate law, though she has not announced a decision regarding the plant's reopening.

Hochul vowed to make New York more attractive to businesses by committing not to raise taxes, a position stated as she faced pressure from NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was simultaneously campaigning for a slate of new taxes. The statement represented Hochul's fiscal approach during discussions about the state's economic competitiveness and tax policy.

The United States Department of Justice is set to file a lawsuit against Hochul's administration regarding its restructuring of New York's $11 billion Medicaid Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or CDPAP, according to sources familiar with the federal investigation. The complaint, expected to be filed in the coming weeks, will allege improprieties including bid rigging and non-compliance with Medicaid billing rules related to the program's transition from multiple intermediary firms to a single payroll administrator, Public Partnerships LLC. Hochul initiated the CDPAP overhaul in 2024, citing concerns about fraud and abuse within the existing system.

Democratic leaders in the New York State Senate and Assembly announced support for Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to increase taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations in the state budget, according to reporting in March 2026. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins confirmed that tax increases would be included in the upper chamber's budget resolution, citing the need for revenue raisers to meet New Yorkers' needs. Governor Hochul has stated her opposition to hiking income taxes, positioning the tax increase proposal as a point of disagreement between the executive and legislative branches in budget negotiations.

Hochul extended the state's elevated income tax rates on high earners through 2032 in her budget, making permanent what had been presented as a temporary tax increase initially enacted during the 2021 budget. The extension maintained tax rates of 9.65% on the highest bracket, 10.3% on filers earning over $5 million, and 10.9% on those with incomes exceeding $25 million. Hochul has faced calls from New York City officials to approve additional increases to the city income tax on millionaires to address municipal budget gaps.

Hochul announced on Monday that she was working to increase patrols around Jewish and Muslim houses of worship in response to ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and a mass shooting in Austin under investigation as a terror-related attack. The governor stated that New York would not tolerate hate or retaliation against residents based on current events in the region. Hochul's directive contributed to broader efforts by state and city officials to enhance security at sensitive locations throughout New York.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sent a letter to Hochul on Tuesday requesting detailed information regarding program integrity, provider screening, and enrollment oversight within New York's Medicaid program. Oz's inquiry included 50 questions scrutinizing cost control measures and fraud prevention efforts, citing New York's Medicaid spending per beneficiary at $12,528, which is 36 percent higher than the national average. The request was also sent to state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, state Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri, and acting Medicaid Inspector General Frank Walsh Jr.

Hochul served as lieutenant governor when former Governor Andrew Cuomo moved to close the Indian Point Energy Center nuclear power plant in 2021, which had supplied 25 percent of electricity to New York City and Westchester County. The closure occurred following opposition from environmental activists and resulted in the replacement of nuclear generation with natural gas power, which produces higher carbon emissions. Hochul is currently attempting to address grid reliability concerns by laying groundwork to develop new nuclear generators upstate, though experts note that new facilities would likely be located farther from New York City than Indian Point and would require additional transmission infrastructure.

In February 2026, Hochul signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which permits qualified terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to self-administer medication to end their lives. The New York law includes safeguards requiring mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist, audio or video recording of the patient's request, a five-day waiting period, and verification of state residency. The legislation made New York the thirteenth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

Hochul's administration released a memo projecting that New York's cap-and-invest climate initiative could increase gasoline prices by $2.23 per gallon by 2031 and raise household natural gas costs by $2,300 annually in New York City and $4,300 upstate. The governor stated that meeting the state's 2019 climate law mandates of 70 percent zero-emissions electricity generation by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040 would impose enormous costs on families. Hochul indicated plans to negotiate changes to the climate mandates during upcoming budget talks, seeking to delay the established deadlines.

Governor Hochul appears positioned to seek changes or delays to New York's 2019 climate law, which established targets including 40% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040. According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the law's implementation is projected to increase household energy costs by $4,100 annually by 2031, raise gasoline prices by $2.23 per gallon, increase business utility costs by 46%, and raise truck-delivery expenses by over 60%. Hochul has already delayed the "cap and invest" program and paused the state's all-electric building mandate, though any modifications to the climate law would require legislative approval.

Hochul allocated $73 million in state funding for a free 2-K pilot program launching in fall 2026, providing 2,000 seats for 2-year-olds in five New York City school districts, with funding from current state tax revenues. The program, announced jointly with Mayor Zohran Mamdani in Harlem, is projected to expand to 12,000 seats citywide by 2027 at a cost of $425 million annually. Hochul stated the initiative would remain an ongoing priority during her tenure, though a detailed funding plan for future years has not been established.

Mayor Mamdani stated a preference for Governor Hochul and the state Legislature to increase the income tax on millionaires or raise the corporate tax rate to address a multibillion-dollar budget gap, rather than pursuing his stated "last resort" plan of a 9.5% property tax increase. State legislators affiliated with Mamdani introduced legislation that would authorize New York City to impose a 25% surcharge on corporate tax liability, with the stated purpose of generating revenue for addressing affordability and funding public services. Hochul did not take a documented action on this proposal in the article provided.

Hochul appointed Stu Rabinowitz to lead Nassau University Medical Center's board in May following the resignation of ten hospital executives in response to a state takeover that gave Hochul authority to appoint a majority of board members. Rabinowitz resigned in March after serving several months, stating that with permanent CEO Tom Stokes in place and the hospital operating on more stable financial footing, the time was appropriate for his departure. During his tenure, Rabinowitz's leadership resulted in the hospital securing $110 million in state funding and the resolution of litigation against the state.

Hochul allocated $73 million in state funding for a free 2-K pilot program launching in the fall, providing subsidized early childhood education to 2,000 seats across five school districts in New York City. The program, developed in collaboration with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, targets lower-income and diverse neighborhoods as part of a broader initiative toward universal child care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. The state funding amounts to approximately $36,500 per child annually in the pilot phase.

Hochul proposed a 75% tax on nicotine pouches including products like Zyn, which would bring an estimated $44 million to $57 million annually to the state and contribute $50 million yearly to the Health Care Reform Act Resources Fund. Business groups and convenience store associations urged Hochul to reject the proposed tax, arguing it would harm compliant small businesses and create incentives for illegal untaxed sales. Law enforcement representatives also opposed the measure, contending that increased tobacco taxes historically expand black market activity that fuels organized crime.

Assembly Republicans unveiled a package of bills in February 2026 that would distribute $2 billion in rebates from state coffers to lower and middle income households to offset rising utility bills, and would redirect approximately $2.4 billion in unspent funds from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Climate Investment Account to provide bill credits. The proposal also called for eliminating certain mandates of the state's climate law, including bans on gas appliances and requirements for schools to convert vehicle fleets to electric buses. Governor Hochul's office responded that the Governor had introduced a separate Ratepayer Protection Plan in January designed to hold utilities accountable and keep costs down, characterizing the Republican proposal as election-year political activity.

Mayor Mamdani proposed allocating $70 million through the city Economic Development Corporation to fund feasibility studies and construction of five government-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, as part of a campaign pledge. The Economic Development Corporation confirmed the allocation was designated for construction of the stores rather than the study itself, though the cost and timeline of the feasibility study were not disclosed. The proposal was advanced while the city faced a reported $5.4 billion budget gap.

Following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the majority of President Trump's tariffs, Hochul demanded $13.5 billion in refunds for New York residents, citing a Yale Budget Lab study indicating that the tariffs had cost New York households an average of $1,751 each. The governor's demand came after the Supreme Court found that Trump had exceeded his presidential authority when using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enact the levies. Hochul's office did not immediately clarify whether New York consumers should expect to receive refunds or what form they would take.

Mamdani proposed a 9.5% increase in city property taxes as part of a $127 billion budget proposal, marking the first property tax hike since the turn of the century. Energy utility companies Con Edison and National Grid indicated they would pass increased property tax costs onto their ratepayers through higher electric and gas bills. Experts and utility representatives stated that the property tax increase on utilities would effectively transfer costs to residential customers already facing rising energy expenses.

Hochul's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal includes an increase of approximately 10% in state Medicaid spending, continuing a pattern across her four annual budgets in which the state's share of Medicaid costs has risen 60 percent, roughly five times the rate of inflation. The proposal allocates $1.5 billion for hospital and nursing home fee increases and $1 billion for health-care capital grants. Hochul stated that the spending increases are necessary to offset reductions in federal Medicaid funding, though federal funding for the state is projected to increase by $3 billion in the next fiscal year.

Hochul increased her state budget proposal to $262.7 billion, an addition of approximately $3 billion from the previously announced budget. The revised proposal includes $1.5 billion in aid to New York City to address its fiscal gap and $150 million for financially struggling upstate cities, with $40 million allocated specifically to Buffalo. The budget represents the largest spending plan in state history and follows Hochul's earlier commitment of $2 billion for child care subsidies in New York City.

Hochul reversed a proposal to expand autonomous vehicle testing by companies including Waymo to four upstate cities, while allowing the pilot program to continue in New York City as part of an amended state budget proposal released in February 2026. The rollback followed opposition from transit workers, rideshare drivers, and taxi unions organized under the People First Transportation Alliance, who raised concerns about job losses. Hochul had initially praised the proposal in January for its potential safety and transportation benefits before removing it from the budget less than a month later.

Hochul appointed five new members and reappointed one existing member to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board, granting her a majority of the nine-seat panel tasked with voting annually on rent increases for the city's approximately one million rent-stabilized units. The appointees included labor union leader Brandon Mancilla, economist Lauren Melodia, housing official Chantella Mitchell as board chair, landlord representative Maksim Wynn, and tenant advocate Adán Soltren. Hochul stated that the board members would consider all relevant factors facing rent-stabilized tenants when making their decisions, with the board scheduled to vote on rent adjustments in June.

Hochul allocated $1.5 billion in state funds to New York City to address a municipal budget shortfall, providing $1 billion in the current fiscal year and $510 million in the following year. The funding was delivered as the city's projected budget deficit decreased from $12 billion to $7 billion over a two-year period. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized the allocation, arguing the funds should have been directed toward reducing school taxes statewide rather than supporting New York City's budget.

New York House Republicans sent a letter to Governor Hochul on February 5, 2026, urging her to opt New York into a federal tax credit scholarship program that provides taxpayers with tax breaks up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship-granting organizations serving students with family incomes below 300 percent of their area's median income. Hochul has not yet decided whether to enroll the state in the program, which takes effect in January 2027, citing the need for additional guidance from the Trump administration and further review of the proposal. The program has been adopted by 28 other states, including Colorado, and scholarship donations in New York currently run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, though taxpayers cannot receive the federal tax benefit unless the state opts in.

Hochul announced a commitment of $1.5 billion in state funding to New York City, allocating $1 billion to the current fiscal year and $500 million to the next fiscal year. The funding includes $300 million for youth violence programs and $60 million for public health, with the state assuming costs previously shifted to the city, along with increased sales tax collections returned to the municipality. The allocation was announced as New York City faced a budget shortfall under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration.

Governor Hochul proposed the New York Housing Compact in early 2023, a plan to construct over 800,000 housing units over the following decade through mandatory growth targets for local communities. Negotiations between Hochul and the Democratic-controlled Legislature on a comprehensive housing package failed to produce legislation during the 2023 state budget season and subsequent legislative session, with legislative leaders stating in June 2023 that they could not reach agreement with the governor on the proposal. Hochul indicated she would pursue executive action on housing and continued advocacy for her Housing Compact, while legislators pledged to continue working on housing policy measures.

Governor Hochul requested a waiver from federal officials in May 2023 to expand income eligibility for New York's Essential Plan to undocumented immigrants, seeking to use federal funds under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act. The State Senate passed the "Coverage for All" bill in June 2023, which would extend healthcare access to approximately 240,000 undocumented immigrants by allowing enrollment in the Essential Plan. The legislation required the state health commissioner to formally request the federal waiver and was pending approval in the State Assembly.

Hochul introduced legislation to limit local police cooperation with ICE, characterizing the agency as "a rogue federal agency unleashed on the American streets for the sole purpose of creating chaos and fear." The proposed legislation would restrict the ability of New York law enforcement to partner with federal immigration enforcement authorities. This action placed Hochul among several Democratic governors pursuing measures to reduce state-level involvement in federal immigration enforcement operations.

The New York State Legislature passed the New York Early Mail Voter Act in the final days of the 2023 session, which would allow all voters to cast ballots by mail during the nine-day early voting period preceding primary and general elections beginning in 2024. Governor Hochul indicated she would review the bill but had not committed to signing or vetoing it as of the article's publication. The legislation represents an alternative approach to expanding mail-in voting without amending the state constitution, relying on a constitutional provision permitting voting methods to be set by law rather than the absentee ballot procedures outlined elsewhere in the constitution.

Hochul repeatedly rejected calls to increase the state income tax, stating that the state already ranks among the most heavily taxed states in the country. The governor's position directly countered Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal for a 2% income tax increase on residents earning more than $1 million annually. Hochul's stance reflected her broader resistance to tax increases as a response to budget pressures facing New York City and the state.

Governor Hochul proposed a four-year extension of mayoral control over New York City public schools, a system set to expire in June 2026 in which the mayor appoints the schools chancellor and most members of the oversight panel that sets education policy. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels testified before the City Council's Education Committee in support of Hochul's proposal, stating that mayoral control enables centralized oversight necessary for systemwide goals such as meeting the state's class size mandate. Samuels argued that the structure allows the city to shift students and resources between schools efficiently while incorporating family input through what he termed "family empowerment."

Hochul vetoed legislation requiring two-person crews on Metropolitan Transportation Authority trains, citing an estimated annual cost of $10 million and concerns about reducing service and limiting the authority's ability to purchase new equipment and signals. The International Transport Workers Union, representing 60,000 transit workers in New York, announced it would not endorse Hochul's 2026 re-election bid, citing disputes over the veto, her support for increased worker health care contributions, her veto of pension enhancement bills, and a Department of Motor Vehicles policy regarding Commercial Drivers' Licenses for immigrant workers. Union president John Samuelsen stated in a letter to members that Hochul was not a trade-union supporting governor and that the union would not endorse her candidacy based on party affiliation alone.

Hochul stated that the state has already provided substantial funding to New York City, including $1.7 billion committed to cover the mayor's universal child care plan, when asked if she would increase state funding ahead of Mayor Mamdani's scheduled appearance at the legislative budget hearing known as "Tin Cup Day." Hochul declined to commit to additional funding requests, saying "I already have stepped up" and characterizing her previous contributions as sufficient support for the city. When separately asked about the mayor's proposal for free bus service, Hochul indicated that ongoing conversations were taking place without confirming any change in her position.

The New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America declined to endorse Governor Hochul's re-election bid. The chapter issued a statement characterizing Hochul's positions as favoring wealthy donors over working-class New Yorkers. This decision by the DSA chapter occurred amid the organization's broader expansion to 100,000 members and increasing influence in Democratic primary endorsements.

Hochul announced a plan to restrict local government cooperation with ICE through state legislation following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The proposed measure would prohibit state and local resources from being used to aid most non-criminal federal immigration enforcement activities. The New York Democratic Party voted unanimously at its state convention to support the New York for All Act, legislation aligned with Hochul's announced restrictions on ICE cooperation.

Hochul secured the Democratic Party's nomination for governor at the party's convention in Syracuse on February 6, 2026, receiving 85 percent of the convention vote. Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado received just under 15 percent of the vote and announced he would continue pursuing a primary campaign against Hochul. Hochul announced Adrienne Adams, former New York City Council Speaker, as her running mate for the general election.

Hochul selected Adrienne Adams, former Speaker of the New York City Council, as her running mate for the 2026 gubernatorial election. The selection makes Hochul and Adams the first all-female statewide ticket in New York history. This marks Hochul's third lieutenant governor choice, following the resignation of her first pick due to a corruption scandal and the departure of her second pick to run against her in the primary.

Hochul unveiled the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, legislation designed to bar and eliminate 287(g) agreements throughout New York State by blocking local police departments from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration arrests and prohibiting ICE from using county detention facilities. The bill would void existing agreements in five counties, including Nassau County, which currently operates such an arrangement. Hochul characterized ICE as a "rogue" and "tyrannical" agency and stated the measure would allow local police to focus on local crime while preserving cooperation with federal authorities on violent offender cases.

Hochul's office disclosed that her state police detail paid $1,019 in congestion pricing tolls for trips into Manhattan's tolling zone during 2025, the first year the tolls were in effect. Under an agreement with the MTA, Hochul's vehicles, which are normally exempt from the congestion tax, were charged $9 per trip during peak hours and $2.25 overnight. Hochul transferred the $1,019 payment to the MTA on February 1st to support transit system upgrades.

Governor Hochul proposed a policy change that would allow physician assistants to practice with greater independence and without direct physician supervision, including the ability to diagnose patients without subsequent review. Under current New York law, physician assistants are required to operate under physician supervision, though this supervision can occur through chart review conducted hours after patient encounters. Hochul's proposal would codify expanded authority for physician assistants to perform duties traditionally reserved for physicians.

Hochul unveiled proposals to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in New York, including legislation to end agreements between local governments and federal immigration authorities that allow ICE to use local personnel and facilities for enforcement actions and detainee housing. The governor also proposed designating private homes as "sensitive locations" where ICE agents would be barred from entering, joining hospitals, schools, and houses of worship under existing restrictions. The proposals directly targeted Nassau County's existing ICE agreement, the most expansive in the state, which allows local deputies to enforce federal immigration laws.

Governor Hochul previously suggested state legislation creating a 25-foot protest buffer zone around houses of worship. City Council Speaker Julie Menin subsequently introduced legislation to establish an up to 100-foot buffer zone for protests outside synagogues and other religious institutions, to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the NYPD. The proposed bill is part of Menin's five-point plan to address antisemitism, which also includes reimbursement programs for security cameras at private schools, security training for religious organizations, and $1.25 million in funding for the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Hochul stated that New York State would not raise taxes, directly responding to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's call for tax increases on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations to address New York City's $12 billion budget deficit. During a Manhattan event, Hochul told reporters she was not raising taxes and characterized Mamdani's proposals as statements he "needs to say." The governor's position created a potential point of contention with the newly inaugurated mayor regarding how to resolve the city's fiscal crisis.

Governor Hochul applied pressure on Amtrak to maintain service between Penn Station and Albany during the East River Tunnel rehabilitation project, which had been scheduled to suspend some trips beginning in May 2025. Amtrak announced in January 2026 that it would restore full Empire Service between the cities beginning in early March 2026 by identifying additional equipment through Northeast Corridor schedule adjustments. The restoration allowed the tunnel project to continue on schedule toward its expected 2027 completion while avoiding extended service interruptions for regional commuters.

Hochul signed a proclamation in 2022 recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Association's definition of antisemitism as a guidance tool. The proclamation fell short of formally adopting the IHRA definition into state law, which Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman called for in January 2026. Hochul stated she was proud of the proclamation and had taken additional measures to protect Jewish New Yorkers and combat antisemitism.

Hochul included a provision in her $260 billion budget plan that would expand the period during which adoptive parents can provide financial support to birth mothers from 60 days before birth to 180 days before birth, and from 30 days after birth to 45 days after birth. The proposal also permits courts to authorize payments beyond these timeframes when circumstances warrant additional financial assistance. Hochul's summary stated that New York's existing reimbursement rules for birth mothers are more restrictive than those in other states, making adoption more difficult for New York families.

Hochul has not opted New York into a federal tax-credit scholarship program established under the Trump administration that would allow taxpayers to receive up to $1,700 in tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations serving students from families earning below 300 percent of area median income. Hochul's office stated the governor is awaiting guidance and rules from the Trump administration before making a decision on participation and noted the program does not take effect until January 2027. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized Hochul's non-participation as blocking access to educational support for New York students, particularly those attending private schools, Catholic schools, and yeshivas.

Hochul called for the resignation, firing, or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino on January 25, 2026, following a fatal shooting by federal agents of a protester during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The governor stated that Noem had "forfeited her right to lead" and indicated that if she did not resign, President Trump should remove her or Congress should impeach her. Hochul also hinted at future legal action by New York State against Trump administration officials involved in the immigration enforcement operations.

Hochul included $4.5 billion in taxpayer funding for childcare and universal pre-K programs in her 2026 executive budget, establishing a statewide initiative with a baseline of $10,000 per pupil minimum. State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages called the funding insufficient for Long Island regions, citing inflation, staffing costs, and classroom shortages that have created waitlists despite doubled enrollment since 2021. Solages proposed additional state spending to expand capacity, increase per-pupil investment beyond the $10,000 minimum, and accelerate the universal pre-K timeline from the state's 2028 goal.

Hochul ordered the New York Power Authority to develop a 1,000 megawatt nuclear plant Upstate in June, then increased the target to 5,000 megawatts of new nuclear power in her State of the State Address. The proposed plants are intended to address New York's electricity shortages and support the state's zero-emissions grid target by 2040 under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Seven months after the initial order, no site, builder, timeline, or cost estimate had been publicly announced for the project.

Hochul called for a "back to basics" approach to mathematics instruction in New York schools, advocating for sensible curricular and instructional changes. She proposed legislation requiring the State Education Department to offer best practices for teaching math and guidance on selecting math curricula. The editorial notes that Hochul lacks direct authority over the State Education Department, which is governed by a Board of Regents appointed through a process independent of the governorship.

Hochul signed the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act, legislation that restricts anonymous reports of child maltreatment to the state's child welfare system. The law was designed to reduce frivolous or retaliatory reports from landlords or ex-partners and protect families from what supporters characterized as invasive surveillance. The legislation eliminates the ability of anonymous callers to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Administration for Children's Services.

Governor Hochul urged both sides in a New York State nurses' strike to continue negotiations and reach an agreement, according to a statement from her office during the ten-day work stoppage involving nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian. Hochul stated that her top priority remained safeguarding patients in the affected hospitals and ensuring access to necessary care while acknowledging the pivotal role nurses play in healthcare delivery. The governor's intervention contributed to both the nurses' union and hospital systems agreeing to resume bargaining negotiations.

Hochul proposed a $260 billion state budget that includes an 11.4 percent increase in Medicaid spending, adding $3.9 billion to current spending levels. The proposal relies on federal approval to access a $9.6 billion state trust fund to help finance benefits for approximately 1.8 million New Yorkers enrolled in the Essential Plan, including over 700,000 non-citizens. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, under the Trump administration, is reviewing New York's request to use the trust fund, with a spokesperson stating the agency will ensure federal funds are used only for individuals with lawful eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.

Hochul directed the state's hate crimes task force to assist the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force in investigating antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas and references to Adolf Hitler, that was painted on a playground in Brooklyn's Borough Park on two consecutive days in January 2026. In a statement posted on social media, Hochul characterized the vandalism as a depraved act and stated there was no excuse and zero tolerance for such incidents. The investigation into the graffiti, which occurred in a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, was being conducted by the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force with state assistance.

Hochul included a proposal in her $260 billion state budget unveiled in January 2026 to tax nicotine pouches such as ZYN at the same 75% wholesale rate applied to cigarettes. The tax was projected to generate $18 million in the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2026, and $44 million when fully implemented in the following year. The proposal drew criticism from the manufacturer Philip Morris International and public health experts who argued that equalizing the tax rate on alternative nicotine products with cigarettes could discourage smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives.

Hochul released data in her $260 billion budget plan showing that visitors crossing from Canada into New York decreased by 21 percent through the first eleven months of 2025, representing approximately 3 million fewer travelers. The governor's office attributed the decline to tariff policies and trade tensions between the Trump administration and Canada, noting that half of the reduction occurred during the peak tourism months of June through September. Toll revenue at the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge connecting New York and Ontario dropped by $1 million, and Hochul's analysis stated that negative sentiment from the trade environment reduced border crossings and tourism spending across the state.

Hochul proposed reforms to New York state personal injury lawsuit laws designed to reduce automobile insurance costs, which she stated were approximately $1,500 above the national average for New York drivers. The proposed reforms include capping payouts for drivers committing crimes during accidents, prohibiting drivers primarily at fault from collecting damages, establishing objective medical standards for "serious injury" classifications, and empowering prosecutors to pursue individuals involved in staged accident schemes. Hochul characterized the changes as addressing fraud, litigation loopholes, and enforcement gaps in the state's liability system.

Hochul proposed a record $260 billion budget for New York's 2027 fiscal year, which she announced in Albany without raising taxes. The budget relies on projected revenues from higher-than-expected Wall Street bonuses and stock market gains to fund spending increases, including a $4.5 billion allocation toward universal childcare. Hochul characterized the proposal as "disciplined" rather than austere while acknowledging fiscal pressures from slowing job growth and federal policy uncertainty.

Hochul proposed a $260 billion New York State budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, the highest in state history, without including new income tax increases. The proposal allocates $4.5 billion toward childcare expansion statewide, including a new "2-Care" program for 2-year-olds in New York City and $210 million for pre-K expansion for 4-year-olds, while increasing Medicaid spending by 11.4% and extending the corporate franchise tax rate at 7.25%. The budget does not raise income taxes on any earners, relying instead on existing revenue projections and current tax structures to fund the expanded spending.

Hochul stated in January 2026 that she did not intend to revisit or modify New York's Raise the Age law in her proposed $260 billion budget, citing the state's prior accomplishment in enacting criminal justice reforms including the law itself in 2019. The Raise the Age law raised the state's age of criminal responsibility to 18, preventing 16- and 17-year-olds from being initially tried as adults for most non-felonies. Hochul's position stood in contrast to requests from district attorneys and law enforcement officials who sought examination and potential adjustments to the law.

Governor Hochul commented on a federal court ruling that lifted President Trump's December 2025 stop-work order on the Empire Wind project, a $6 billion offshore wind development located approximately 14 miles off the coast of Jones Beach. Judge Carl Nichols ruled that the project, which was more than 60 percent complete at the time of suspension, could immediately resume construction after determining the Trump administration's national security justification was without legal basis. The 810-megawatt wind farm is expected to deliver power to over 500,000 people across parts of New York City once operational.

Hochul announced a revised plan for the Second Avenue Subway extension that prioritizes a crosstown route along 125th Street in Harlem over the previously planned downtown continuation from 72nd Street to Houston Street. The decision was based on a $16 million state-funded feasibility study concluding that extending the Q line westward across Harlem would be faster and more cost-effective than the downtown segment, which the MTA estimated would cost $13.5 billion. The governor stated the crosstown expansion would save hundreds of millions in future costs and benefit an estimated 240,000 daily riders, though a final decision on funding priorities will not be made until the MTA's 2029 capital plan.

Hochul directed the state Department of Taxation and Finance to create a Vapor Products registry identifying legal vape products, with all unlisted products deemed contraband under existing New York law banning flavored e-cigarettes. The registry, modeled after systems used in more than a dozen other states, aims to provide law enforcement with standardized information to identify illegal products and enforce existing prohibitions. Hochul announced this action in her 2026 State of the State policy book, citing estimates that approximately 99 percent of vape products currently in the New York market are illegally flavored.

Hochul announced on January 18, 2026, that New York State would provide $109 million in funding to Nassau University Medical Center, comprising more than $82 million from the state Health Department's Vital Access Provider Assurance Program and $27.5 million through an intergovernmental transfer tied to COVID-era Medicaid aid. The funding was intended to reduce the hospital's deficit from more than $167 million to slightly under $83 million and to stabilize operations under new state-appointed leadership following the state's takeover of the hospital in May 2025. Critics, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Representative James Comer, contended that the allocation represented funds the hospital was already owed and that the state had previously withheld these resources.

Hochul delivered a speech at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on January 17, 2026, during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service in which she announced a state policy restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering certain sacred spaces without a judge-signed warrant. The policy applies to churches, hospitals, day care centers, and schools within New York State. During the same address, Hochul praised Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and credited him with contributing to public safety improvements in the state.

Hochul announced a plan to redirect the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's century-old proposal to extend the Q subway line further into Lower Manhattan, instead directing the agency to pursue an extension along 125th Street to Broadway in Upper Manhattan. The new plan carries an estimated cost of $8.1 billion and cannot begin construction for at least six years, pending completion of the Q line's extension from 96th Street to 125th Street. The announcement redirects the MTA's capital planning priorities toward the Upper Manhattan corridor.

Governor Hochul repeatedly declined to support Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to increase taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations to address New York City's projected $12 billion budget deficit across fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Hochul made her position clear following her State of the State address in which she announced support for Mamdani's universal child care initiative but did not endorse the tax increase component of his fiscal agenda. The governor's stance represented a point of disagreement with the newly elected mayor as the city grappled with a significant budgetary shortfall.

Hochul did not include amendments to the Raise the Age law in her executive budget proposal released in January 2026. The Raise the Age law, signed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017, directs 16 and 17-year-old offenders to be tried in family court rather than adult criminal court, even for serious felonies. Hochul's decision to leave the law unchanged came despite having stated in August 2025 that she was "willing to look at" potential reforms.

Hochul welcomed a federal judge's decision to temporarily lift the Trump administration's suspension of the Empire Wind offshore wind project, which had been halted in December 2024 on national security grounds. Hochul stated that the national security rationale was without basis and requested a briefing on the alleged threat, which she indicated the administration could not provide. The ruling allows Equinor to resume construction on the project designed to generate over 2,000 megawatts of electricity for New York.

Hochul announced in her 2026 State of the State address a plan to reform New York's personal injury lawsuit standards by establishing objective medical criteria for what qualifies as a "serious injury" in auto insurance cases, aiming to reduce the state's average auto insurance premiums of $4,000 annually. The proposal would also include a crackdown on staged accidents and would restrict payouts to individuals convicted of crimes such as drunk driving or driving without a license at the time of a crash. The New York State Trial Lawyers Association released a statement opposing the initiative, contending that weakening injury protections would benefit insurers while providing no guarantee of premium reductions for consumers.

Hochul announced a plan to establish a "Center for Excellence for Cannabis Care and Health Equity" as part of her 2026 State of the State policy agenda. The center would train clinicians on cannabis pharmacology, evidence-based care, and patient counseling in minority neighborhoods, addressing disparities in access to medical cannabis dispensaries compared to recreational cannabis dispensaries in Black and Brown neighborhoods. The initiative aims to increase awareness and access to therapeutic cannabis products in underserved communities.

Hochul stated that she would not increase income taxes in the current year to fund universal child care initiatives, including $3.2 billion in Child Care Assistance Program subsidies and $500 million for Pre-K and "2-Care" programs. However, when pressed on funding for the broader universal child care vision projected to cost between $12 billion to $15 billion when fully implemented in 2028, Hochul indicated she would not rule out future tax increases, citing potential federal budget cuts or other unforeseen circumstances. Hochul is scheduled to propose her state budget on January 20, 2026, amid a projected budget gap of $12.6 billion by fiscal year 2029.

Hochul proposed the creation of the "Center for Excellence for Cannabis Care and Health Equity," which would be the nation's first medical center dedicated to cannabis care and would offer residency programs for medical professionals seeking training in cannabis treatment. The center would partner with medical schools and residency programs to train clinicians in cannabis pharmacology, evidence-based care, and patient counseling, with the stated goal of addressing disparities in medical marijuana access in Black and Brown neighborhoods. Hochul's administration confirmed the center may award state-issued licenses to doctors and nurses trained in medical marijuana treatment.

Hochul temporarily suspended licensing requirements for nurses from other states to work in New York during an ongoing nurses strike. The suspension allowed hospitals to maintain operations and continue providing patient care by employing out-of-state nurses as temporary replacements. The action occurred amid union demands for a 33 percent wage increase over three years.

Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to "rise up" in response to President Trump's announcement that federal funding to sanctuary cities and states would be withheld beginning February 1, 2026. The Trump administration stated that the funding cuts would target jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Hochul's statement represented a public response to the administration's threatened action against New York's sanctuary policies.

Hochul delivered a "State of the State" speech on Tuesday outlining an affordability agenda that included $4.5 billion in proposed funding for universal childcare, with the governor scheduled to unveil her full state budget proposal on January 20. Critics across the political spectrum questioned how Hochul would finance these programs without raising taxes, noting that New York's state budget has grown 23 percent since she took office in 2021 and currently faces a projected budget gap of $12.6 billion by fiscal year 2029. Budget watchdogs cautioned that the state also faces potential federal funding cuts from the Trump administration, complicating the fiscal outlook for the proposed initiatives.

Hochul announced during her January 13, 2026 State of the State address that she would increase subway safety funding by $77 million, allocating resources toward maintaining heightened police patrols in the subway system, installing platform barriers at 85 additional stations, and expanding SCOUT, a program pairing mental health teams with police officers to assist individuals in crisis. Hochul stated her support for a pilot program legislation that would require drivers with multiple speed camera violations to install Intelligent Speed Assistance technology in their vehicles, which would electronically limit their cars' maximum speed. The governor also committed $50 million to modernizing Jamaica Station and pledged state funding for design and preliminary engineering to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street in Harlem.

Hochul announced in her 2026 State of the State policy book that she will direct the State Liquor Authority to create a hybrid restaurant-dance license and allow dancing by default in taverns and bars under state law. The proposal modifies existing regulations that currently prohibit dancing in establishments with restaurant licenses while requiring explicit requests for dancing in bar and tavern licenses. The new framework would maintain community disclosure and comment periods for dancing and performance dancing applications.

Hochul is mentioned only in passing as Blakeman's potential political opponent and is not the primary subject of this article about Blakeman's swearing-in ceremony and signing of the Religious Safety Act. The article focuses on Blakeman's second-term inauguration and his policy achievements in Nassau County, not on any specific action taken by Hochul.

Hochul signed legislation that eliminates anonymous reporting to the New York City Administration for Children's Services, requiring callers to provide their names and contact information when making reports. The bill was enacted in response to concerns about false reports and their alleged contribution to racial disparities in child welfare investigations. The law took effect in late January 2026.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing program in Manhattan that charges drivers up to $27 in fees to enter the area south of 60th Street, with the program going into effect in early January 2026. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, under Hochul's administration, claims the program has reduced traffic and pollution while increasing business activity in the congestion zone. The state and MTA are currently defending the program in federal court against the Trump administration's attempt to halt it, with oral arguments scheduled for January 28, 2026.

Hochul announced a proposal to establish an "Energy NY Development" program through the Public Service Commission that would require artificial intelligence and data centers to pay higher electricity rates or supply their own power. The governor stated that large energy users would be permitted easier connections to the electrical grid under strict conditions, with price structures to be determined by the PSC. Hochul indicated she would present the proposal during her 2026 State of the State address, citing concerns that massive data centers are increasing electricity demand faster than the grid's capacity to supply it.

The article discusses rising juvenile crime in New York State, with shooting victims under age 18 comprising 14% of cases in 2025, up from 9% the previous year, and perpetrators under 18 accounting for 18% of gun violence incidents. The article attributes this trend to the 2018 Raise the Age law, which increased the age of criminal responsibility to 18 and routed most 16- and 17-year-old offenders to Family Court rather than criminal court. District attorneys from across New York State, including Mary Pat Donnelly, president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, have called on Hochul to revise the Raise the Age legislation to address the rise in youth gun violence.

Hochul revealed a federal lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and four other state attorneys general challenging the Trump administration's freeze of $10 billion in child care and social services funding to five Democrat-led states, including New York. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, contends that the funding freeze constitutes an unconstitutional withholding of appropriated funds pending fraud investigations without statutory authorization. Hochul publicly commented on the action during a PIX11 interview, characterizing the funding halt as having devastating impacts on low-income and vulnerable families.

Hochul announced a joint initiative with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to establish state-funded childcare, beginning with a program called "2-Care" designed to provide subsidized day care for two-year-olds in New York City starting in high-need areas selected by City Hall. Hochul stated that the program would be funded through state revenues, specifically citing taxation on Wall Street bonuses, and indicated that tax increases would not be pursued to finance the initiative. The proposal raised questions regarding implementation details, including licensing requirements, staff-to-child ratios mandated by New York City Health Code, and oversight of home-based childcare operations.

Hochul announced a multi-billion-dollar childcare expansion plan titled "2-Care" designed to provide universal care for all 2-year-olds in New York City while expanding pre-K and early childcare programs statewide, with a total cost of $4.5 billion and $1.7 billion in new spending. The program is intended to serve approximately 100,000 additional children across the state, with initial implementation of 2,000 seats beginning in fall 2026. Hochul stated the funding would come from existing state revenues, specifically citing tax revenue from Wall Street bonuses, rather than new taxes.

Hochul is considering proposals to modify New York's Raise the Age law, which was signed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017 and raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18, preventing most 16 and 17-year-olds from being initially tried in adult court. District attorneys across the state have called for changes to the law, citing an increase in youth violent crime, and Hochul stated in August that she was willing to examine modifications to the legislation. Hochul is scheduled to present her 2026 policy agenda in her State of the State speech on January 13, though she has not yet confirmed whether she will pursue changes to Raise the Age.

Governor Hochul appeared alongside newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on January 6, 2026, to announce crime statistics showing gun violence in New York City reached record lows in 2025, with 688 shooting incidents and 856 shooting victims, both representing decreases from the previous record set in 2018. The data released by the NYPD indicated that shootings declined 10 percent below 2018 levels and shooting victims declined 5 percent below that year's figures, with December 2025 marking the lowest monthly totals since the department began tracking crime statistics in 1993. The announcement also highlighted improvements in transit crime, with 2025 representing the safest year in the subway system in 16 years outside of the COVID pandemic period.

Hochul announced in January 2026 that she would include online privacy protections for children in her State of the State address and 2026 legislative agenda. The proposals, based on existing legislation from state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, would expand age verification requirements to gaming platforms, require parental approval for children under 13 to accept messages from strangers, disable AI chatbot features for minors, and mandate parental controls over financial transactions. These initiatives build on prior state actions including a 2024 ban on addictive algorithms for users under 18 and a requirement for social media health warning labels.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani repealed two executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and barred city officials from boycotting or divesting from Israel. State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs stated his disagreement with the repeals, noting they did not reassure the Jewish community, though he acknowledged Mamdani is maintaining the city office designated to combat antisemitism. Mamdani defended the repeals as part of his decision to revoke executive orders issued after Adams' federal indictment in September 2024.

Hochul signed a proclamation on January 2, 2026, declaring January as Muslim American Heritage Month in New York for the first time. As part of the observance, Hochul ordered 16 state landmarks, including One World Trade Center, to be illuminated in green, a color considered sacred in Islam. Hochul stated that New York is home to the largest Muslim American population in the nation and described the state's commitment to celebrating the diversity of its Muslim American population.

Hochul issued a statement regarding the Trump administration's military operation in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, characterizing the action as undertaken without congressional approval. She stated that New York State Police was coordinating with law enforcement partners to monitor the situation and maintain public safety, while noting no credible threats had been identified to the state. Hochul added that New York's Venezuelan community and families abroad sought a more stable future for the region.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a review of the remaining $2.3 billion in federal funding allocated to the Biden administration's electric school bus program. Zeldin cited concerns about waste and vehicle reliability issues, including reports of buses breaking down in cold weather and production delays affecting New York school districts. This action directly impacts Hochul's state mandate requiring all school buses to be electric by 2035.

Governor Hochul requested the resignation of Felicia Reid, executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, following the agency's mishandling of an enforcement case against a licensed cannabis distributor and ongoing struggles to combat illicit products in the state's legal market. Reid's departure marked the second replacement of the OCM's leadership in less than two years, following the resignation of her predecessor Chris Alexander in May 2024. The New York legal cannabis market generated $2.5 billion in cumulative sales and $360 million in tax revenue for the state and localities as of 2025, despite the regulatory challenges.

Hochul announced a proposal to eliminate New York state income taxes on up to $25,000 in annual tipped earnings, which she stated would be included in her state budget proposal released later in January 2026. The proposal followed public criticism from service industry workers and political opponents regarding her initial decision not to extend the federal tip tax exemption to state taxes. The policy would take effect on tips earned in 2026.

Hochul vetoed a bill pushed by the Transport Workers Union that would have required two operators on every subway train. The veto addressed legislation that would have mandated staffing levels regardless of technological capabilities or operational efficiency considerations. Hochul's action followed the MTA's assessment that single-operator trains could maintain service levels while reducing operational costs.

Governor Hochul committed $2.2 billion in state funding over five years to support the merger of Maimonides Hospital into NYC Health+Hospitals, the city's public hospital system. The merger addresses Maimonides' financial distress by allowing the hospital to receive higher Medicaid reimbursement rates as part of the larger municipal health system. The consolidation was expected to be completed by April 2026 and would expand Health+Hospitals' operations to include Maimonides' three inpatient campuses and more than 80 medical clinics in Brooklyn.

New York's minimum wage will increase to $17 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and to $16 per hour in the rest of the state, effective January 1, 2026. Hochul and state lawmakers agreed to this series of hikes beginning in 2024, with increases of $0.50 per hour occurring annually through 2026. Starting in 2027, future minimum wage increases in New York will be automatically indexed to the Consumer Price Index.

Hochul vetoed a bill that would have required two operators on every Metropolitan Transportation Authority train, a measure supported by the Transport Workers Union. She also vetoed a series of bills that would have increased pensions and benefits for law enforcement. Hochul's stated rationale for the MTA veto centered on cost and modernization concerns.

Hochul announced support for a universal childcare program proposed by incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a December 2025 radio interview, stating she has held multiple meetings with Mamdani and his staff to develop a path forward on the initiative. Hochul characterized the program as beneficial to business and families seeking to reduce childcare costs in the city, though she did not specify funding mechanisms or implementation scope. The governor indicated she would likely detail financing for such a program in her 2026 State of the State address or subsequent budget presentation.

Hochul did not extend the federal "no tax on tips" policy to New York state income taxes, a provision that allows qualified service workers to deduct up to $12,500 of tip income annually on their federal taxes for tax years 2025-2028. While the federal deduction was implemented through President Trump's legislation and several states either proactively or automatically matched the cuts, New York remained among states that did not extend the deduction to state taxation. Service industry workers in New York, including bartenders and restaurant servers, stated they would benefit from the state-level extension of the federal policy.

New York Governor Hochul announced a new state law requiring social media platforms with infinite scrolling, auto-play features, and algorithmic feeds to display warning labels about potential mental health harms to young users. The legislation applies to platforms including TikTok, Meta, and Snap for conduct occurring partly or wholly in New York, and authorizes the state's attorney general to seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. Hochul compared the mandated labels to existing warnings on tobacco and consumer products, citing growing global concerns about social media's effects on children's mental health.

A federal judge ruled in favor of New York's Green Light Law on December 24, 2025, rejecting the Trump administration's legal challenge to the state legislation. US District Judge Anne M. Nardacci found that the Justice Department, which had sued Governor Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James in February, failed to prove that the state law violated the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution. The Green Light Law allows individuals to obtain driver's licenses without proof of legal residency in the United States, requiring instead alternative forms of identification such as valid passports or foreign-issued driver's licenses.

Hochul championed the universal FAFSA law as part of the 2024 state budget, which required New York schools to report student completion of federal aid applications by July 1, 2025, to increase access to over $1 billion in available federal aid. The State Education Department has not released compliance data despite the reporting deadline, with nonprofit data showing only 68% of graduating high school seniors completed the FAFSA application in 2025, a 3% increase from the prior year. A State Education Department spokesperson stated the agency is collaborating with schools to verify FAFSA data accuracy and will release the information publicly once the verification process is complete.

Hochul vetoed a bill that would have restored New York State recognition to the Montaukett Indian Nation, a Long Island Native American group whose state recognition was stripped following a 1910 court ruling. The veto marked the fourth time Hochul has rejected legislation on behalf of the Montaukett Nation, which had achieved broad bipartisan support in the state legislature, passing the Assembly unanimously and the Senate 59-1. Hochul stated in her veto message that there remained "outstanding questions and issues concerning the Montaukett's eligibility for recognition according to traditional criteria," citing the 1910 judicial decision.

Hochul signed prison reform legislation in 2025 that requires video footage of inmate deaths to be released publicly, triples the size of the state's Commission on Correction, and mandates camera installation in prison infirmaries. The bill was prompted by the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks by a corrections officer in an upstate facility. Hochul acted on 853 pieces of legislation during 2025, including modifications made through chapter amendments that allowed lawmakers to revise bills after initial passage.

Governor Hochul must decide whether to opt New York state into a federal scholarship program established through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allows taxpayers to reduce their federal tax liability by up to $1,700 through donations to scholarship-granting organizations beginning in 2027. If New York opts in, state residents can direct federal tax credits toward scholarship organizations operating within the state to support low- and middle-income families seeking private school tuition or educational services. If New York does not participate, taxpayers can still claim the federal credit by contributing to scholarship organizations in other states that have opted into the program.

The Trump administration suspended leases for two major offshore wind projects off the New York coast, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind, citing national security risks identified in classified reports from the Department of War. Hochul stated she was not informed of the decision in advance and said the suspension would put approximately 2,600 jobs at risk. The Interior Department indicated the pause was effective immediately and would allow time for relevant agencies to work with project developers and state partners to assess potential mitigation of the identified national security concerns.

Governor Hochul issued a statement regarding allegations that wooden "time-out" boxes were constructed and used in classrooms for special needs students in the Salmon River Central School District in upstate New York. Hochul characterized the allegations as alarming and unacceptable, and directed the state's independent education department to conduct a swift investigation and take corrective action. The investigation was prompted by social media posts from a former school board member featuring photographs of the boxes, which led to three educators being placed on administrative leave and a separate investigation by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department.

Hochul identified a significant increase in spending within the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which grew to $11 billion annually from lower previous levels. In response, Hochul's administration hired a private firm to manage the program with the stated goal of identifying fraud and controlling costs. The editorial notes that despite this measure, spending has not been reduced and the administration simultaneously supported unionization of approximately 300,000 program workers.

Hochul signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law in New York State in December 2025, legalizing medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. The legislation allows eligible individuals with terminal diagnoses to receive medication to end their lives. Hochul announced the agreement to pass the bill at a press conference on December 17, 2025.

Hochul's Public Service Commission demanded that Con Edison develop a plan to address electric grid reliability following warnings from the state's Independent System Operator that increased electricity demand and declining fossil fuel generation capacity could result in blackouts in New York City as early as summer 2026. The PSC directed the utility to submit its response ahead of the peak demand season to ensure the safety and reliability of the grid serving the state's largest metropolitan area. Hochul stated that she would not accept rolling blackouts and directed regulatory agencies to aggressively pursue grid reliability while maintaining affordable electricity for consumers.

Hochul announced on December 17, 2025, that she would sign the "Medical Aid in Dying" bill into law, which authorizes physicians to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who meet specified criteria. The bill requires patients to submit written and recorded oral requests, observe a five-day waiting period, and obtain approval from a physician confirming a prognosis of six months or less to live and from a psychiatric professional affirming mental fitness. The law does not mandate comprehensive record-keeping of cases.

Hochul announced a $77 million commitment to fund over 600 NYPD officers per day in the subway system during 2026, citing a 16-year low in subway crime and a nearly 15% reduction in transit crime compared to 2019. The funding will support police surge patrols and overtime costs as determined by the police commissioner. This allocation comes as Mayor-elect Mamdani has proposed establishing a Department of Community Safety that would deploy social workers to respond to homelessness and mental health crises in the transit system.

Mamdani appointed Sherif Soliman as director of the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget, tasking him with managing the city's $116 billion spending plan. Soliman previously served as a key architect of New York's congestion pricing program while on de Blasio's Traffic Mobility Review Board and later as a member of Adams' MTA board. Soliman has held multiple positions in city government and most recently served as CUNY's chief financial officer and vice chancellor.

Governor Hochul announced her intention to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act, legislation that would permit terminally ill New York residents to request life-ending medication with physician assistance. The law would make New York the thirteenth state and jurisdiction to authorize medical aid in dying, following more than a decade of advocacy efforts. The signed legislation would include safeguards such as mental health evaluations and multiple in-person physician visits before a patient could receive the medication.

Hochul announced on December 17, 2025 that she will sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act, legislation that would legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill New York residents meeting specific criteria including a six-month prognosis and mental capacity to self-administer medication. The bill passed the state Legislature in June with a narrow margin and has generated significant opposition from religious leaders, disability advocates, and some lawmakers who contend it endangers vulnerable populations. New York would become the 14th state to permit medical aid in dying upon the bill's enactment.

Governor Hochul approved an "all of the above" energy plan from the State Energy Planning Board that incorporates fossil fuel infrastructure alongside renewable energy development in New York State. In a letter accompanying the plan, Hochul stated the shift was necessary to prevent energy shortages and rolling blackouts, citing supply chain disruptions, inflation, and changing federal renewable energy policy as factors that had made the state's 2019 climate law targets less feasible. The plan maintains the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals while acknowledging that the existing timeline for eliminating fossil fuel-based power generation by 2040 requires recalibration.

Hochul implemented a restructuring of New York's Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), a $11 billion home-care initiative that provides payment to family members serving as caregivers for elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients. The restructuring centralized oversight of the program under a single contractor, Public Partnership LLC, through a five-year, $1 billion contract. The reform has resulted in unionization of approximately 400,000 home-care workers under SEIU 1199 and generated federal scrutiny regarding the contract award process.

Hochul vetoed legislation that would have removed the mayor's ability to prevent City Council-proposed charter amendments from appearing on the ballot. The bill would have allowed council members and citizens to place their own charter revision proposals directly before voters without the mayor's ability to block them through establishment of a competing charter commission. Hochul stated in her veto message that the measure risked creating voter confusion and conflicting proposals across multiple municipalities.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $73 million in federal highway funding from New York after a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit found that more than half of 200 examined non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles were unlawfully granted to foreign-born drivers in the country illegally. Duffy issued a directive requiring Hochul to revoke all illegally issued commercial driver's licenses, pause issuance of new licenses and learner's permits, and conduct a comprehensive audit within 30 days. The audit identified 107 unlawfully issued licenses among the 200 examined, with approximately 32,000 such licenses currently in use across the United States.

Governor Hochul supported legislation to restructure New York's Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program, a Medicaid home care initiative, by eliminating most middleman agencies that had proliferated in the program. Under the restructured program, 1199 SEIU, the state's largest healthcare union, has begun efforts to unionize CDPAP workers through Public Partnerships LLC, the state's designated primary middleman organization. The program, which serves approximately 400,000 caregivers and costs roughly $11 billion annually, has faced scrutiny over fraud and administrative costs.

Hochul signed legislation making New York the first state to prohibit the use of algorithmic tools in setting rent prices, following a Justice Department settlement against real estate tech firm RealPage for allegedly using sensitive data to increase tenant rents. The action addressed concerns about dynamic pricing practices enabled by artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms that allow companies to charge different prices to different customers without transparency. The measure was enacted amid broader public scrutiny of surge pricing and personalized pricing strategies used across multiple industries including rideshare services, retail, and hospitality.

Hochul signed the All-Electric Buildings Act in 2023, which requires electric appliances in most new buildings in New York. The law was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, but has become subject to federal litigation. The legislation was prompted by research indicating that gas and propane stoves emit nitrogen dioxide and other harmful pollutants linked to respiratory illness, lung cancer, and diabetes.

Hochul signed legislation S5175A/A3698A in December 2025 that authorizes local governments to raise the maximum real-property tax exemption for eligible seniors from 50% to 65% of a home's assessed value. Municipalities must choose to adopt the expanded exemption, though if fully enacted, eligible homeowners could reduce their annual property tax bills by thousands of dollars depending on their assessed home value and local tax rates. The legislation permits municipalities to offer this relief as a means to help senior homeowners maintain residency in their communities.

Hochul recommended that businesses utilize overnight delivery hours to reduce costs associated with congestion pricing fees, which range from $14.40 to $21.60 during peak hours but drop to $3.60 and $5.40 during off-peak hours between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Industry leaders including representatives from the Limo Association of New York and the Trucking Association of New York responded that overnight deliveries would require additional staffing costs to receive shipments, potentially negating any savings from lower congestion fees. Hochul stated that congestion pricing would benefit businesses by reducing overall congestion and making deliveries easier, despite criticism that the toll created additional financial burdens on companies operating in the city.

Governor Hochul announced her intention to include legislation establishing buffer zones around houses of worship in upcoming state budget negotiations, following a protest outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan. State legislators Micah Lasher and Sam Sutton introduced a bill that would prohibit demonstrations within 25 feet of entrances and parking lots to houses of worship and abortion clinics. Hochul stated her support for restricting rallies in the immediate vicinity of places of worship to protect individuals' right to worship, though she did not endorse a specific bill.

Hochul stated she is open to increasing corporate taxes as New York faces budget pressures, though she maintained her position against raising income taxes. The governor attributed the need for additional revenue to federal policy changes under the Trump administration, citing potential cuts to Obamacare subsidies and a projected $4 billion annual budget shortfall beginning in 2027. Any corporate tax increase would require approval from the state legislature.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing program in New York City that charges vehicles up to $21 per day to enter a designated zone, with revenues intended to support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's budget. According to reporting cited in this article, traffic in the congestion zone decreased approximately 4 percent during the first third of the year of implementation, and businesses reported passing congestion costs to consumers through increased invoices. The program faced legal challenges after President Trump withdrew federal approval in February, with a federal judge blocking that withdrawal pending a final ruling expected within weeks.

Governor Hochul slowed the implementation of mandates established under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Act, according to statements from her administration citing cost concerns. The Democratic-leaning Progressive Policy Institute released a report in December 2025 finding that New York had fallen behind on nearly every major climate mandate under the law, including offshore wind and energy storage, while electricity prices rose 36% since 2019, significantly outpacing the national average. The report concluded that the state's green energy timelines were impractical and that New York risked converting its climate leadership into a cautionary tale without policy adjustments.

Hochul's campaign returned approximately $70,000 in contributions after media reporting revealed that donors serving on state advisory boards and policymaking panels had contributed to her reelection efforts. The contributions violated an executive order that Hochul herself reissued in 2021, which prohibits state employees and officers, including those in unpaid positions on government panels, from contributing to gubernatorial campaigns. The donors included individuals such as Matthew Rand, who served on the state Board of Real Property Tax Services and the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, and Mark Gregorio, who was appointed to the Elevator Safety and Standards Board in February 2022.

Hochul announced that shoplifting declined 13% across New York City and the state, citing her administration's $40 million statewide retail theft task force as responsible for the reduction. The task force, which operates with 100 dedicated state police officers coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, made 1,224 arrests and recovered more than $2.6 million in stolen goods since its creation in April 2024. Hochul's retail theft initiatives, including the task force and related measures enshrined in the state budget such as enhanced penalties for recidivist shoplifters and a felony designation for assault of retail workers, were presented as contributing to the documented decline in retail theft incidents.

Hochul announced the closure of Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Franklin County and part of Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County, affecting approximately 293 workers who would be reassigned to other facilities. The closures were authorized under provisions in the state budget passed in May 2025, which permitted Hochul to close up to three prisons. Bare Hill is scheduled to close on March 11, 2026, as the state correctional system continues to address a staffing shortage of over 4,000 personnel.

Hochul tasked Jackie Bray, her director of homeland security and emergency services, with enlisting Wall Street executives to convey concerns about a potential National Guard deployment to New York City to the Trump administration. Bray met with top finance industry leaders and shared data indicating that such a deployment would harm local businesses and tourism. The effort aimed to persuade the Trump administration to refrain from deploying federal troops to the city in response to the election of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Hochul delayed the implementation of the All-Electric Building Act, which was previously scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, and would have banned natural gas in new residential and commercial buildings under seven stories. The postponement followed pressure from upstate Assembly Democrats who cited concerns about increased construction costs. The regulation, originally enacted under former Governor Andrew Cuomo as part of the state's Climate Action Plan, requires buildings to transition to electric heating and cooking systems.

Hochul has had preliminary conversations about raising the corporate tax rate in New York to help address a projected budget gap exceeding $4 billion for the following fiscal year, according to reporting by Politico. The potential increase would differ from Hochul's stated commitment to avoid raising taxes on high-earning individuals, though she has not publicly confirmed the specifics of any corporate tax proposal. The discussions followed a meeting between Hochul and newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, during which the two discussed shared policy goals including universal childcare.

In October 2022, Hochul announced a $100 billion investment partnership with Micron Technology to construct a mega-complex of four computer chip plants in Central New York, with the state providing approximately $5.5 billion in subsidies including sales tax exemptions, discounted electricity rates, and property tax breaks valued at $284 million over 49 years. Micron subsequently delayed the opening of the upstate chipmaking operation by at least 18 months and allocated much of its federal CHIPS Act funding toward constructing a second plant in Idaho instead. The project, initially projected to create 40,000 construction jobs and 9,000 factory jobs over two decades, experienced significant delays as of November 2025.

Hochul's administration announced a delay in implementing the All-Electric Buildings Act, which includes a ban on gas stove installation in newly constructed homes, after state lawyers agreed to postpone enforcement amid ongoing litigation challenging the law. The implementation had been scheduled to begin in January for buildings up to seven stories, with other buildings to follow in 2029, but the delay will remain in effect pending a federal appellate court ruling. The postponement drew criticism from environmental advocates and Republican officials, with the governor's office stating the delay would help the state defend the law while reducing regulatory uncertainty for developers during the litigation period.

Hochul posted on social media that she opposed a bipartisan government shutdown deal, stating that ending the shutdown should not come at the expense of health care for tens of millions of Americans. She characterized the deal as paving the way for premium hikes that would increase costs for New Yorkers and announced she would not support it. Hochul's statement was issued alongside criticism of the shutdown compromise from other New York Democratic officials and progressive groups.

Hochul stated during a press conference at the SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico that she could not support Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's proposal to make New York City buses free, citing concerns that the $700 million annual plan would remove revenue from a transit system dependent on fares. Hochul indicated she had already invested substantial funding in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and suggested exploring alternative approaches to improve affordability rather than implementing free bus service. She stated willingness to work with Mamdani on other initiatives, including free child care, while noting the estimated $15 billion cost for statewide implementation.

Hochul directed New York agencies to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is fully funded through November using federal funds, with the first payments released on November 9, 2025, after a nine-day interruption caused by a federal government shutdown. The action affected approximately 2.9 million New York residents who rely on SNAP benefits. Hochul's directive potentially conflicted with guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which had instructed states to provide only 65 percent of November SNAP benefits and to claw back any full payments made to beneficiaries.

Hochul stated on November 8, 2025, that she remains confident Jessica Tisch will continue serving as NYPD commissioner under incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hochul made the comment at the SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico, indicating she would not publicly express such confidence unless she believed Tisch would remain in the position. Mamdani had previously committed to retaining Tisch as police commissioner following his January 2026 inauguration.

Hochul approved water-quality permits for the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline, a natural-gas project extending from Pennsylvania through New Jersey to Staten Island and the Rockaways. The pipeline had been stalled for years after state regulators previously denied permits over water quality concerns, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation restarted and completed the approval process. Hochul stated the approval was necessary to ensure grid reliability and affordability amid what she characterized as opposition to clean energy projects.

Hochul distributed campaign literature on the Upper East Side endorsing three New York City ballot measures that would expand the mayor's authority over housing development and zoning decisions. The ballot measures, which originated from Mayor Eric Adams, would transfer certain approval processes from the City Council to the mayoral office. Hochul stated her support was based on her work as governor to reduce barriers to affordable housing construction.

Hochul declared a "food emergency" across New York State on Thursday in response to the expiration of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown. She allocated $65 million in state funding to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other emergency food providers to serve New Yorkers who lost access to the federal nutrition assistance program. The allocation was intended to address the needs of approximately 1.75 million New York residents affected by the lapse in SNAP funding.

Governor Hochul stated she wanted to "review all our options" regarding modifications to New York's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and an 85 percent reduction by 2050. Hochul indicated the state would work with the Legislature to modify the law in order to address concerns about utility costs and grid reliability. The governor's statement came after a judge ordered the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue rules ensuring the state meets the emissions targets established by the legislation.

New York Republicans filed a federal lawsuit in October 2025 challenging the constitutionality of the 2023 Even-Year Election Law, which moved most local elections outside New York City to even-numbered years coinciding with presidential and congressional elections. The State Republican Committee and GOP representatives from Nassau, Suffolk, and Orange Counties argued the law violates the First Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Hochul's office responded that the state would prevail in court again, having already won a challenge to the law in New York's highest court in September 2025.

Hochul declared a statewide food emergency on October 30, 2025, in response to the freeze of SNAP benefits scheduled to take effect that weekend due to the federal government shutdown. She announced the allocation of $65 million in state funding to food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency food providers across New York, though the state acknowledged this emergency funding would supplement rather than replace the approximately $650 million in monthly federal SNAP distributions. Hochul stated that New York had joined 25 other states in litigation against the Trump administration to compel the use of contingency funds to continue benefit payments.

Hochul announced $30 million in state funding to provide over 16 million meals in response to the halting of federal SNAP benefits during a government shutdown. The funding was intended to ensure New Yorkers maintained access to food assistance during the period when federal debit-style EBT cards would not be refilled. Hochul attributed the shutdown to Republican actions and characterized the federal lapse as affecting working families.

Hochul vetoed legislation that would have required two qualified medical first responders to be dispatched to all 911 emergency calls in New York City, a measure inspired by the 2022 stabbing death of EMS Lieutenant Alison Russo. In her October 16 veto message, Hochul stated the bill would create fiscal and workforce challenges for the city, requiring the hiring of approximately 290 emergency medical technicians at an estimated cost of $25 million and potentially resulting in fewer ambulances in service. The FDNY had recommended the veto, stating that the measure would lead to longer emergency response times, though the union representing 911 ambulance responders criticized the decision as inadequate protection for first responder safety.

Hochul vetoed several bills sponsored by State Senator Jim Skoufis while he and State Senator Gustavo Rivera were conducting a legislative investigation into the administration's $11 billion Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program and its contract with Public Partnerships, LLC. Skoufis and Rivera announced plans to send a letter demanding the administration provide evidence related to bid-rigging allegations and other claims surrounding the Medicaid homecare program's oversight transition. The senators' investigation, which included a state Senate hearing in August, sought communications between the Department of Health and PPL, fraud reports, and financial documentation related to the program transition.

Hochul declined to commit to intervening to prevent mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani from implementing his proposal to remove the NYPD commissioner's disciplinary authority over police officers, instead stating she would "talk about it" with Mamdani. Mamdani has pledged to transfer final disciplinary power from the police commissioner to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, a 15-member body that oversees NYPD complaints. Hochul stated she had "highly recommended" that Mamdani retain current Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch or appoint someone of similar caliber if elected.

Hochul announced the distribution of $400 checks to New York residents, citing the measure as assistance during a period of budget constraints. The state faces multibillion-dollar budget deficits in the coming years while implementing the check distribution. The editorial board characterized the initiative as a use of available funds that could alternatively be directed toward debt reduction or tax rate adjustments.

A federal court ruling struck down New York State's 2023 "Save The Hudson" law, allowing Holtec International to discharge approximately 45,000 gallons of radioactive water from the defunct Indian Point nuclear plant into the Hudson River. US District Judge Kenneth Karas determined that only the federal government had authority to regulate the discharge of nuclear waste, overruling the state environmental law that had prohibited the company from doing so. Hochul had signed the "Save The Hudson" law in 2023, though she subsequently stated that the closure of Indian Point had increased fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the downstate region.

The Trump administration reinstated $187 million in Homeland Security Grant Program counterterrorism funding to New York after the state had initially received reduced allocations. Hochul appealed directly to President Trump regarding the cuts, which would have affected bomb squad operations, patrols around sensitive targets, and surveillance technology used by law enforcement. FEMA confirmed the reversal following a federal judge's temporary block of the funding reduction and legal challenges from New York and other states.

Governor Hochul announced that Bilt, a rewards program and payment processor, would relocate its headquarters to a 60,000-square-foot building in Manhattan's Meatpacking District under a 15-year lease, with the move expected in early 2026. Empire State Development provided $6.25 million in tax credits to support the relocation, which the company projected would create more than 600 new jobs across engineering, product development, marketing, and operations. Bilt stated it would invest over $50 million in research and development at the new location.

During a partial federal government shutdown that began in October 2025, Hochul declined to provide state funding to keep the Statue of Liberty open, stating that the responsibility lay with the federal government. The decision contrasted with the approach taken by her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, who allocated state resources to maintain the landmark during the 2018 shutdown. Hochul attributed the potential closure to congressional Republicans while noting that the monument remained operational as of the shutdown's first day.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting $34 million in counterterrorism grants to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York. Governor Hochul and other state officials criticized the proposed reduction, stating it would significantly impact counterterrorism and police activities in the state. The judge noted that the cuts appeared to be an attempt to punish New York for policies regarding immigration enforcement that did not align with the administration's priorities.

Hochul announced on Friday that New York state residents will receive one-time "inflation refund" checks ranging from $150 to $400 in the coming months, funded by increased sales tax revenue generated during the inflationary period. The checks represent a distribution of surplus state revenue collected due to higher prices on taxable goods and services. The payments are scheduled to be mailed to eligible New York residents over the following weeks.

Hochul announced the distribution of inflation refund checks to approximately 8.2 million eligible New York households beginning in September 2025, with payments ranging from $150 to $400 depending on income thresholds based on 2023 tax returns. The checks were distributed to individuals earning under $150,000 annually and families earning under $300,000 annually, with Hochul characterizing the payments as a one-time refund funded by higher-than-projected state sales tax revenues. The distribution was scheduled to occur over a two-month period following the governor's announcement at an Albany gymnasium event.

A New York judge issued a preliminary injunction on September 25, 2025, protecting licensed cannabis retailers from closure after state regulators discovered they had miscalculated buffer zone distances from schools, using door-to-door measurements instead of property line measurements as required by law. The ruling, effective until February 15, 2026, gives Hochul and the state Legislature time to pass corrective legislation to resolve the regulatory error that had placed 152 approved cannabis licensees out of compliance. Hochul stated through a spokesperson that she would work with the Legislature to protect the affected businesses and maintain stability while a long-term legislative solution is developed.

Hochul signed Senate Bill 8034A into law on September 5, empowering New York's Public Employment Relations Board to adjudicate private sector labor disputes previously under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. The law permits state intervention in union elections and collective bargaining matters when the federal NLRB has not asserted jurisdiction. The measure prompted legal challenges from the NLRB and Amazon, with critics asserting it creates jurisdictional conflicts with federal labor authority.

Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani, a Queens Assemblyman and frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, approximately one week before declining to comment on whether Mamdani's response to questions about his past critical statements regarding the NYPD constituted sufficient acknowledgment of those remarks. Prior to her endorsement, Hochul had stated that Mamdani should apologize to police for statements including a 2020 tweet describing the NYPD as "racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety." When questioned by reporters on Tuesday about whether Mamdani's subsequent response to inquiries about his past statements satisfied her prior call for an apology, Hochul left a press conference at Grand Central Terminal without answering.

Hochul announced an expansion of psychiatric hospital beds in New York State's mental health facilities, reversing a decades-long trend of bed reductions that had accelerated under previous administrations. The expansion adds hundreds of inpatient beds to state psychiatric hospitals, though current statewide mental inpatient capacity remains lower than it was in 2014. Hochul's action represents a shift in New York's approach to treatment of serious mental illness away from community-based models toward increased inpatient hospitalization capacity.

Governor Hochul has taken action to expand New York's psychiatric bed capacity, adding more than 300 beds to the state's psych bed supply since taking office in August 2021. Her administration has invested in state psychiatric institutions, increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for psychiatric beds in general hospitals, pressured private health systems to restore beds eliminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and modified New York's civil commitment standard. These actions represent a reversal of the state's decades-long deinstitutionalization policy that had reduced the public psychiatric bed supply by over 90 percent since the 1950s.

President Trump signed an executive order establishing a federal emergency board to intervene in a contract dispute between the Metropolitan Transportation Administration and five labor unions representing Long Island Rail Road workers. The order invoked the Railway Labor Act, which mandates a 120-day cooling-off period during which neither party can alter wages, hours, or working conditions and workers cannot legally strike. The emergency board, composed of three members appointed by Trump, was tasked with reviewing contract proposals and issuing recommendations within 30 days, with the unions and MTA having previously been at an impasse over wage increases ranging from 9.5% to 16% over contract periods.

Hochul endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani in a New York Times opinion essay published on September 14, 2025, stating she had conducted frank conversations with him regarding policy priorities including affordability, public safety leadership, and addressing antisemitism. Hochul noted disagreements with Mamdani while affirming his commitment to making New York City affordable and ensuring safe neighborhoods. Mamdani responded by expressing gratitude for Hochul's support and indicating his intention to work collaboratively with her on affordability and public safety initiatives.

Hochul announced on September 10, 2025, that she would extend a surge of overnight NYPD police officers deployed on subway trains, a program that began in January 2025 and was originally intended to be temporary. The extension decision followed the release of crime data indicating that transit crime reached record lows in July and August 2025, with felony assaults declining during those months. The governor stated the expanded police presence would continue for the coming months, with deployment decisions to be guided by ongoing crime data and trends, though specific details regarding the number of officers and duration of the extension were not immediately provided.

Hochul approved a two-year, $1.4 billion extension of the state's existing film tax credit as part of the 2025 state budget deal, alongside a separate 12-year, $1.2 billion tax credit for independent films and shows. New York taxpayers spent approximately $230 million on film and television production tax credits in the first three months of 2025, with individual productions such as "Saturday Night Live" and "FBI Most Wanted" each receiving over $21 million in credits during that period. A state-commissioned study found that New York recovers approximately 30 cents for every dollar spent on the film tax credit program.

Hochul signed legislation implementing a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in New York classrooms that took effect in September 2025, prohibiting students from possessing mobile devices during the entire school day. In defense of the policy, Hochul stated that cellphones during school emergencies such as active shooter situations could reveal student locations to perpetrators and distract students from following teacher instructions. Hochul's comments addressed parent concerns about the inability to contact their children during the school day, citing law enforcement guidance that students should remain focused on trained adults rather than using communication devices during crises.

Hochul's administration awarded a $11 billion Medicaid home care program contract to Public Partnerships, LLC to consolidate payment services for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, a change enacted through budget negotiations and subsequent state legislation. Public Partnerships' vice president admitted in a letter to state senators that the company had communicated with the Department of Health in late March and early April while the state was considering the consolidation, contradicting her previous sworn testimony that no such communications had occurred. State lawmakers, including Senate Investigations Committee Chair Jim Skoufis and Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera, announced they would continue investigating the contract award process and the circumstances surrounding these communications.

Hochul signed an executive order on Friday authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and administer COVID-19 vaccines to New Yorkers without a prescription, including to children as young as three years old. The order will remain in effect for at least 30 days while state officials develop a longer-term legislative solution for vaccine access. Hochul stated the action was necessary due to federal changes to COVID-19 vaccination guidance and uncertainty regarding vaccine availability at pharmacies across the state.

Hochul signed legislation establishing a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in New York City schools, which took effect when nearly one million students returned to school in September 2025. The ban prohibits students from using mobile devices during the school day, with exceptions for educational purposes directed by teachers, and schools implemented storage systems including magnet-locked pouches to secure confiscated phones. The policy was approved by the city's Panel for Education Policy following concerns that smartphones distract students and negatively impact academic performance and mental health.

Governor Hochul implemented a statewide policy requiring New York schools to enforce a bell-to-bell ban on personal devices including smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets during school hours. The ban prohibits students from using these devices from the start to the end of the school day. The policy took effect in the fall of 2025.

Hochul initiated a phone call with President Trump on Saturday to request that he not deploy the National Guard to New York City, citing recent crime statistics showing decreased felonies and shootings in the city. During the conversation, Hochul presented data to Trump indicating that existing crime reduction policies implemented by the NYPD and her own administration were effective. Trump responded that he would be willing to send National Guard troops to New York if the governor requested assistance, though Hochul stated afterward that she remained uncertain about his intentions.

Hochul announced a 12% year-on-year drop in retail theft complaints in New York City and a 5% statewide decline, which she attributed to retail theft crackdown measures included in the state budget passed in the previous year. The legislative provisions included legal modifications to increase penalties for repeat offenders and organized retail theft rings, such as allowing prosecutors to aggregate stolen goods values across multiple locations, along with a $40 million investment in state and local enforcement, $5 million in tax credits for business security upgrades, and increased penalties for assaults on retail workers. Hochul also credited collaboration with Mayor Eric Adams and the deployment of additional state police resources to the city for contributing to the decline.

Hochul approved legislation in 2023 that reissued unused charter school licenses, enabling the Math, Engineering and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School to open in South Brooklyn after a six-year delay caused by the state's charter school cap. The school opened in Dyker Heights with an inaugural class of 125 ninth graders selected through random lottery from 445 applicants. The 2023 law allowed charter schools that had closed or never opened to operate using previously issued but unused licenses.

Hochul's office responded to President Trump's executive order directing the Attorney General to identify states that have "substantially eliminated" cash bail by stating that New York has not eliminated cash bail and arguing the order mischaracterizes the state's bail reform law. Hochul's spokeswoman Jen Goodman characterized the executive order as vaguely worded and noted that New York maintains cash bail requirements for violent offenses including murder, rape, and robbery, contrary to Trump's characterization of the state's policies. The executive order threatened to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions deemed to have eliminated cash bail for crimes posing a clear threat to public safety.

Hochul was present at an MTA board vote on August 18, 2025, that approved a $1.9 billion contract to begin Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway expansion, which includes tunneling and construction for three new Q line stations in Harlem scheduled to start in 2026. The board action authorized funding as part of a broader $7 billion project to extend the subway line from 96th Street to 125th Street. Hochul controls the MTA board, which voted to advance the project.

Governor Hochul touted the MTA's approval of a $1.9 billion contract awarded to Connect Plus Partners for Phase Two of the Second Avenue Subway project, which involves tunnel construction and station development between 116th Street and 125th Street in East Harlem. The contract represents a major advancement in the $7.7 billion Phase Two expansion, with early street work expected to begin in late 2025 and heavy construction scheduled for 2026 and 2027. Hochul stated at the announcement that "the time of promises are over" and that the transit authority was "moving down the tracks as quickly as we can."

New York's Raise the Age Law, implemented in 2017 and 2018, raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18 and allowed defendants as old as 21 to be held in juvenile facilities rather than adult prisons. Governor Hochul has spearheaded several tweaks to the state's bail reform measures, though most crimes remain ineligible for bail under the existing criminal justice reforms. The statute has been applied in cases involving serious offenses, including attempted murder charges brought against individuals in the juvenile justice system.

Hochul made a statement at a Hamptons business breakfast regarding mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's proposal to establish five municipal grocery stores in New York City, one in each borough. When asked about the plan, Hochul stated "I favor free enterprise" to assembled business leaders, drawing applause from attendees. Mamdani's proposal, estimated at $60 million for initial construction, called for government-owned-and-operated grocery stores with the potential for expansion beyond the initial five locations.

Hochul granted pardons to 13 migrants with criminal histories, including Somchith Vatthanavong, a Laotian man convicted of manslaughter in 1990 for a fatal shooting outside a pool hall. The pardons prevent these individuals, who were already released from prison, from facing deportation consequences despite their prior convictions. Hochul stated that the recipients had "paid their debt" and demonstrated remorse and commitment to bettering their communities.

Governor Hochul renamed the 110 St-Central Park North subway station to 110 St-Malcolm X Plaza through legislation enacted during Harlem Week celebrations in August 2025. The renaming honors Malcolm X, the civil rights leader who resided in Harlem during his late teens and final decade of life, and coincided with the centennial anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. Hochul stated the renaming recognizes Malcolm X's contributions to civil rights and equality alongside the broader cultural and historical significance of Harlem to American progress.

President Trump announced his intention to pursue federal legislation that would prohibit states and cities from implementing no-cash-bail policies, citing what he characterized as failures in jurisdictions including New York and Chicago. Representative Elise Stefanik of New York stated she would author the proposed federal bill to override state bail reform measures. Hochul's office responded by asserting that amendments made to New York's 2019 bail law had already increased judicial discretion and produced measurable changes in release and rearrest rates.

Governor Hochul and the Democratic-controlled state legislature proposed a partisan congressional redistricting plan following the 2020 census that bypassed the bipartisan independent redistricting commission established by New York voters in 2014. New York's highest court rejected the plan in 2022, determining it violated the state Constitution's requirements that districts respect minority rights, maintain communities of interest, and prohibit drawing lines to benefit incumbents or political parties. The court's decision resulted in a new redistricting process that produced more competitive congressional districts.

Governor Hochul announced legislation in May requiring all personal internet-enabled electronic devices to be turned off and stored during the school day at New York public schools, based on a report titled "More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools" that documented the impact of an average of 250 daily notifications on student attention and learning outcomes. The law, which takes effect when New York City public schools open on September 4, permits individual school principals to determine the storage method for devices, whether in lockers, cubbies, or lockable pouches. The state allocated $25 million in funding to support implementation, though the specific distribution to schools remained pending as of the legislation's announcement.

Hochul announced changes to New York's criminal evidence discovery rules that took effect on Thursday, August 7, 2025, designed to prevent cases from being dismissed on technicalities following 2019 discovery reforms. The governor stated she is willing to consider modifications to the Raise the Age law, which raised the age of adult criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, noting that such discussions would be appropriate during the legislative session. Hochul identified insufficient funding allocation for youth programs as an area requiring attention under the current Raise the Age framework.

Hochul called for amending the New York State Constitution to overturn the 2012 redistricting reforms and the 2014 ballot proposal approved by 57% of voters, stating that New York should redraw its congressional districts. Hochul made these statements while hosting six Democratic representatives from the Texas House of Representatives at a state Capitol press conference, as those Texas lawmakers sought to block Republican redistricting efforts in their state. Hochul characterized the Republican redistricting efforts in Texas as "un-American" while indicating that New York Democrats should pursue similar mid-decade redistricting in response to changed political circumstances.

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management issued notices to approximately 100 licensed cannabis dispensary operators in July 2025 stating that their locations were no longer compliant with state regulations governing distance from schools and houses of worship. The OCM clarified that the 500-foot distance requirement from schools should be measured from a shop's entrance to a school's property line rather than entrance-to-entrance, a calculation method that had been used in previous licensing decisions. This change in interpretation caused multiple dispensary operators, including Joshua Gleiber of HF Dispensary LLC, to withdraw their pending applications for new locations.

Hochul attributed service disruptions in the New York City subway system during the week of August 1, 2025 to decades of insufficient infrastructure investment and directed Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials to conduct a comprehensive review of the failures. The governor highlighted the MTA's $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029, which includes $4 billion allocated for electrical system upgrades over five years, targeting the system's 224 substations and 317 circuit breaker houses. Power outages at the West Fourth Street station on multiple occasions disrupted service during extreme weather conditions, affecting thousands of commuters.

Hochul announced that her administration will request new state legislation to amend New York's marijuana law after the Office of Cannabis Management discovered it had miscalculated the required distance between licensed cannabis shops and schools. The measurement error, which measured from school entrances rather than property lines as required by law, affected 152 businesses including 105 licensees and 47 pending applications across the state. The proposed legislation would allow affected dispensaries to remain at their current locations rather than requiring closure or relocation.

Hochul declared a state of emergency in 32 counties across New York due to extreme heat conditions, with record temperatures expected to exceed historical highs set in Central Park during an 1888 heat wave. The declaration was issued as more than 80 million people across the eastern United States faced major heat risk levels, with temperatures in the middle to upper 90s expected from Washington, D.C., to Boston. The state of emergency designation enabled coordinated response efforts across the affected counties during the period of dangerously high temperatures.

Governor Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act into law in December 2024, legislation passed by the Democrat-run state Legislature that imposes liability on energy producers for carbon emissions. The law establishes strict liability for companies producing a specified amount of carbon emissions to be determined by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and requires energy producers to pay $75 billion to the state. The statute applies retroactively to past emissions and does not require the state to prove that a particular energy producer caused specific harm.

Governor Hochul advanced a push to restrict electronic device use in schools, which aligned with a phone ban policy approved by New York City's Panel for Education Policy on July 23, 2025, by a vote of 14 to 1. The policy prohibits students from using cellphones, tablets, and smartwatches during the school day beginning in the fall, with exceptions for medical purposes and specific educational use determined by teachers. Each of the city's approximately 1,600 public schools will determine its own implementation protocols, with the city allocating $25 million to support the rollout.

Hochul signed a shield law in 2023 that provides legal protection to New York doctors who prescribe abortion drugs via telemedicine to patients in states with abortion restrictions. In spring 2025, she signed additional measures allowing abortion providers to keep their names off prescription bottles to make it harder for out-of-state law enforcement to identify them. Hochul stated she would not enforce a Texas civil penalty against New York doctor Margaret Carpenter or surrender her to Louisiana authorities in connection with abortion drug prescriptions.

Hochul extended a Cuomo-era executive order that designates New York as a sanctuary jurisdiction, directing state employees not to cooperate with federal immigration officers. The policy restricts the transfer of individuals to federal immigration enforcement agencies and removes Immigration and Customs Enforcement from certain state facilities. The sanctuary jurisdiction designation limits coordination between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Hochul instructed New York's public power authority to build at least one gigawatt of advanced nuclear power capacity. The announcement followed Trump's issuance of executive orders aimed at expanding America's nuclear energy infrastructure. Hochul's directive addresses the state's need to meet electrification targets and grid demand created by the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Hochul signed the "Polluters Pay" law in 2024, which requires energy companies that have sold gas in New York since 2000 to contribute $3 billion annually to a state-run fund. The law attributes financial liability to companies for heatwaves and coastal storms occurring in the state. New York maintains a ban on fracking implemented under former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2015, which remains in effect under Hochul's administration.

Hochul stated that she would block Zohran Mamdani's "Tax the rich" plan if Mamdani were elected mayor of New York City. During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on July 16, 2025, Hochul told business leaders that nothing would happen in the city without her awareness and involvement. Hochul had previously stated that raising taxes does not accomplish her goal of focusing on affordability and ensuring that job creators remain in New York.

Hochul applied brakes to New York's potential cap-and-invest program, a mechanism similar to California's carbon credit trading system that charges businesses for greenhouse gas emission allowances. The article references Hochul's action in the context of New York's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which established goals to reduce emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The cap-and-invest program would generate revenue through the sale of emission allowances, with funds directed toward projects intended to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Hochul sent a letter to President Trump on July 8, 2025, requesting that the federal government grant New York expanded authority to detect and disable unmanned aerial systems, citing drone sightings in the New York City area and Hudson Valley in the previous year. The governor's request included asking for a comprehensive federal strategy on drone threats and increased state-level capabilities to mitigate potential risks to critical infrastructure and public events. Hochul noted that New York would host multiple high-profile events in summer 2026, including the World Cup and International Naval Review.

Hochul's budget chief Blake Washington stated that New York State would experience a $750 million financial hit in the current fiscal year and a $3 billion hit in the next fiscal year, attributing these shortfalls primarily to federal Medicaid changes under President Trump's legislation. Washington made these projections weeks after New York lawmakers approved a state budget in May that increased spending by approximately $45 billion compared to the 2021 budget. The administration did not immediately clarify whether state lawmakers would reconvene to amend the budget in response to the projected deficits.

In May 2025, Hochul approved a budget bill containing a provision that imposed state control over Nassau University Medical Center's board, appointing Richard Becker, Stuart Rabinowitz, Richard Kessel, and other state appointees to oversee the hospital. Meg Ryan, the former president of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, was terminated in late June 2025 after the state assumed control of the facility. Ryan filed a notice of claim in state court alleging breach of contract and seeking damages, contending that the state weaponized the Department of Health and budget process to effect the takeover.

Hochul's press secretary Avi Small resigned on Friday following suspension and an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint filed by a staffer who alleged inappropriate physical contact at a bar in Albany after a staff retreat. The investigation into Small had "substantively concluded" according to a Hochul representative, and the administration stated it was "not aware" of any criminal referrals related to the matter. Small had also been the subject of a hostile-work-environment complaint in early 2024 for allegedly berating staffers.

House Republicans launched an investigation into whether Hochul withheld Medicaid funding to address a billion-dollar state budget deficit. The investigation, announced in a July 2, 2025 letter from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and other Republican lawmakers, requested records regarding the alleged withholding of federal Medicaid funds from localities and hospitals. Hochul's administration had previously made adjustments to Medicaid payments to counties and healthcare facilities as part of state budget actions.

Governor Hochul suspended Avi Small, her press secretary, after a staffer accused him of inappropriate touching at a social gathering following a staff retreat. An investigation into the allegations was launched, with Small placed on leave pending its completion. Hochul's office stated that the governor has zero tolerance for workplace misconduct and that the investigation will be conducted thoroughly, speedily, and independently.

Governor Hochul nominated Rush Holt Jr., a former eight-term U.S. Representative from New Jersey and former chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, to serve on the board of the Adirondack Park Agency in June 2025. Holt's nomination was submitted to the state Senate alongside environmental attorney Jose Almanzar and five renominated existing board members to fill positions on the 11-member panel responsible for managing the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. State Senator Dan Stec raised concerns regarding Holt's eligibility, citing requirements that the three resident board seats be filled by individuals with full-time residency in the park rather than seasonal property ownership.

Governor Hochul's state budget deal granted New York effective control of Nassau University Medical Center through a newly appointed state board of directors. In the first board meeting following this transition, CEO Meg Ryan was removed from her position and placed on administrative leave, despite her announced plan to remain until July 20 to facilitate the transition. Richard Becker, an executive from Northwell Health, was named interim CEO while the board engaged outside firms including Deloitte, Manatt Phelps & Phillips, and Korn Ferry to assist with financial operations and identify a permanent replacement.

Hochul testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 12, 2025, regarding New York's sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement practices. She stated that New York has transferred more than 1,300 non-citizen migrants to federal authorities after their release from state prisons and clarified that the state does not conduct civil immigration enforcement, characterizing that responsibility as federal. Hochul distinguished between the state's cooperation with federal authorities in criminal cases and its refusal to participate in civil immigration enforcement actions targeting law-abiding immigrants.

Hochul backed the renewal of the Relocation Employment Assistance Programs, known as REAP and LM-REAP, which provide annual tax credits to companies relocating within New York City or to designated outer borough areas. The state Senate approved the extension of both programs on a 41-18 vote in late June 2025 after the measures had been excluded from the state budget announced in April. The Senate also established a new program called Relocation Employment Assistance for Employees, or RACE, offering a $10,000 annual tax credit per employee to companies relocating to New York State from outside the state.

Hochul is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on New York's sanctuary policies, which are based on a 2017 executive order issued by former Governor Andrew Cuomo that restricts state law enforcement from using resources to enforce federal immigration civil infractions. Hochul's office has provided guidance outlining four broad categories of situations that would trigger state cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including cases involving judicial warrants or crimes committed within New York. The testimony follows ongoing debate over New York's handling of migrant arrivals and state spending related to the influx.

Urban New York state Democrats introduced legislation that would prohibit dairy farms from reaching or exceeding 700 cows, with the stated purpose of reducing methane emissions and manure-related water pollution. Governor Hochul characterized the bill as "insane" according to sources close to the Democratic leader. The bill, sponsored by state Senator Jabari Brisport and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, has generated conflict between downstate and upstate lawmakers, with rural representatives and dairy farmers arguing the cap would economically burden the industry.

The New York State Senate advanced the Medical Aid in Dying Act, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, which would authorize physician-assisted death for terminally ill patients. The bill differs from similar laws in eleven other states by requiring no mandatory waiting period before a prescription can be filled and establishing only minimal oversight through sample medical record reviews. The article indicates that Governor Hochul retains authority to veto the legislation.

The New York State Senate passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act on June 10, 2025, in a 35-27 vote, sending the legislation to Governor Hochul's desk for her signature or veto. The bill would authorize physicians to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. Hochul's office stated the governor would review the legislation, leaving the final determination on whether the measure becomes law pending her decision.

Hochul backed renewal of the Relocation Employment Assistance Program and Lower Manhattan Relocation Employment Assistance Program, which provide tax credits of up to $3,000 per employee to companies relocating to designated areas in the outer boroughs or Downtown Manhattan. The programs were set to expire on June 30, 2025, and had been excluded from the state's April budget plan before receiving Assembly approval and advancing toward Senate consideration. Hochul also supported creation of a new Relocation Assistance Credit for Employees program as part of the renewal effort.

Suffolk County jails are holding approximately 125 inmates who have been sentenced to state prison but have not been transferred upstate, exceeding the 10 business day transfer requirement established by state law. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision attributed the backlog to staffing shortages following the March firing of 2,000 corrections officers who participated in an unauthorized strike. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine stated that the state reimbursement of $100 per day per inmate does not cover the county's $250 daily housing cost, creating an estimated $280,000 fiscal burden since February.

New York State lawmakers scheduled a vote on the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow individuals with six months or less to live to be prescribed medication to end their lives. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the measure was likely to pass and would be sent to Governor Hochul's desk following legislative approval. The bill faced criticism from groups including the Catholic Church and disability rights advocates, who cited concerns about inadequate safeguards against abuse.

Hochul disputed that Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado possessed acting governor powers during her out-of-state travel to Massachusetts in June 2025, contrary to a state constitutional provision that typically grants such authority to the lieutenant governor during the governor's absence. Hochul's office did not recognize Delgado as acting executive during the trip, despite the plain language of the state constitution appearing to require such succession. The dispute occurred amid a broader estrangement between the two officials, during which Hochul had removed Delgado's Capitol office, official email, state vehicle, and office equipment.

New York state lawmakers passed the "Keep Police Radio Public Act" in both the state Senate and state Assembly in June 2025, legislation designed to require real-time police radio communications remain accessible to emergency services organizations and journalists while allowing sensitive information to remain private. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assemblywoman Karines Reyes in response to the NYPD's 2023 decision to encrypt its radio broadcasts during a system upgrade. The legislation was sent to Governor Hochul for her review and signature.

Nassau County Executive Blakeman announced in June 2025 that he would not nominate candidates to the Nassau University Medical Center board of directors in response to New York State's assumption of governance authority over the hospital through legislation. Blakeman stated that the state's takeover was unlawful and asserted that the state had systematically defunded the facility to create financial circumstances justifying state control. The county executive claimed that under new local leadership, the hospital had achieved financial recovery and was projected to generate an $11 million surplus without workforce reductions or departmental closures.

Hochul's administration implemented a consolidation of the $9 billion Medicaid consumer directed personal assistance program (CDPAP) by requiring approximately 280,000 recipients to transition their payroll services from hundreds of existing fiscal intermediaries to a single firm, Public Partnerships, LLC, beginning April 1, 2025. The transition experienced significant operational difficulties, including payment delays for home care aides and data protection concerns, prompting a federal court to issue an injunction to extend the deadline. The U.S. Department of Justice's Consumer Affairs Branch initiated an investigation into the transition process, examining structural defects in implementation, data protection failures, and the selection of Public Partnerships, LLC as the sole payroll services provider.

Governor Hochul proposed expanding eligibility for merit time credits in the state budget in April 2025 as a response to prison staffing shortages during an illegal correctional officer strike, which required National Guard deployment. After it was revealed that the proposal could result in early release for individuals convicted of violent crimes, Hochul withdrew her support for the measure following opposition from law enforcement officials including Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. The governor's initial proposal preceded a series of separate bills introduced by Democratic legislators in the state senate and assembly to expand early parole eligibility through mechanisms including the Elder Parole bill, the Earned Time Act, and the Second Look Act.

Hochul claimed that transforming the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into the nation's largest offshore wind port would represent "a large step forward in our commitment to build a sustainable future and foster economic growth." The statement was made in response to a House budget bill that would eliminate clean-electricity tax credits, including those for offshore wind projects, beginning in 2029 and require projects to begin construction within 60 days and commence operations by 2028. Hochul's remarks reflected concerns shared by other state officials regarding the impact of the proposed tax credit elimination on state economic development and renewable energy projects.

Hochul appointed Stuart Rabinowitz, former president of Hofstra University, to lead the board of directors of Nassau University Medical Center, along with three additional appointees: Konstantinos Mihaltses, Lisa Warren, and Amy Flores. The appointments, which took effect on June 1, 2025, followed the resignation of NUMC's CEO and nine other hospital executives and coincided with new state legislation that expanded state oversight of the hospital and its parent organization, Nassau Health Care Corp. The reconstituted board is required to submit a study by December 1, 2026, exploring options to strengthen the hospital's operations and finances.

Following the passage of the state budget in May 2025, which included language allowing Hochul to appoint seven of eleven board members to Nassau University Medical Center, the hospital's CEO Meg Ryan and at least nine other executives announced their resignations effective in July. The departing leaders, including the chief medical officer, chief nursing officer, and senior officials in human resources, finance, and other departments, stated that the governor's appointment authority fundamentally altered the power structure at the hospital. Hospital leadership reported that state officials did not communicate details about the transition or identify the appointed board members prior to their scheduled installation.

General Motors announced an $888 million investment in its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York to support production of the sixth generation of the company's V-8 engines beginning in 2027. Governor Hochul stated the project would support 870 jobs at the facility, including 177 jobs deemed at risk, and the state committed to providing up to $16.96 million in tax credits in return for the investment commitments. The investment represented a shift from a previously announced $300 million commitment to produce electric-vehicle drive units at the same plant.

The New York State Legislature passed a bill that would allow the repurposing of state parkland near Citi Field in Queens to facilitate billionaire Steve Cohen's proposed $8 billion casino development. The measure passed the state Senate on a 54-5 vote after earlier approval by the state Assembly and now requires Governor Hochul's signature to become law. Hochul has not indicated whether she will sign the legislation, and Cohen must still obtain approval from a local siting board and receive a casino license from the state gaming commission.

Hochul supported amendments to New York's 2019 discovery law that were included in the state budget passed in May 2025, which modified requirements for prosecutors to disclose materials to defendants at early stages of cases. The revised law reduced certain disclosure obligations, particularly regarding documents deemed less relevant to guilt or innocence, such as battery logs for body-worn cameras and administrative records. Hochul joined Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other officials in advocating for the changes, which they characterized as necessary to address case dismissal rates that had increased significantly since the original law took effect.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York State Department of Transportation rejected a May 21 deadline issued by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to cease collecting $15 tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street under the congestion pricing program. State officials argued that Duffy's repeated deadlines were procedurally improper and that his decision to terminate the program had already been made in his February 19 letter without providing adequate notice or opportunity to be heard. The state agencies characterized the exchange as a legal formality while the actual dispute over congestion pricing proceeds in federal court.

Amtrak proceeded with plans to close one of two westbound train tracks in the East River Tunnel beginning Friday for a rehabilitation project expected to last approximately 13 months, despite concerns raised by Governor Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams regarding potential transit disruptions. The tunnel closure involves upgrading tracks to prevent water pooling and replacing deteriorating concrete to stop leaks on the 2.5-mile stretch connecting Queens to Penn Station. Amtrak committed to providing around-the-clock engineering coverage, conducting frequent inspections of the remaining track, and positioning rescue equipment during the outage, while Hochul secured an agreement for third-party consultants to examine whether the second tunnel requires full closure when its construction begins in fall 2026.

In her 2025 budget proposal, Hochul included a 17% increase in Medicaid spending for family caregiver payments, despite previously characterizing such payments as problematic. The proposal would require federal matching funds under Medicaid's cost-sharing structure. This action occurred amid broader congressional debate over Medicaid reform proposals that included work requirements and enrollment restrictions.

Hochul intervened with Trump administration officials to lift a stop-work order placed on the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm project off Long Island in April 2025. The Department of the Interior had halted construction after determining the Biden administration had rushed the permit approval process. Following Hochul's advocacy, Trump officials rescinded the stop-work order, allowing construction to resume on the project designed to power 500,000 homes and support approximately 1,500 union jobs.

Hochul celebrated the restoration of A train service to Rockaway while acknowledging a $3 billion funding shortfall in the MTA's $68 billion five-year capital plan. Hochul stated that the MTA would be expected to address the gap through $150 million in agency savings and by issuing new debt to cover the remaining $3 billion. The governor did not take questions from reporters following her remarks at the press conference.

Hochul announced that inflation refund checks of up to $400 will be distributed to approximately 8.2 million New York households beginning in October 2025 as part of the state's $254 billion budget plan. Eligible recipients must have filed a New York State income tax return for the 2023 tax year and have a state adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less for individuals or $300,000 or less for joint filers, with payment amounts varying based on income and filing status. The checks will be mailed directly to eligible households with no application required, with distribution continuing through November.

Hochul signed legislation in 2023 that moved local elections in New York from odd years to even years, aligning them with federal election cycles. The law was challenged in court on constitutional grounds, but a New York state court ruled the following week that the legislation was constitutional, reversing a lower court decision that would have blocked the change. The first elections affected by the law took place in 2025, when local candidates ran for shortened terms to begin realigning the election schedule.

Hochul supported the Empire Wind offshore wind farm project, which was halted by the Trump administration's Department of the Interior in May 2025 after the project had received all necessary federal, state, and local permits under the prior Biden administration. The 54-turbine wind farm, located 15 miles off the Long Island coast and more than 30 percent complete, was designed to deliver energy to approximately 500,000 homes in New York City. Hochul's backing of the project came as the energy company Equinor reported losses of $50 million per week due to the construction suspension and threatened to terminate the initiative within days without federal resolution.

Boris Jordan, founder and CEO of Curaleaf, accused Hochul and state cannabis regulators of creating barriers for existing medical marijuana operators seeking to convert their licenses to adult-use sales, citing conversion fees that could reach $15 million for three stores. Jordan stated that six of the ten original licensed medical marijuana firms declined to enter the adult-use market due to these added costs. He also alleged that state regulators failed to enforce the "seed to sale" requirement that mandates all cannabis sold in New York be grown in-state, claiming out-of-state products were being illegally sold through licensed dispensaries.

Hochul signed the New York State fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $254 billion on Friday, representing a $15 billion increase or approximately 6% growth from the previous year's budget. The budget includes a nearly $7 billion transfer from state reserves to repay federal pandemic-era unemployment insurance debt. Hochul stated the spending plan was necessary to help businesses prepare for economic challenges during an anticipated recession.

Hochul's $254 billion state budget package was passed by both houses of the New York legislature on May 8, 2025, following over a month of delay past the April 1 statutory deadline. The budget includes a provision allowing state employees to be reimbursed for legal fees if they face discriminatory or retaliatory treatment from the federal government as a result of their employment, a measure that could apply to Attorney General Letitia James amid federal investigations. Hochul is expected to sign the budget bills into law.

Hochul backed a mask restriction measure included in the $254 billion state budget deal that was passed by lawmakers on Thursday. The measure, rather than implementing an outright ban, created additional jail time and other penalties for people who wear face coverings to conceal their identities while committing crimes. Several state legislators characterized the restriction as insufficient, stating it did not adequately address public safety concerns that had prompted the proposal.

Hochul's administration included a record $37 billion in statewide school funding in the state budget, with Long Island schools receiving over $270 million in additional aid for the next year, representing a 5.4% increase. Nassau County schools will receive an additional $123 million while Suffolk County will see roughly a 5% increase with nearly $150 million in extra funding. The budget also allocated funding for universal free school breakfast and lunch for all students regardless of income and implemented a statewide classroom smartphone ban beginning in the fall.

Hochul secured legislative approval for modifications to New York's discovery law, which governs how prosecutors gather and share evidence with defense attorneys. The changes allow judges to evaluate prosecutors' overall efforts to gather evidence by category rather than requiring assessment of each individual document, and impose a 35-day deadline for defense attorneys to challenge prosecutors' compliance. Hochul also obtained approval for expanded involuntary commitment authority, permitting hospitalization of individuals who pose risks to themselves due to inability or refusal to care for themselves as a result of mental illness, in addition to existing standards for imminent threats.

Hochul reached agreement with state lawmakers on revisions to New York's discovery laws designed to prevent criminal cases from being dismissed on procedural technicalities and to narrow the scope of evidence prosecutors must provide to defense attorneys. The discovery law changes were included in the $254 billion state budget deal unveiled in May 2025, which Hochul had indicated she would withhold approval from until the criminal justice provisions were resolved. The budget agreement also expanded involuntary commitment standards for individuals with severe mental illness, allowing for forced psychiatric care under broader circumstances than previously permitted.

Hochul was included in the New York state budget package approved by Democratic legislators in May 2025, which contained a provision requiring governors and lieutenant governors to run on the same ticket during primary elections rather than separately. The measure would apply to the 2026 gubernatorial race in which Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado was considering challenging Hochul for the nomination. The budget also included changes to the public campaign financing system that raised donation limits eligible for matching funds from $250 to $1,050 and delayed implementation of a cap on lawmakers' outside income until at least 2027.

Hochul reached a tentative agreement with state lawmakers to issue inflation refund checks to approximately 8.2 million New York residents as part of the state's $254 billion budget plan. The payments, ranging from $150 to $400 depending on income and filing status, will be distributed automatically to eligible tax filers with 2023 adjusted gross incomes of $150,000 or less for individuals and $300,000 or less for joint filers, at an estimated cost of $2 billion. The state Department of Taxation and Finance will issue the checks in the fall using existing 2023 tax return data without requiring recipients to submit applications.

Hochul approved a $254 billion state budget that includes a payroll tax increase on businesses to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital plan, raising rates from 0.6% to 0.895% for New York City companies with annual payrolls of $10 million or more and from 0.34% to 0.635% for suburban employers. The budget also authorized the MTA to expand its speed camera program to nine bridges and tunnels including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Queens-Midtown Tunnel, with fines ranging from $50 to $100 depending on violation frequency. These provisions were designed to generate revenue for the MTA's $68 billion modernization plan for transit infrastructure and equipment.

Hochul secured changes to New York state's discovery laws as part of a $250 billion budget bill passed in May 2025, which she had threatened to withhold approval for until the revisions were included. The amended discovery laws require courts to evaluate prosecutors' overall evidence-sharing efforts rather than dismissing cases over minor procedural errors, narrow the scope of evidence prosecutors must turn over to defense attorneys, and establish a 35-day deadline for defense challenges to prosecutors' discovery certifications. Hochul stated the changes were necessary to prevent cases from being dismissed on technicalities while ensuring criminal defendants receive relevant evidence.

Hochul reached an agreement with state lawmakers in the state budget to expand involuntary commitment standards for severely mentally ill individuals in New York. The changes allow commitment when individuals show substantial risk of physical harm to themselves due to inability to provide for essential needs such as food, clothing, medical care, or shelter, and reduce the required medical sign-offs from two examining physicians to one examining physician and one nurse practitioner. The agreement also includes requirements for enhanced discharge planning and follow-up care coordination among psychiatric centers and social services agencies.

Hochul issued a message of necessity to bypass the state constitution's requirement for a three-calendar-day waiting period before voting on newly introduced legislation, allowing the New York State Legislature to vote on a $254 billion state budget package in May 2025. The message of necessity enabled lawmakers to begin voting on the budget within hours of the bill text being released, rather than after the constitutionally mandated waiting period. This use of the executive authority drew criticism from Republican lawmakers who argued the mechanism should be reserved for emergencies rather than routine budget legislation.

Hochul included $350 million in the state's 2026 budget proposal for the childcare voucher program, contingent on the city matching that amount, while declining to provide additional funding beyond what was already allocated. The governor stated she had added $400 million to the budget for childcare assistance, with most of it directed to New York City. New York City subsequently froze applications for the childcare voucher program beginning May 5, 2025, citing insufficient state funding and placing an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 families on a waitlist.

Hochul ordered the early release of thousands of eligible non-violent inmates from state prisons to reduce overcrowding amid a correctional staffing shortage. Joseph Baker, a 34-year-old gang member serving a three-year drug possession sentence, was released in April 2024 and arrested the next day on charges related to ordering an attack on a rival drug dealer while incarcerated. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated that Baker's early release without advance notice to law enforcement disrupted investigations timed to ensure public safety upon an inmate's release.

Hochul secured approval for a "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban in the state budget that restricts students from using smartphones and other mobile devices during the school day, with schools required to develop alternative emergency contact methods for parents. The policy includes $13.5 million in state funding allocated to school districts to assist with implementation. The ban exempts caregivers from the restriction and applies across New York State schools.

Hochul's state budget agreement includes language that would allow the state to replace the Nassau University Medical Center's local board of directors with a state-run board. NUMC leadership announced the hospital achieved an $11 million projected profit for the year and improved patient care metrics, arguing the state intervention is unnecessary. The proposed takeover language remains subject to finalization, with budget-related bills potentially coming to a vote within the week.

Hochul and state lawmakers reached a deal to increase state payroll taxes on businesses with payrolls over $10 million annually to help fund the MTA's $68 billion five-year capital plan, which faced a $35 billion funding gap. The tax rate increase would raise the MTA payroll tax from 0.34% to 0.635% on Long Island and in surrounding counties, and from 0.6% to 0.895% in New York City, affecting between 5,000 and 10,000 businesses statewide. Long Island Republicans subsequently called for an independent audit of the MTA's finances prior to implementation of the tax increase.

The Justice Department filed lawsuits against New York, Hawaii, Michigan, and Vermont in April and May 2025, challenging their climate-related policies and legal actions. The suits specifically targeted New York and Vermont's climate superfund laws requiring fossil fuel companies to contribute to state funds based on historical greenhouse gas emissions, as well as Hawaii and Michigan's planned litigation against fossil fuel companies for climate damages. The DOJ argued that these state actions conflicted with federal authority under the Clean Air Act and impermissibly regulated out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions.

Hochul reached a state budget deal with Albany Democrats that increased payroll taxes to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $68 billion capital plan. The tax increase raises the payroll tax rate for New York City companies with payrolls of $10 million annually from 0.6 percent to 0.895 percent, and increases rates in surrounding counties from 0.34 percent to 0.635 percent. The payroll mobility tax adjustment was designed to address a $35 billion funding shortfall in the MTA's five-year capital improvement program.

Hochul reached an agreement with New York state lawmakers to include a new criminal penalty in the state budget that would add an enhanced charge for individuals who wear masks while committing crimes classified as class A misdemeanors or more serious offenses. The penalty, which also applies to suspects covering their faces while fleeing crime scenes, represents a compromise from Hochul's initial proposal to create increased penalties for mask-wearing while threatening groups of people. The mask provision was incorporated into the $254 billion state spending plan after concerns from lawmakers and civil liberties advocates led to a narrower final version of the legislation.

Hochul reached agreement with New York State legislators on a $254 billion state budget that includes approximately $3 billion in direct assistance programs. The budget includes one-time inflation refund checks of up to $400 for eligible New Yorkers, expanded child tax credits providing up to $1,000 per child ages 0 to 3, universal free school breakfast and lunch, and minor income tax reductions of 0.1 percent for individuals and families in 2026 and 2027. The budget also includes a business tax increase to fund a $68 billion capital plan for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Hochul announced a preliminary agreement on a $254 billion New York state budget for fiscal year 2026, approximately 28 days after the April 1 deadline. The budget includes revisions to the state's discovery laws governing evidence-sharing in criminal cases, expansion of Kendra's Law for assisted outpatient treatment, a "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban in schools, an increase to the payroll mobility tax on businesses in the MTA region, and inflation refund checks totaling $2 billion for qualifying families and individuals. Legislators were expected to draft and vote on the bills comprising the budget during the following week.

Hochul called for a ban on masks to prevent antisemitic criminals from concealing their identities during attacks and harassment. State lawmakers have resisted this proposal, with some expressing concern about potential consequences for certain communities. The mask ban, which was in effect before the COVID-19 pandemic, would apply to public spaces where antisemitic incidents have occurred.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing program charging a $9 toll for cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a deadline for termination of the tolls, which Hochul did not meet, resulting in the DOT threatening to withhold federal highway funds and pursue legal action. The program remains in effect pending resolution of the federal challenge.

Hochul announced she would redirect $1.3 billion in state funding previously allocated for the Penn Station overhaul to other Metropolitan Transportation Authority initiatives addressing fare evasion and related issues as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. This decision followed the Trump administration's removal of the MTA from leadership of the Penn Station project, transferring primary responsibility to Amtrak. Hochul stated the reallocation would place the burden of funding and executing the project, estimated to cost over $7 billion, on the federal government.

Hochul joined a lawsuit with 11 other states against President Trump's tariffs, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade on April 23, 2025. The lawsuit challenges the constitutional authority of the president to impose tariffs through executive order without congressional approval and seeks to halt existing tariffs and prevent additional duties. Hochul stated that the tariffs had increased consumer costs and that New York faced over $100 million in additional state agency expenses due to the increased prices.

Governor Hochul introduced a new initiative aimed at restricting smartphone use in K-12 schools with the goal of creating distraction-free learning environments. The proposal prompted a survey of 20 teachers at Jericho High School in which 70 percent reported that phones absolutely impact students' ability to concentrate, while 30 percent indicated phones distract some but not all students. The initiative raised questions about the educational role of cell phones and sparked discussion among educators regarding classroom phone policies and their effects on student focus.

The Trump administration's Department of Transportation, led by Sean Duffy, issued a letter to Hochul on April 21, 2025, warning that New York could lose billions in federal transportation funding if the state continued operating its congestion pricing program. Duffy set a May 21 deadline for Hochul to explain why the program should not be deemed illegal under federal "freedom from tolls" law, with penalties beginning May 28 that could affect highway construction projects across New York State. Hochul responded by reaffirming that congestion pricing is legal and operational, declining to halt the $9 toll system for vehicles traveling below 60th Street in Manhattan.

Hochul announced she would not comply with a federal deadline set by the Trump administration's Department of Transportation to end New York City's congestion pricing toll scheme, which charges vehicles $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, joined by the city and state, filed a lawsuit against the federal government challenging the order as unlawful and invalid. Hochul's office stated that "the cameras are staying on" as the April 20, 2025 deadline passed without compliance.

Hochul directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to maintain the $9 congestion pricing toll for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, which took effect on January 5, 2025, despite a federal deadline set by the US Department of Transportation for April 20, 2025 to terminate the program. The state and city Departments of Transportation joined an MTA lawsuit in February challenging the federal government's authority to unilaterally overturn the toll, arguing the program was lawfully enacted by elected representatives. Hochul's administration stated there was no plan to shut down the toll cameras and indicated it would not comply with the federal deadline.

Hochul proposed expanding eligibility for the state's merit time program to include prisoners convicted of violent offenses, a change currently being negotiated as part of budget discussions with the state Legislature. The program allows incarcerated individuals to earn early release by completing educational or vocational programs and meeting other requirements, and the governor's office estimated approximately 3,000 prisoners would become eligible under the proposed changes, with about 1,300 already meeting requirements for immediate release. The proposal comes as state prisons face staffing shortages following Hochul's decision earlier in 2025 to terminate approximately 2,000 correction officers who participated in an illegal strike.

Hochul's administration reached a $450,000 settlement with Charlotte Bennett, a former state employee who filed suit against the state in March 2023 alleging it failed to address her complaint of sexual harassment by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Under the agreement, Bennett received $100,000 in personal compensation along with $350,000 for legal costs, while the state did not acknowledge wrongdoing or liability. Hochul's spokesman stated the settlement was mutually agreed upon and designed to minimize further costs to taxpayers.

President Trump removed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from oversight of the Penn Station renovation project and placed the Federal Railroad Administration in charge, with Amtrak designated to spearhead the work under a public-private partnership model announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on April 17, 2025. Duffy stated the federal takeover would reduce the grant by approximately $120 million and address what he characterized as inefficiencies in previous planning. Governor Hochul responded by stating the shift would save New York State $1.3 billion in allocated funds that would no longer be necessary for the project.

In 2022, Hochul signed the "Raise the Lower Age" legislation, which made children between ages 7 and 11 no longer eligible to be charged as juvenile delinquents in New York State. Under the law, children in this age range cannot be taken into custody except in cases of completed murder, and their families are instead offered voluntary social services. The statute was enacted as part of New York's broader juvenile justice reforms that began with the 2018 "Raise the Age" law.

Hochul prioritized changes to New York's discovery laws as part of state budget negotiations, with Democratic lawmakers and the five district attorneys reaching a tentative agreement to revise evidence-sharing requirements. The proposed revision would require prosecutors to turn over evidence deemed "relevant" to charges rather than evidence "related" to cases, addressing concerns about broad evidence requests unrelated to specific criminal matters. Hochul acknowledged the agreement while noting that final language remained subject to further negotiation.

Hochul directed the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to identify inmates convicted of minor crimes who were within 110 days of their approved release dates for early release following a staffing crisis at state prisons caused by an illegal strike by correction officers. As of Tuesday, the department had released 103 inmates to residential treatment programs, with another 142 under review for potential release, while 521 individuals were deemed ineligible due to pending warrants or lack of approved non-shelter residence. Hochul's administration stated that the early release policy would not apply to individuals convicted of sex crimes, terrorism, or violent felonies.

Hochul stated on April 16, 2025, that lawmakers had reached a "conceptual agreement" to revise New York's discovery laws as part of negotiations over the state budget, which had been stalled for weeks. The proposed changes to discovery rules, supported by the state's five district attorneys, would require prosecutors to turn over evidence deemed "relevant" to charges rather than evidence "related" to cases and would establish a 35-day timeframe for challenging violations. Hochul planned to meet with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins that evening to finalize the agreement.

Hochul tightened the LLC Transparency Act in the prior year, requiring disclosure of property owners in real estate transactions. Following this regulatory change, real estate brokers reported an increased shift among wealthy purchasers toward using trusts as an alternative vehicle for acquiring property. Trusts offer similar privacy protections and tax advantages to the previous LLC structures while remaining less restricted under the updated transparency requirements.

State lawmakers announced a framework agreement to revise criminal discovery laws that govern evidence sharing at trial, narrowing the scope of evidence prosecutors must disclose and establishing timelines for defense challenges. The agreement, developed between legislative leaders and the state's five district attorneys, includes provisions clarifying when judges may dismiss cases and stipulating that the speedy trial clock stops during discovery disputes. Governor Hochul responded to the announcement by stating it "sounds like very good news" but has not yet held meetings with legislative leaders to finalize the proposal.

Hochul allocated $13 million in her budget to provide mental health support to law enforcement officers across New York state. The governor met with Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin regarding the Lt. Joseph Banish Mental Health Act, proposed legislation that would establish a peer-to-peer mental health support program for police officers. Hochul's office indicated openness to the bill, which has passed the state Senate but remains pending in the Assembly.

Hochul proposed legislation to modify New York's weekly wage payment requirement for manual laborers by clarifying that businesses found in violation would be liable for interest on unpaid wages rather than a full 100 percent match of the withheld wages. The proposal emerged amid broader state budget negotiations that had stalled past the April 1 deadline, with business groups supporting the measure while labor advocates and some state legislators expressed concerns about reducing employer accountability. The bill has faced resistance during budget talks, with state Senator Jessica Ramos, chair of the Labor Committee, reportedly holding up the proposal.

Hochul's administration implemented a transition of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to a new contracted firm, Public Partnerships LLC, intended to overhaul the costly Medicaid homecare program. The transition resulted in widespread payment failures, with the newly contracted firm paying only approximately 100,000 of 160,000 aides who had transitioned to the system, leaving thousands of homecare workers and vulnerable consumers without compensation. A federal court intervened after a lawsuit by Independent Living Center groups, issuing an injunction that extended registration timelines for aides and consumers, while federal prosecutors indicated they were monitoring the situation for potential consumer protection violations.

Hochul withheld approval of the state budget until the legislature agreed to modify the pre-trial discovery law enacted in 2019, which established deadlines for prosecutors to provide evidence and information to criminal defendants and their attorneys. Hochul sought changes to the discovery requirements, citing support from all five city district attorneys who argued the law's provisions had resulted in increased case dismissals on technical grounds. The governor and legislative leaders negotiated the 2025-2026 budget while maintaining essential state services through emergency extenders during the impasse.

Governor Hochul backed the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, which began construction off the coast of Long Island with 54 turbines designed to power approximately 500,000 homes. The project proceeded despite President Trump's January 2025 executive order restricting new offshore wind leasing in federal waterways, as Equinor had obtained all necessary federal lease and permit approvals prior to the order's effective date. Hochul's support for the project was tied to New York State's climate law requirements for 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040 and the phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050.

Lander expressed support for Governor Hochul's initiative to expand authority for involuntary hospitalization of individuals with serious mental health issues, citing the need for flexibility in involuntary treatment following incidents in Soho and southern Brooklyn. Lander stated that he was "seeking flexibility for involuntary hospitalization" as part of broader efforts to address criminal justice concerns. This position reflected his alignment with the governor's mental health intervention policy during a meeting with The New York Post editorial board.

Hochul defended her position in ongoing state budget negotiations, stating she would not compromise on her policy demands despite the legislature passing a spending extension through Tuesday after missing the April 1 deadline. Key points of contention include Hochul's proposals to modify criminal discovery laws, which set deadlines for evidence sharing in cases, and her bid to facilitate involuntary psychiatric commitment for mentally ill individuals. Hochul indicated she would use her authority to control the length of budget extenders to compel lawmakers to return to Albany for further negotiations beyond the current extension.

The Trump administration's Department of Transportation maintained an April 20, 2025 deadline for New York to cease congestion pricing, a $9 toll implemented in January 2025 to generate revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Assistant US Attorney Dominika Tarczynska stated at a pretrial conference that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was still evaluating potential enforcement options if the state failed to comply with the deadline, noting no final decision had been made regarding what action, if any, would occur after April 20. The MTA's legal counsel stated that absent a court order, the toll collection cameras would remain operational.

Governor Hochul issued an order in February 2025 shutting down all live poultry markets in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County for cleaning and inspection in response to bird flu outbreaks. The temporary shutdown lasted just over one week and was lifted on February 19, 2025, followed by a state requirement that poultry be tested prior to entering live bird markets. Despite these measures, bird flu infections continued to be detected at live poultry markets after the ban was lifted, with at least 4,180 infected birds found since March 1, 2025.

Mayor Adams announced that New York City will hire 3,700 new teachers across 750 public schools to comply with the state class size law enacted in 2022, which requires kindergarten through third grade classes to be capped at 20 students, fourth through eighth grade at 23 students, and high school classes at 25 students. The city had previously characterized the mandate as an unfunded requirement it could not afford to implement. The additional funding will be included in Adams' fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, with the city required to achieve 60 percent compliance by September and full compliance by 2028.

Hochul participated in negotiations with state lawmakers to finalize a plan adjusting the payroll mobility tax to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $68 billion five-year capital plan, which required an additional $33 billion in revenue. Under the proposal, tax rates would increase for larger businesses with payrolls exceeding $10 million while decreasing or potentially eliminating the tax for businesses with the smallest payrolls, with the adjustments expected to generate approximately $2 billion in direct revenue. The adjusted revenue would be bonded to generate the full $33 billion needed for the MTA capital improvements as part of the state budget negotiations.

Hochul proposed legislation to expand involuntary commitment laws in New York, allowing mentally ill individuals to be placed into psychiatric care against their will as part of a broader mental health crisis intervention plan. State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced in April 2025 that lawmakers were nearing agreement on the proposal, with negotiations including a pilot program for county-level behavioral health teams to respond to mental health-related 911 calls and discharge planning requirements for psychiatric hospital patients. Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Jo Anne Simon stated she had not reviewed final language on the involuntary commitment expansion and expressed concerns that the proposal required accompanying investments in supportive housing to be effective.

Hochul proposed modifications to New York's discovery laws, which govern the evidence that must be disclosed to defendants before trial, as part of her state budget priorities. The proposal received support from the state's five district attorneys, including Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and Bronx DA Darcel Clark, who argued the current requirements have led to increased case dismissals on technical grounds. The proposed changes faced opposition from left-leaning lawmakers in the state Legislature, creating a significant point of contention in budget negotiations.

Hochul signed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act in 2022, which established restrictions on where firearms could be carried in New York, including parks, entertainment areas, churches, and health care facilities, and required prospective gun owners to demonstrate good moral character and provide character references. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld portions of the law in an October ruling, allowing the sensitive locations restrictions and good moral character requirements to remain in effect while striking down provisions banning concealed firearms on widely accessible private property and requiring disclosure of social media account information. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the law brought by residents including Ivan Antonyuk, allowing the appellate court's decision to stand.

Hochul proposed legislation that would create increased penalties for harassment when someone intentionally wears a mask while menacing or threatening violence against a group of people. State Senate lawmakers moved to block the proposal during budget negotiations, citing concerns about protecting protesters' ability to demonstrate while maintaining anonymity. Hochul stated in April 2025 that her position on the mask restriction policy remained unchanged and that she opposed people using masks to harass, threaten, or intimidate others.

Hochul called for the release and return to New York of a mother and three children who were apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from a farm in Sackets Harbor, New York, and subsequently transported to an ICE detention facility in Karns County, Texas. The governor stated on social media that ICE agents entered the family's home without a judicial warrant and criticized the apprehension of the children, including a third-grader and two high school-aged students. Hochul indicated she would work to address the situation and demanded that ICE provide an explanation for the actions taken.

Hochul signed an executive order preventing state agencies from hiring corrections officers who were fired for striking during a 22-day work stoppage. Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello subsequently directed prison leaders to identify inmates convicted of minor crimes scheduled for release within 15 to 110 days for consideration of early discharge due to staffing shortages. Inmates convicted of sex crimes, violent felonies, or serious felonies including murder, terrorism, and arson were excluded from eligibility for early release.

Hochul stated through her budget director that she was willing to delay the state budget indefinitely to secure passage of proposed changes to discovery law and involuntary commitment procedures. Budget Director Blake Washington indicated that Hochul considered these proposals non-negotiable elements of the spending plan despite facing opposition from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senate President Pro Tempore Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The governor had previously delayed the 2023 state budget until May while pushing for modifications to New York's bail laws.

Hochul proposed changes to New York State's criminal evidence-sharing laws and expansion of involuntary commitments for mentally ill individuals as part of her $252 billion budget plan. Negotiations between Hochul and state lawmakers reached a standstill over these policy proposals, with Hochul's budget director stating the governor could not compromise on the discovery law changes and involuntary commitment expansion. Lawmakers passed a stopgap funding bill on April 1, 2025, extending negotiations through Thursday as the state continued to miss its statutory budget deadline.

Governor Hochul proposed modifications to New York's 2019 discovery statute, which currently requires prosecutors to provide evidence to defendants within 20 or 35 days after arraignment, seeking to limit the scope of disclosable evidence to only what is deemed "relevant" to charges. Progressive advocacy groups, including The Legal Aid Society, launched a pressure campaign opposing the proposed changes, citing concerns that rolling back discovery reforms would negatively affect defendants awaiting trial. The budget impasse extended past the April 1 deadline as lawmakers debated Hochul's proposals on involuntary commitment and discovery reform alongside other fiscal matters.

Hochul proposed changes to New York's discovery laws, which set rules and deadlines for evidence sharing in criminal trials, as part of state budget negotiations. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stated that lawmakers were opposed to Hochul's proposed changes as written and requested modifications to the language, causing budget talks to reach a standstill before the April 1 deadline. The proposed reforms, backed by all five New York City District Attorneys, were intended to address a surge of cases dismissed on technicalities since the discovery laws were enacted in 2019.

Hochul included proposed amendments to the state discovery law in her FY2026 budget, which was due April 1, 2025. The amendments, backed by all five New York City district attorneys, would reduce the scope of evidence prosecutors must gather and provide to defendants, require defendants to challenge discovery violations within 35 days, clarify that defendants must demonstrate harm to dismiss cases, and allow judges to impose sanctions other than case dismissal for discovery violations. The proposed changes address concerns that the 2020 discovery law has led prosecutors to decline prosecution of misdemeanor cases at roughly double the rate seen in 2019.

Hochul praised the acting Ulster County clerk's refusal to file a $113,000 judgment from Texas against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who was ordered by a Texas court to pay a penalty for allegedly prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine. Hochul's statement came after the clerk cited New York's Shield Law, which protects medical professionals who provide abortion services to out-of-state patients, in refusing to process the Texas filing. This action followed Hochul's previous invocation of the same Shield Law in rejecting an extradition request from Louisiana regarding Carpenter.

Hochul proposed a "bell-to-bell" school phone ban that would require school districts to develop plans prohibiting students from using devices like phones throughout the entire school day, with $13.5 million allocated to help schools implement the requirement. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie both indicated that Democratic majorities in their respective chambers were in agreement with Hochul's bell-to-bell approach after earlier discussions about allowing limited phone use during recess or between classes. Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer stated that lawmakers aimed to develop a policy that prioritizes students without making teachers enforcers of the restriction.

Hochul proposed amendments to New York's discovery laws that would narrow the scope of evidence required to be disclosed to defendants, establish timelines for defendants to challenge prosecutorial compliance, and grant judges greater discretion in sanctioning prosecutors short of case dismissal. Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins have not fully endorsed the proposal, with Heastie expressing concerns that certain changes would grant prosecutors excessive authority and Stewart-Cousins indicating the matter should be addressed outside budget negotiations. The proposal seeks to reduce case dismissals that prosecutors attribute to strict penalties under discovery law changes enacted in 2019 and implemented in 2020.

Hochul's administration announced a grace period on March 24, 2025, for consumers in New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program during the state's consolidation of home care payment services under Public Partnerships LLC. The Department of Health stated that participants can be reimbursed once their paperwork is processed by PPL, though the administration attributed processing delays to misinformation from the hundreds of intermediaries being replaced. State law requires current payment services providers to cease operations by April 1, 2025, a deadline that remains unchanged under the grace period announcement.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly called for changes to New York's 2019 discovery law during a press conference at the state Capitol alongside state Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt and members of the Senate GOP conference, urging Governor Hochul and the Democratic-run Legislature to revise or repeal the statute. The discovery law established deadlines requiring prosecutors to provide evidence and witness names to defense attorneys, which Donnelly characterized as creating unrealistic timelines for prosecutors with large caseloads and leading to case dismissals based on procedural errors unrelated to the underlying crimes. Donnelly cited specific concerns including the disclosure of sensitive victim information to defendants and argued that the law's implementation had resulted in early release of individuals accused of serious offenses.

Hochul proposed reforms to New York's discovery statutes, which govern the disclosure of evidence in criminal cases, as part of her state budget initiative due April 1. The proposal includes three provisions: requiring defendants to demonstrate prejudice before entire cases can be dismissed for late evidence disclosure, establishing a 35-day window for defendants to challenge discovery disputes, and narrowing the scope of materials prosecutors must disclose to those "directly relevant" to charges rather than all materials "related to" charges. The proposal has encountered resistance from civil liberties organizations and public defender groups in the Legislature, with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie identifying the issue as a significant point of contention in ongoing budget negotiations.

Hochul's administration announced it would release a plan to extend timelines for home care recipients to transition to Public Partnerships LLC, a newly selected payment processing firm for the state's $9 billion home care system, after the initial April 1 deadline faced implementation difficulties. The transition affected over 280,000 participants in the consumer directed personal assistance program, or CDPAP, and was intended to consolidate payroll services from hundreds of existing firms. The administration softened its deadline after reports of service disruptions at the payment processor, though it stated it would continue to hold to the original deadline while providing additional transition time for consumers and workers requiring it.

The New York State Assembly unanimously passed the Ignazio Giacalone Act, legislation that would extend civil service examination credits to children and siblings of sanitation workers who died from 9/11-related illnesses, aligning their benefits with those provided to families of first responders. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Berger in the lower chamber and state Senator Robert Jackson in the upper chamber, is named after sanitation worker Ignazio Giacalone, who died in 2021 from cancer contracted during cleanup operations at Ground Zero, with over 100 sanitation department workers having died from similar illnesses. The legislation now awaits passage in the state Senate before proceeding to Governor Hochul's desk for consideration.

Hochul argued that New York's discovery laws, enacted in 2019 to expedite criminal proceedings, have resulted in decreased domestic violence convictions, which fell from 31 percent to 6 percent, and called for modifications to these laws during a roundtable discussion with domestic violence survivors and advocates in Albany in March 2025. Hochul stated that the discovery requirements, which mandate prosecutors rapidly provide evidence to defense attorneys or face case dismissal, have allowed accused domestic abusers to be released on technicalities and have deprived victims of safety and justice. Hochul and the five district attorneys of New York City's boroughs are jointly advocating for changes to the discovery laws as part of the upcoming state budget negotiations.

Hochul included a proposed ban on cellphones in schools in her executive budget proposal for 2025-26, which would require mobile phones be stored away until dismissal throughout the school day. State lawmakers introduced separate bills that would allow local school districts discretion over implementation rather than mandate a full prohibition. Parent advocacy groups sent a letter to state legislators urging them to adopt Hochul's full ban instead of the district-discretion approach, citing research on impacts to student learning and mental health.

Hochul participated in a public gathering near Union Square on March 21, 2025, to celebrate the continuation of the congestion pricing program, which charges vehicles $9 to enter lower Manhattan. The governor stated that the program has reduced traffic gridlock, improved air quality, and generated $15 billion in revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital plan to upgrade the transit system. The Trump administration had initially set a deadline to eliminate the tolling program but granted a 30-day extension, while the MTA filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration's effort to halt congestion pricing.

Hochul initiated closed-door negotiations with Albany lawmakers to include legislation sponsored by state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Senator James Skoufis in the state budget discussions. The proposed bill would not ban masks outright but would create enhanced penalties for harassment when individuals intentionally conceal their faces while menacing or threatening violence against groups of people. Hochul stated her support for restrictions on mask-wearing except for medical and religious reasons, citing concerns about mask use in the commission of crimes.

Hochul announced that congestion pricing tolls will remain in effect past a March 21 deadline set by the Trump administration to cease the program, stating that the cameras will stay operational as long as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Transportation's effort to terminate congestion pricing remains active. Hochul indicated that discussions with President Trump regarding a separate Penn Station revitalization project continue to provide a basis for ongoing negotiations between her administration and the federal government. The governor stated she does not expect the Trump administration's deadline to result in changes to the tolling program absent a court order.

Governor Hochul has pushed to modify New York's discovery laws, which require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense attorneys before trial. The article describes a domestic violence case in Manhattan that was dismissed in March 2025 after prosecutors disclosed a piece of evidence—a past disciplinary action against an arresting officer—late in the proceedings, triggering case dismissal under the state's discovery statutes. District attorneys and other officials have argued that the discovery laws result in cases being dismissed on technical grounds unrelated to the underlying charges, leaving crime victims without protection orders or access to justice.

Hochul announced that Hempstead, New York's largest village, received $10 million in state funding through the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The funding is designated for infrastructure upgrades including water, sewer, and transportation systems, affordable housing development, and consolidation of village government departments into a single location. The project also prioritizes restoration of arts, entertainment, and public spaces in the downtown area.

Rep. Ritchie Torres sent a letter to Gov. Hochul in March 2025 criticizing her administration's handling of Penn Station renovation, which he characterized as suffering from "bureaucratic bungling" and urban decay. Torres urged Hochul to authorize a Public Private Partnership (P3) to overhaul the 120-year-old transit hub that serves over 600,000 passengers daily, citing the successful P3-funded completion of Moynihan Train Hall on budget and schedule as a contrasting example. Torres opposed Hochul's decision to place the MTA in charge of Penn Station's redevelopment rather than pursuing a P3 arrangement.

Hochul proposed expanding involuntary commitment criteria for mentally ill individuals as part of state budget negotiations to address New York City's mental health crisis. The Assembly omitted Hochul's involuntary commitment expansion from its one-house budget proposal while including provisions for hospital discharge planning and incident review panels following serious incidents involving mentally ill individuals. The Senate's one-house budget proposal did not detail its position on involuntary commitment but sources indicated Democrats in the chamber were willing to negotiate a compromise during ongoing budget talks.

Hochul met with President Trump at the White House on March 14, 2025, to discuss congestion pricing, Penn Station redevelopment, tariffs, and energy policy, but the two officials did not reach a formal agreement according to a statement from the governor's spokesperson. The meeting occurred amid ongoing federal opposition to New York's congestion pricing program, which the Trump administration's transportation secretary had announced would be defunded, and concurrent litigation between the state and federal government over the policy. Hochul's office characterized the discussion as productive and indicated the two would continue dialogue in the coming weeks, while the White House described the meeting as a private conversation.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos requested additional funding beyond the Department of Education's $41.2 billion budget proposal to comply with a class size law signed by Hochul in 2022 that requires maximum class sizes of 20 students in early childhood grades and 25 in high school. The chancellor told the City Council that the department would need to hire 4,000 additional educators and secure hundreds of millions in additional dollars to implement the mandate. The proposed education budget represents approximately 36 percent of the city's total $114.5 billion spending plan and would increase by nearly $820 million compared to the current fiscal year's adopted budget.

Hochul proposed expanding involuntary commitment standards in the state budget to make it easier for health-care providers to commit individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others without consent. The New York state Legislature rejected the proposal, with the Senate and Assembly budget proposals omitting the governor's initiative and the Senate proposing to instead tighten involuntary commitment rules by raising the standard to require evidence of imminent risk or already-manifested violent behavior. The rejected proposal would have provided clarification to providers on involuntary commitment procedures.

Trump convened cabinet secretaries including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday to discuss strategies for reducing energy costs. During the meeting, Trump stated he planned to meet with New York Governor Hochul on Friday to request her support for a natural gas pipeline extension from Pennsylvania to New York and New England, which he argued could reduce household heating costs by over $2,500 annually. The meeting followed the EPA's announcement of 31 deregulatory actions on Wednesday, including the initiation of a process to repeal vehicle emissions standards that would have required manufacturers to reduce average greenhouse gas emissions by 50% for light vehicles by model year 2032.

Hochul did not meet with Trump administration border czar Tom Homan during his March 12, 2025 visit to the New York State Capitol, as she was scheduled to be in New York City that morning. The visit focused on Republican legislative efforts to repeal the Green Light law, which permits undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, and to modify New York's sanctuary city policies. Hochul's administration is defending the Green Light law against a lawsuit filed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, which seeks to compel New York to share driver's license data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hochul proposed a "bell-to-bell" ban on smartphone use in schools that would prohibit students from using mobile devices during the entire school day. The New York State Senate's proposed budget resolution instead would restrict cell phone usage only during classroom or instructional time, leaving decisions about non-instructional periods to individual school districts. Hochul stated her commitment to pursuing the full-day ban, citing concerns that allowing phone use outside class would create disruptions when students return to classrooms.

Border czar Tom Homan warned that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could increase operations in New York State if Hochul did not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and change the state's sanctuary city policies. Homan stated that ICE would "double the man-force if we have to" in response to sanctuary jurisdictions and called on New York State to "change your sanctuary status." Homan praised Mayor Eric Adams's cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including Adams's plans to reopen an ICE office at Rikers Island through executive order.

Hochul's administration declared an end to an unsanctioned strike at New York prisons that had lasted several weeks, with Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello announcing on March 10, 2025 that corrections officers who failed to return to work would be terminated effective immediately. The administration fired more than 2,000 corrections officers and sergeants who did not comply with a negotiated agreement requiring 85 percent workforce return, though approximately 10,000 of the 13,500 DOCCS employees did return to their posts. The state indicated it would honor certain provisions of the strike agreement, including establishing a committee to study solitary confinement policies and measures to improve safety and working conditions for corrections officers, while National Guard troops remained deployed to backfill staffing shortages.

Hochul included a proposed change to New York's drugged driving law in her budget plan that would expand the definition of drug-impaired driving to include any substance or combination of substances that impairs physical or mental abilities, rather than requiring prosecutors to cite a specific controlled substance from the state's existing list. The current law requires authorities to identify a particular drug to charge someone with drugged driving, which proponents argue fails to address newer intoxicants such as xylazine. Hochul's proposed legislative change would be negotiated as part of the state budget discussions.

Governor Hochul, along with Senator Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to the Department of Public Service and Energy Research and Development Authority on Monday requesting an analysis of the potential impact of Ontario Premier Doug Ford's 25% tariff on energy exports to New York. The letter stated that the tariffs could drive up utility bills and create uncertainty for businesses and families. Hochul had previously expressed confidence the previous week that New York would not be targeted by Ford's threatened tariffs.

Hochul implemented the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which requires manufacturers of vehicles over 8,500 pounds to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles in New York, beginning with 7% in 2025 and escalating to 40% for tractors and up to 75% for other trucks by 2035. State Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to postpone the rule's implementation until January 1, 2027, citing challenges including insufficient charging infrastructure, extended charging times of approximately 10 hours compared to 10-minute diesel refueling, and vehicle costs up to three times higher than diesel alternatives. Environmental groups issued statements opposing the proposed delay, characterizing it as responding to manufacturer concerns rather than addressing the rule's intended public health and environmental objectives.

Hochul announced a recruitment drive in February 2025 to hire approximately 7,000 state employees, specifically targeting federal workers laid off by the Department of Government Efficiency, with digital billboards launched at Union Station in Washington D.C. and Moynihan Station in Manhattan. The recruitment effort would add hundreds of millions of dollars in annual taxpayer costs to the state payroll, which has already grown by 6 percent under her administration, bringing the workforce to 223,760 full-time equivalent employees as of October 2024. Hochul characterized federal layoffs as the result of decision-makers who know "nothing about how government works," while White House officials responded by criticizing the expansion of New York's public sector payroll.

Hochul's administration proposed a new agreement to striking New York prison correction officers on March 6, 2025, offering a 90-day suspension of certain aspects of the state's solitary confinement law, 2.5 times overtime pay for 30 days upon return to work, suspension of legal proceedings against strikers, restoration of health insurance for terminated workers, and immunity from discipline. The proposal was presented directly to workers by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, bypassing the correction officers union leadership, which declined to sign the agreement. The offer came during an ongoing wildcat strike that began February 17 and involved guards at over 30 state prisons protesting unsafe working conditions.

Hochul announced a tentative agreement with the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association on March 3, 2025, to address an ongoing wildcat strike by prison guards that had entered its 16th day. The agreement included a 90-day suspension of the HALT Act, which restricts the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, and provisions to reduce mandatory overtime shifts for corrections officers. The striking guards, who had been demanding repeal of the HALT Act and improved working conditions, continued their work stoppage despite the proposed deal, as the unsanctioned strike remained outside the union's official sanction.

Hochul's administration estimated that New York's ongoing prison guard strike was costing taxpayers $3.5 million per day, including approximately $78 million monthly for National Guard deployment to correctional facilities and $24 million monthly in overtime pay for non-striking corrections officers. The state filed a lawsuit against the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association under the Taylor Law, which prohibits public sector unions from striking, and named nearly 400 corrections officers as defendants while terminating approximately 8,000 workers believed to still be participating in the work stoppage. Hochul stated that her administration's priority was safety within the correctional system and indicated the state would deploy necessary resources to address the illegal strike.

Hochul implemented the Advanced Clean Car rule, which requires 35 percent of 2026 model cars sold in New York to be emissions-free and 100 percent by 2035, with built-in flexibility to avoid penalties according to her office. Eight members of New York's House delegation, including Democrats Joseph Morelle, John Mannion, and Tim Kennedy alongside Republicans Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler, Nick Langworthy, Nick LaLota, and Claudia Tenney, sent a letter to Hochul in February requesting reconsideration of the timeline. The lawmakers cited challenges including dealer compliance requirements, consumer readiness, and potential price increases for all vehicles under the mandate.

Hochul signed the New York Climate Change Superfund Act, which requires oil, natural gas, and coal companies to pay $75 billion for greenhouse gas emissions. A coalition of business and trade groups filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court challenging the law as unconstitutional and exceeding state authority. The plaintiffs argue the law imposes liability on fossil fuel producers for emissions outside New York and will result in increased energy costs passed to consumers.

In January 2025, Hochul rallied with five New York City district attorneys to call for reforms to the state's 2019 discovery rules, which require prosecutors to provide evidence to defense attorneys on a strict timeline or risk case dismissal. Hochul proposed a specific modification that would set a time limit for when defense attorneys can request case dismissal based on alleged evidence violations. According to Hochul, the discovery reforms have contributed to a rise in criminal case dismissals, which increased from 41 percent before the reforms to 62 percent in 2023.

Governor Hochul implemented congestion pricing in New York City, establishing a $9 toll fee for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street to generate revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This policy represented a shift from Hochul's earlier positions during her time on the Hamburg town board and in Congress, when she actively opposed toll increases on the New York State Thruway, characterizing them as economically harmful to upstate communities and businesses. Hochul had previously lobbied against toll hikes and participated in protests against toll collection practices before becoming governor and championing the congestion pricing initiative for the city.

Rep. Ritchie Torres sent a letter to Gov. Hochul urging her to include legislation banning public mask-wearing during demonstrations in the state budget expected to be adopted by April 1, 2025. Torres stated that Hochul's previous statements about supporting a mask ban were insufficient without accompanying legislation and executive orders. The congressman also accused Hochul and other New York officials of violating federal anti-discrimination law under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to prevent harassment of Jewish students on college campuses.

Hochul's office reached a mediator-negotiated agreement with the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association on February 27, 2025, to address a wildcat strike that had affected more than 30 state prisons. The deal suspends key provisions of the HALT Act, which restricted solitary confinement, for at least 90 days and commits to reducing mandatory 24-hour overtime shifts for correction officers. The agreement also requires prison officials to evaluate whether reinstating suspended elements of the law would create unreasonable risk to staff and inmates, with a review period beginning after 30 days.

Hochul made remarks dismissing New Jersey's opposition to congestion pricing, stating "What do we care what New Jersey thinks?" during a television appearance where she recalled a private meeting with President Trump in which she had used similar language to persuade him to reverse the Trump administration's decision to revoke federal approval for the toll. The Trump administration had cited New Jersey's concerns as part of the justification for withdrawing support for the $9 fee to enter Manhattan below 60th Street and issued a March 21 deadline for New York to cease toll collection. Hochul stated she would continue to resist the federal demand unless compelled by court order, noting that the toll would reduce travel time for commuters and generate revenue for transit infrastructure investment.

Hochul implemented an overhaul of New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) that consolidates payroll services for home care through a single vendor, Public Partnerships LLC, replacing approximately 700 firms previously used for this function. The administration selected Public Partnerships LLC to manage payments to workers providing care for elderly and disabled New Yorkers, with Hochul stating the transition would save $500 million. As of late February 2025, with an April 1 implementation deadline, only approximately 10 percent of the roughly 280,000 CDPAP consumers had completed the transition to the new system.

Hochul stated that she communicated to President Trump during a White House meeting that the federal government would need to provide $15 billion in funding for New York City's subway system if the congestion pricing toll is eliminated. The governor indicated that the $15 billion would be necessary to offset revenue losses from the congestion pricing program, which charges drivers a $9 fee to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Hochul announced her intention to challenge the Trump administration's March 21 deadline to cease toll collection through legal action.

Hochul unveiled a set of "guardrails" designed to limit the powers of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, including the installation of a new state inspector general to oversee the city, granting other city officials the power to file lawsuits, and increasing funding for the state comptroller's office in the city. The proposed measures, which would remain in effect until the end of 2025 and be subject to renewal, require approval from a two-thirds majority of the City Council before proceeding to the state legislature. State lawmakers expressed skepticism about the plan's effectiveness and the likelihood of its passage, while Adams indicated he would not cooperate with the proposed restrictions.

Hochul ordered the City University of New York to immediately remove a Palestinian Studies professorship job posting at Hunter College and directed CUNY to conduct a review to ensure antisemitic theories are not promoted in classrooms. The job listing, which described a position focused on critical examination of issues including settler colonialism, genocide, and human rights related to Palestine, had drawn criticism from Jewish advocacy groups. CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez and Board of Trustees Chairperson William Thompson stated the university strongly agreed with Hochul's direction and confirmed the posting had been removed.

Hochul's administration maintains sanctuary law policies that limit cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Rensselaer County joined ICE's 287(g) program in 2018, which trains local law enforcement to identify and detain individuals unlawfully present in the country for deportation proceedings. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed onto the 287(g) program in February 2025, dedicating jail cells and deputizing detectives to conduct immigration-related arrests.

Governor Hochul did not address proposed modifications to the 2021 Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT) during strikes by correction officers at approximately 30 state prisons in February 2025. The striking officers cited the solitary confinement restrictions, which limit segregation to 15 consecutive days and require inmates to spend at least four hours outside their cells daily, as a contributing factor to increased violence in facilities. Hochul deployed National Guard troops to some prisons but did not publicly address the officers' specific concerns regarding the HALT Act's provisions.

Hochul's administration moved forward with legal action against striking correction officers by having state troopers serve union members with summons over the weekend for violating a court order to return to work. The corrections department threatened to cancel health care coverage and dock pay for officers participating in the strike, which had continued for eight days in violation of New York's Taylor Law. Hochul's administration continued negotiations with a state-appointed mediator and the correction officers' union, with a spokesperson stating that talks remained ongoing.

Hochul's administration implemented the Advance Clean Cars II mandate, which requires that 35 percent of cars sold in New York in 2026 be emissions-free vehicles, with the percentage increasing annually until all vehicles are fossil fuel-free by 2035. Auto dealers have stated that the 2026 deadline is unachievable given current electric vehicle sales, which represent approximately 8 to 10 percent of new vehicle registrations, and that charging infrastructure remains insufficient to support such rapid adoption. The dealers have called for an extension of the deadline to align the mandate with market conditions and infrastructure development.

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a public statement warning Democratic governors that the Trump administration would enforce federal immigration law in their states and that governors should "comply with federal law, or you will be next." Bondi's statement was made in response to Governor Hochul's February 12 declaration that a federal lawsuit against New York for allegedly failing to comply with immigration laws would be "a total failure." The warning addressed the Trump administration's enforcement priorities regarding immigration enforcement operations across Democratic-led states including New York and Illinois.

Hochul proposed modifications to New York's evidence-sharing requirements, known as discovery rules, which would limit the time period during which defense lawyers can request case dismissals based on discovery violations. The proposal, backed by all five New York City district attorneys, aimed to reduce the number of defendants released on procedural grounds. The Legal Aid Society's analysis stated that the measure would increase wrongful convictions, citing data showing the city paid $206 million in 2024 to settle police and prosecutorial misconduct claims.

Hochul met with President Trump at the White House for over an hour to discuss New York's priorities including congestion pricing, immigration, infrastructure, economic development, energy, offshore wind, and nuclear power. During the meeting, Hochul presented Trump with a booklet detailing the early success of the congestion pricing program for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The meeting occurred one day after the Trump administration announced plans to terminate the congestion pricing scheme and as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit to block the administration's efforts to end the toll program.

Hochul temporarily shut down all live poultry markets in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County in response to a surge in avian flu cases among birds in the region. The closure was implemented after nearly 2,000 birds across five flocks tested positive for H5N1 in 2025, compared to 4,870 birds across the previous two years. Animal advocates have raised concerns that the virus could spread from infected birds to the city's estimated 500,000 stray cats, which hunt wild birds and scavenge near food sources.

Hochul announced measures on February 20, 2025, to establish oversight mechanisms for New York City government, including the creation of a new inspector general position, expanded authority for the city comptroller and public advocate to pursue legal action against federal agencies, and enhanced financial monitoring by the state comptroller. The announcement followed proposals by progressives to remove Mayor Eric Adams from office through an "Inability Committee" provision in the City Charter, which Hochul rejected. The new guardrails framework represented an alternative approach to address concerns about city governance without removing the elected mayor.

Hochul included amendments in her state budget proposal released in February 2025 authorizing the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to close up to five New York state prisons, granting the department flexibility in selecting which facilities to shutter. The proposal emerged during an ongoing illegal strike by corrections officers seeking rollback of solitary confinement restrictions and other benefits. DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martucello had stated one week prior that no closures were being projected or requested in the budget cycle.

Hochul announced that she would not remove Mayor Eric Adams from office but would implement new oversight measures to monitor his actions for the remainder of his term. These measures included installing a deputy inspector general to oversee Adams' conduct in City Hall. The announcement came amid scrutiny of Adams' cooperation with federal immigration enforcement operations in New York City.

Hochul directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to continue collecting congestion pricing tolls pending a federal court order after the Trump administration's Department of Transportation revoked federal approval of the program. The directive prompted criticism from U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer, who called for reimbursement of tolls paid by New Jersey commuters. The MTA subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation challenging the federal agency's authority to terminate the congestion pricing initiative.

Hochul announced three ethics reforms to increase state oversight of New York City following the Department of Justice's decision to dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Adams. The proposals included creating a new deputy inspector general position focused on the city, expanding litigation powers for the city comptroller and other officials, and increasing funding for oversight in the state comptroller's office, with these changes set to expire at the end of 2025. Hochul stated she would not initiate removal proceedings against Adams at that time, though she did not foreclose the possibility of doing so in the future.

Hochul stated that toll cameras for New York's congestion pricing program would remain active and that the state would not reverse the tolling scheme following the Trump administration's announcement of intent to terminate federal approval for the program. The congestion pricing toll, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, began collection in January 2025. Hochul pledged that New York would enter "fight mode" and pursue legal action to preserve the program.

The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New York State regarding the Green Light Law, enacted in 2019, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses while restricting federal immigration enforcement access to Department of Motor Vehicles records. The law prohibits federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from accessing identifying information in the DMV database without a warrant or court order and requires DMV employees to notify license-holders within three days when law enforcement views their records. Hochul characterized the lawsuit as a "worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit" and stated that New York would not back down from the legal challenge.

Governor Hochul announced at a press conference Wednesday that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would maintain its congestion pricing toll collection cameras in the Manhattan zone south of 60th Street despite the Trump administration's revocation of federal approval for the program. Hochul stated that the cameras would remain operational until a federal court ruled otherwise, and the MTA simultaneously filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court challenging the administration's decision to terminate the tolling program that had been implemented six weeks prior. The $9 toll collection continued amid confusion among commuters about the program's status following the competing directives from federal and state officials.

Hochul filed a lawsuit against correction officers conducting illegal strikes across approximately 30 state prisons, resulting in a state judge issuing an injunction on February 19, 2025, requiring the officers to return to work in violation of the Taylor Law. Hochul signed an executive order deploying more than 3,500 National Guard members to state prisons to maintain safety and security during the work stoppages. Hochul appointed mediator Martin Scheinman to facilitate negotiations with the striking correction officers while also authorizing additional overtime for staff continuing to work.

The Trump administration's Department of Transportation ordered New York to terminate the congestion pricing program through a letter from Secretary Sean Duffy to Governor Hochul in February 2025. The program charged drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street and had been implemented the previous month. Hochul stated the state would defend the program through legal proceedings, with the MTA filing a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the termination order.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed suit in federal court to challenge the Trump administration's decision to revoke approval of New York City's congestion pricing program, which charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. Governor Hochul issued a statement expressing support for the MTA's legal action and citing traffic reductions and increased business activity since the program's implementation in January 2025. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had notified Hochul that the federal Department of Transportation would work with New York State on an "orderly termination" of the tolls.

The Trump administration's Department of Transportation, through Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, withdrew federal approval of New York's congestion pricing program in February 2025, instructing the Federal Highway Administration to work with the New York State Department of Transportation on an orderly termination of the toll. The program, which had begun charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street in January 2025, became subject to this action following Trump's campaign pledge to eliminate it. Governor Hochul announced the state would pursue legal action through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's existing federal lawsuit to preserve the toll program.

Hochul assembled key leaders including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Rev. Al Sharpton for a series of meetings at her Manhattan office on Tuesday to discuss Mayor Eric Adams' future following the resignation of four deputy mayors. The meetings were convened in response to what Hochul characterized as troubling allegations surrounding Adams and the departures of senior city officials. Hochul, who holds sole authority under state law to remove a sitting New York City mayor, noted that no governor has previously exercised this power in state history.

Hochul announced on February 18, 2025, that the National Guard would be deployed to New York state correctional facilities on the following day if correction officers continued participating in illegal strikes. The deployment followed work stoppages that began at Collins and Elmira prisons on Monday in protest of working conditions, which subsequently expanded to other facilities and prompted cancellation of visitation across nine prisons. Hochul stated that National Guard members would be assigned to housing units, watchtowers, and entrances, with inmates remaining in cells during monitoring and interactions limited to meal provision.

Hochul proposed a $252 billion state budget for 2026 that includes a $30 million reduction in Medicaid funding for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy over two years. ABA is an evidence-based intervention used to treat behavioral issues in autistic children, with full Medicaid coverage having begun in 2023. The budget proposal simultaneously increases reimbursement rates for hospitals and nursing homes whose workers are represented by the 1199 SEIU union.

Hochul proposed loosening New York State's involuntary commitment standard for severely mentally ill individuals, aligning with Mayor Eric Adams' push to amend state law on involuntary treatment. The governor's proposal followed polling data indicating voter support for Adams' mental health policy approach. State legislators have resisted the proposed changes, with disagreement centered on whether involuntary commitment or expanded voluntary community mental-health programs should address the crisis of untreated severe mental illness in New York City.

Governor Hochul directed State Police to provide resources and support to the investigation into the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man found tortured and killed in upstate New York in February 2025. Prosecutors and state police announced that there was no indication at that time that the murder constituted a hate crime, noting that the victim and his alleged assailants were known to each other and identified as members of the LGBTQ community. Five individuals were charged with second-degree murder in connection with Nordquist's death.

Hochul's administration approved permits through the state Department of Environmental Conservation to expand the capacity of the 414-mile Iroquois pipeline and increase natural gas pumping into New York City and southern Connecticut to maintain adequate supply during cold weather and prevent service freezeouts. The pipeline expansion projects include compressor station upgrades in Athens and Dover Plains in the Hudson Valley and are intended to boost gas capacity to Con Edison and National Grid. As conditions of the permits, Iroquois agreed to invest $5 million in mitigation efforts including a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Fund, heat pump programs, and electric vehicle charging stations in affected areas.

Governor Hochul has refused to extradite Dr. Margaret Carpenter to Louisiana to face charges related to allegedly mailing abortion medication to a teenager, according to statements by West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton. Clayton stated that Carpenter violated Louisiana's abortion laws by mailing pills to the teen's mother without conducting a direct consultation with the patient. Hochul's position has prevented Louisiana prosecutors from apprehending Carpenter despite an arrest warrant being issued in all 50 states.

Hochul ordered an audit of executive compensation at New York utility companies, announced by the Public Service Commission on February 13, 2025, following Con Edison's proposal to increase electric bills by 11.4% and gas bills by 13.3% for its 3.6 million customers. Hochul stated the audit would ensure utility compensation structures serve New Yorkers and that utility companies prioritize delivering reliable, affordable service. The audit was initiated amid public opposition to the rate increases proposed by Con Edison.

Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, criticized Hochul's administration over New York's sanctuary status and the state's 2019 Green Light Law, which grants driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants while prohibiting the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing personal information with federal immigration authorities unless ordered by a court. Homan stated that the law prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from accessing license plate data during traffic stops in New York State. Hochul's spokesman responded by stating that New York works with federal authorities to apprehend and deport serious criminals and that the governor has deployed resources to strengthen the northern border.

Hochul banned the Chinese artificial intelligence application DeepSeek on all devices and networks in New York State. The action followed similar bans announced by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, citing national security concerns. Hochul's ban was implemented in response to concerns about the application's connections to Chinese government entities and potential risks to user data.

Hochul stated on February 13, 2025, that she did not rule out removing Mayor Eric Adams from office following allegations that Adams' legal team offered a quid pro quo arrangement with federal prosecutors to drop criminal charges in exchange for cooperation with immigration enforcement. Hochul indicated she was consulting with government officials about Adams' future and stated she needed time to process the allegations before determining an appropriate course of action. The governor's office clarified that she was carefully reviewing the allegations raised in former Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon's resignation letter.

Hochul's Office of Cannabis Management proposed reducing buffer zones between licensed cannabis dispensaries from 1,000 feet to 500 feet in communities with 20,000 or more residents, and from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet in smaller communities, while allowing hardship waivers to permit multiple operators within reduced distances. The proposal would increase the number of licensed pot shops permitted in New York neighborhoods. Licensed cannabis retailers expressed concern that the regulatory change would increase competition and destabilize existing businesses.

Hochul announced on February 13, 2025, that New York will not honor an extradition request from Louisiana for Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who was indicted by Louisiana for prescribing abortion medication to a pregnant minor. Hochul stated that honoring the request would contradict New York's shield laws designed to protect abortion providers from prosecution for treating patients in other states where abortion is restricted. Hochul also signed additional legislation the previous week to strengthen protections for abortion providers, including a bill allowing doctors to place their practice's name rather than their own on abortion medication labels.

Hochul postponed a scheduled lunch meeting with President Trump that had been planned for Thursday following the Department of Justice's filing of a lawsuit against New York State over its immigration enforcement policies. The DOJ suit, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday, challenged the state's Green Light Law, which grants driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and restricts the sharing of personal information from the Department of Motor Vehicles with federal immigration authorities absent a judicial warrant. Hochul's office responded to the lawsuit by characterizing the federal action as "dramatic" and defending the state's current legal framework as allowing federal officials access to DMV databases through proper judicial process.

Hochul held a news conference on February 11, 2025, calling Con Edison's proposed rate increases of 11.4% for electricity and 13.3% for gas "intolerable" and "shocking," and urged the state Public Service Commission to reject the hikes affecting the utility's 3.6 million customers. Hochul's statement came after mounting public outrage over the increases, which would raise annual bills by approximately $1,848 compared to five years prior. The governor did not announce a specific regulatory action or policy change, but rather made a public statement calling on the state regulator to deny the rate increase proposal.

Hochul proposed a plan to distribute $300 rebate checks to single New Yorkers earning under $150,000 annually and families earning under $300,000, at an estimated cost of $3 billion. State lawmakers, including Democratic members of the legislature, raised objections during budget discussions, with some suggesting alternative uses for the one-time funding such as pre-kindergarten programs, school tax relief, or payment toward the state's $6 billion federal unemployment insurance debt. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and others indicated that the rebate check proposal was one option among multiple potential uses for the available funds.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New York state, Governor Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV chief Mark Schroeder on February 12, 2025, challenging the state's Green Light Law, which grants driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and restricts the state DMV from sharing personal information with federal immigration authorities without a judicial order. The lawsuit argues that New York's policy obstructs federal immigration enforcement by preventing federal agencies from accessing DMV records necessary to identify and remove individuals in the country illegally. Hochul's office responded that the governor supports deporting violent criminals with judicial warrants and coordinates with federal authorities under those conditions, while state Attorney General James stated the law protects the rights of all New Yorkers and indicated she would defend it in court.

Hochul held a news conference in her Manhattan office to criticize Con Edison's proposal to increase gas and electric rates for its 3.6 million customers, which would raise electric bills by 11.4% and gas bills by 13.3% beginning in 2026. Hochul characterized the proposed rate increases as "intolerable" and "shocking," stating they would cost ratepayers approximately $1,848 more per year and undermine her planned $500 inflation rebate checks. Hochul sent a letter to Public Service Commission Commissioner Rory Christian calling for rejection of the rate hike proposal.

Hochul ordered a pause on a bill that would have changed special election rules to delay the filling of a House seat vacated by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik's resignation to become Trump's ambassador to the UN. The bill would have also applied to special elections for state legislative seats. The day after pausing the legislation, Hochul stated she had no involvement in the plan, though state Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated the effort originated with the governor.

Hochul intervened to halt Democratic legislation that would have delayed a special election to fill the House seat vacating upon Representative Elise Stefanik's expected confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The proposed legislation would have kept the seat vacant until the November general election, extending the period during which the seat would remain unfilled. Sources indicated that Hochul requested the legislature postpone action on the bill while she engaged in ongoing negotiations with President Trump regarding Manhattan congestion pricing policy.

Hochul held a press conference on February 9, 2025, to discuss the potential elimination of the Department of Education, which Trump has indicated he may pursue through executive order and legislation. Hochul stated that New York receives $5.5 billion annually from the Department of Education, with $3.2 billion going to the state budget and $2.3 billion to localities, and warned that loss of this federal funding would require local communities to increase property taxes to compensate. Hochul called on New York Republican members of Congress to take a public position on the proposed Department of Education elimination, stating they should address the impact on their constituents and schools.

Hochul issued an executive order on Friday mandating the temporary closure of all live poultry markets in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County until February 14 following the discovery of seven local bird flu cases in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Markets with confirmed infected birds were ordered to depopulate and sanitize before reopening after successful inspections, while markets without positive cases were permitted to sell remaining inventory until Monday before a mandatory five-day closure and disinfection period. Animal advocacy groups criticized the timeline, contending that the delayed shutdown would allow additional bird flu-infected shipments to reach markets before closure.

Governor Hochul announced a ban on the AI application DeepSeek from New York state government devices and networks, citing concerns about data privacy risks and potential foreign government access to user information stored on servers in China. The restriction prevents state employees from downloading DeepSeek on government-issued devices but does not apply to personal devices. Hochul's office stated the measure was implemented to protect against cyber threats, safeguard state data, and prevent state-sponsored censorship.

Hochul announced a statewide ban of the Chinese artificial intelligence application DeepSeek on all New York State government networks and devices, effective on all information technology systems managed by the state. The ban was implemented due to stated concerns about the application's potential connection to foreign government surveillance, data harvesting, and theft of technology secrets. The action aligned with a bipartisan federal initiative introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to restrict DeepSeek access on federal government devices.

Albany Democrats introduced legislation that would allow Governor Hochul to set the date of a special election to coincide with the November general election, rather than holding it within 70 to 80 days of a vacancy as required under current state law. Hochul signaled support for the legislation, which would delay special elections needed to fill congressional seats, including one expected to become vacant when Representative Elise Stefanik resigns to serve as UN ambassador. Republican lawmakers, including Representative Mike Lawler, requested that the Department of Justice investigate the legislation as a potential racketeering violation.

Trump stated in an exclusive interview that he formulated a plan to force New York to end congestion pricing in Manhattan through the federal Department of Transportation, citing potential penalties including withholding millions of dollars in federal transportation funding and reopening the environmental review process that authorized the toll. Trump indicated he had discussed the matter with Hochul in at least two phone conversations and expressed hope for a mutually beneficial deal on the unpopular $9 vehicle toll. Trump characterized congestion pricing as destructive to New York and argued that the toll had reduced traffic only because fewer people were entering the city.

Hochul announced a plan to deploy hundreds of NYPD officers to man overnight subway trains as a six-month strategy to address homelessness and crime in the transit system. The governor's initiative built upon her 2022 Mental Health Involuntary Removals directive, which authorized NYPD and other frontline workers to remove individuals by force for psychiatric evaluation when they appeared unable to meet their basic living needs. The article notes this represents Hochul's third major initiative in two years focused on street homelessness and public safety, following previous efforts that included increased patrols and National Guard deployment.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing program in January 2025 that charges motorists $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, with revenue designated to fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority construction and maintenance. The program aims to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the central business district. Hochul publicly criticized President Trump's proposed tariffs on Canadian goods while defending the congestion toll as distinct policy, drawing criticism from opponents who characterized both as taxes on economic activity.

Governor Hochul announced expanded camera coverage in New York state prisons following the release of body camera footage documenting the killing of incarcerated man Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in December 2024. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision launched a statewide prison camera program a decade prior, yet more than 30 of the state's prisons still lack full camera coverage as of early 2025, and only seven of 42 facilities have body cameras equipped on every guard on duty. Hochul's announcement included updated plans for expanded camera coverage, though the agency had been working on such updates for years prior to the Brooks incident.

Hochul stated on MSNBC that President Trump's 25% tariff on Canadian imports would harm New York businesses and consumers, citing the integrated economic relationship between New York and neighboring Canadian provinces. Hochul characterized the tariffs as an additional tax on residents and noted that retaliatory tariffs from Canada would create immediate impacts on state businesses. She emphasized that as an economic engine for the country, New York's experience with the tariff war would have ripple effects across the United States.

Hochul announced support for discovery law reforms proposed by New York City district attorneys, incorporating the changes into her $252 billion budget plan. The proposed reforms would set a 35-day deadline for defendants to challenge evidence violations, narrow the scope of materials prosecutors must turn over to focus only on evidence related to the specific charge, and require defendants to demonstrate prejudice from withheld evidence before a case can be dismissed. Hochul stated the measures were necessary to address what she characterized as case dismissals resulting from technicalities, citing a rise in criminal-case dismissals in New York City from 41 percent to 62 percent between periods before and after 2019 discovery reforms.

New York Governor Hochul stated in a social media video that she would refuse to extradite Dr. Margaret Carpenter to Louisiana in response to an indictment issued by a Louisiana grand jury charging Carpenter with criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs for allegedly prescribing abortion pills online to a pregnant minor. Carpenter and her company, Nightingale Medical, PC, were indicted on Friday by the District Court for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, with an arrest warrant issued. Hochul's declaration signaled a potential legal conflict between New York and Louisiana regarding the extradition of the doctor.

Hochul signed an executive order in her first week as governor to divest public funds from institutions that participate in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. Following the City University of New York's Professional Staff Congress approval of a divestment resolution on January 23, 2025, Hochul stated that the executive order remains in effect. Hochul declared her continued opposition to antisemitism and hate in all forms in response to the union's action.

Hochul spoke with President Trump twice during the week of January 27, 2025, including a Thursday morning call specifically focused on the congestion pricing toll implemented in Manhattan on January 5, 2025. The toll charges vehicles $9 to drive into Midtown Manhattan, with plans to increase to $15 within several years, and is designed to fund public transit infrastructure. Trump indicated he would make a decision on the congestion pricing scheme within approximately one week following their conversations.

Hochul included $13.5 million in her $252 billion budget proposal to fund cellphone restrictions in New York City schools on a "bell to bell" basis, leaving implementation to individual school districts. Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos testified before state lawmakers that the allocated funding of approximately $10 per student was insufficient, noting that magnetic locking pouches such as those manufactured by Yondr cost roughly $30 per student annually. Approximately 800 of New York City's 1,596 public schools and 274 charter schools already maintained phone restrictions at the time of the budget proposal.

Hochul stated in December 2024 that New York would release a public "list" outlining which crimes would trigger state cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, promising disclosure before the end of that year or early 2025. The promised list was not released as of late January 2025, though a Hochul spokesperson subsequently described the criteria as four broad categories derived from the 2017 sanctuary state executive order issued under then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. The four categories specified by the spokesperson included convictions for crimes, suspected immigration crimes, crimes under investigation in New York, and crimes with multinational dimensions such as trafficking.

During her State of the State address in early January 2025, Hochul announced a plan to increase police presence on New York City subway trains by posting uniformed officers on every overnight train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. over a six-month period, with the state providing financial support for the enhanced enforcement effort. The announcement followed a series of violent incidents in the subway system, including ten murders in 2024 that matched a 25-year high. Hochul stated that "the chaos must end" in response to the subway crime situation, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch subsequently clarifying that two officers would be assigned to each train.

Governor Hochul proposed spending $13 million, a nearly 300% increase in funding, in her latest budget plan to create the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters to serve as a hub for 11 regional crime analysis centers across the state. The proposal coincided with the completion of an expansion of the Suffolk County Crime Analysis Center, which received nearly $1 million in state funding to triple its size and double its staff capacity to 45 employees from multiple law enforcement agencies. The statewide network of crime analysis centers handled approximately 131,000 requests for assistance in the previous year, with the governor's office attributing a 7% reduction in reported crime on Long Island during the first nine months of the prior year to the system's capabilities.

Hochul's budget released in January 2025 projects the state will generate $161.8 million in tax revenues from legal cannabis sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, and $248 million for the following fiscal year. The projections reflect expansion of New York's legal cannabis market following regulatory improvements, including a management shake-up at the Office of Cannabis Management and increased staffing to process retail licenses. Under state law, 40 percent of cannabis tax revenue is allocated to education funding statewide, while another 40 percent supports a community reinvestment program providing grants to neighborhoods affected by cannabis prohibition.

Hochul included in her $252 billion state budget proposal an increase to the Film Production Tax Credit program's yearly cap from $700 million to $800 million, with the additional funds designated for independent films. The proposal also extends the program through 2036, an additional two-year extension, and modifies program restrictions to allow subsidies to offset salary costs for above-the-line employees such as directors and actors, while adding a supplemental 10% credit for companies completing at least three productions in the state. According to the watchdog group Reinvent Albany, the extension would cost taxpayers an estimated $1.8 billion and bring the program's total cost over its 13-year period to $9.5 billion.

Hochul implemented a $9 congestion pricing toll for drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, which charges New Jersey drivers crossing the Holland or Lincoln tunnels both the tunnel toll and the congestion toll with a $3 discount for the combined charge. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy requested that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey provide traffic and toll data to assess the impact of the congestion pricing program on bridge and tunnel crossings, citing concerns that reduced traffic could affect the Port Authority's revenue streams. The Port Authority, overseen by appointees of both Hochul and Murphy, relies on toll revenues to maintain its crossings and fund programs including PATH train service and the planned Midtown Bus Terminal.

Hochul did not include a proposal to increase the charter school cap in her $252 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, despite New York City having reached its legal limit on charter schools under state law. Charter school advocates and education officials expressed disappointment, stating that lifting the cap would require action from state lawmakers and the governor before the April 1 budget adoption deadline. The New York State United Teachers union has opposed increasing charter schools, characterizing them as competitors that divert funding from traditional public schools.

Hochul implemented a consolidation of the consumer directed personal assistance program's payroll services into a single vendor, Public Partnerships LLC, included in the previous year's budget deal, with the state projecting $504 million in savings over five years. The transition, with an April 1 deadline for approximately 250,000 caregivers to move to the new firm, had processed between 5,000 and 12,000 people as of late January 2025, representing roughly 2 to 4.5 percent of eligible participants. Existing fiscal intermediary firms filed lawsuits challenging the transition on grounds including alleged HIPAA violations and data privacy concerns.

Hochul proposed a statewide school phone ban as part of her $252 billion budget proposal that would require public and charter schools to store internet-enabled devices away from students during the school day, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Under the proposal, individual school districts would develop their own policies by August 1st, with options including locking pouches or lockers for device storage, while allowing exceptions for medical needs, translation services, and special education students. Hochul requested $13.5 million in state funding to help schools implement the ban through reimbursement for storage supplies.

Hochul included in her $252 billion spending plan a $1,200 bonus payment to pregnant welfare recipients upon the birth of a child, along with an additional $100 monthly increase in public assistance benefits for expectant mothers at a total cost of $8.5 million. The spending plan also allocated funding to distribute 10 million diapers to low-income families and established a $25 million Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant program. Hochul stated that the maternal support measures were intended to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for the state's most vulnerable households.

Hochul included a language revision in her $252 billion budget proposal unveiled in January 2025 that would replace the terms "addict" and "habitual user" with "person with a substance use disorder" throughout New York State government law and regulations. The change was presented as part of a broader plan to address the opioid epidemic, which includes an allocation of nearly $1.25 billion for substance abuse treatment through the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The proposal generated criticism from Republican lawmakers and Conservative Party officials who characterized the focus on terminology as misplaced, while some addiction treatment providers stated that reducing stigmatizing language serves a therapeutic purpose.

Hochul's administration released data indicating that New York State is home to approximately 470,100 undocumented workers, representing about 15 percent of the foreign-born workforce, as part of her $252 billion budget proposal unveiled in January 2025. An economic analysis accompanying the budget stated that deportation of undocumented immigrants could exacerbate population loss and labor shortages, with particular concern for construction, hospitality, food service, and care work sectors where foreign-born workers constitute a significant portion of employment. Hochul's report projected that removal of such workers could result in employment disruptions, construction delays, and reduced housing inventory across the state.

Hochul unveiled a $252 billion state budget proposal on January 21, 2025, that includes $3 billion in inflation rebate checks, $1 billion in income tax reductions, $800 million to expand the child tax credit, and $120 million for universal free school meals. Hochul stated during her budget address that the federal government should bear fiscal responsibility for delivering on the budget's promises, noting that states would not be able to shoulder costs independently. The budget proposal relies on approximately $5 billion in surplus revenue from higher-than-expected tax collections to fund the spending initiatives.

Hochul included a proposal in her fiscal year 2026 budget plan to extend the New York reparations commission for one additional year and allocate $5 million in funding to support its continued operations. The nine-member commission, established by Hochul in 2023, is tasked with studying possible actions to address historical inequities and discrimination faced by black New Yorkers and their descendants. The budget proposal effectively delays the commission's expected report on recommended reparations measures.

Hochul announced a $154 million surge of NYPD officers to patrol overnight subway trains between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., with an additional 750 officers posted on platforms and stations during day and night hours. The first wave of approximately 100 officers began patrols on the A, G, J, and L subway lines in January 2025, with the deployment ultimately expanding to 300 total officers. Hochul included a request for $77 million in her state budget proposal to fund the remaining half of the six-month initiative, pending approval from state lawmakers in Albany.

Hochul proposed a $252 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026, representing an increase of approximately $9 billion from the previous year. The budget includes extended "temporary" tax increases, $21 billion allocated to a rainy-day fund, $1 billion in green energy investments, and nearly $2 billion for homeownership affordability programs. The budget reflects continued reliance on Medicaid expansion spending as a primary driver of increased state expenditures.

Hochul unveiled a $252 billion executive budget proposal on January 21, 2025, representing an 8.3 percent increase from the previous year's proposal and including expansions to school aid, Medicaid funding, a middle class tax cut phased in over two years, child tax credits for families with children under sixteen, and $300 to $500 direct payments to qualifying New Yorkers. The proposal did not include a specific mechanism to address the $33 billion revenue gap in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's proposed five-year capital plan, with budget director Blake Washington indicating that funding discussions would likely occur separately during legislative negotiations. The budget also included $13 million in state funding to support school districts in implementing bell-to-bell phone restrictions during the school day, with implementation details deferred to individual districts.

Hochul proposed a "bell-to-bell" ban on smartphones and other electronic devices in New York schools as part of her budget plan unveiled in January 2025, requiring students to disconnect from devices during all school hours including class, lunch, and hallways. The proposal allocates $13.5 million to help school districts develop and implement their own policies for the ban, with schools given flexibility in how they store devices and enforce compliance. The policy includes exceptions for students requiring devices for medical reasons, English language support, or learning disabilities.

Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a congestion pricing toll of $9 on vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, which took effect on January 5, 2025. The toll prompted business owners in surrounding areas, including a Staten Island pizzeria, to offer discounts to customers affected by the new fee. The pizzeria owner reported that customers could face up to $400 in additional monthly costs from the congestion pricing charge.

Governor Hochul stated she will unveil a "statewide standard" on smartphone usage in schools as part of her executive budget proposal, following a listening tour conducted the previous year with students, parents, educators, and other stakeholders. The advocacy group Phone Free New York, which has raised six figures for its campaign, launched an effort to persuade Hochul and the state legislature to approve legislation banning mobile phone usage during the school day. Hochul's statement indicated support for advancing what she described as a "new statewide standard for distraction-free schools" as part of her budget proposal.

Hochul issued a directive on January 19, 2025, ordering all flags in New York State to be raised to full-staff on January 20 for President Trump's inauguration, temporarily suspending the half-staff positioning that had been in place following former President Jimmy Carter's death on December 29. Flags were to return to half-staff on January 21 to continue honoring Carter. Hochul stated the action recognized the American tradition of peaceful transfer of power, joining Democratic governors in California and Colorado who issued similar orders for their states.

Hochul's administration increased the estimated cost of renovating the state Capitol building's eastern approach stairs to $80 million, more than double the $41 million appropriated in her first budget and quadruple the $17 million estimate from 2014. The Office of General Services initiated a competitive procurement process to identify a contractor for the project, which has remained closed since 2015 due to structural issues including poor drainage and bulging walls. Two firms submitted bids before the October deadline, though the contract has not yet been awarded and completion is estimated to take four years.

Hochul vetoed the Toll Payer Protection Act, legislation that would have capped late fees assessed through the E-ZPass electronic tolling system. In her 2022 veto statement, Hochul stated that the measure would threaten the financial stability of the state's transportation infrastructure and protect toll non-payers rather than responsible toll payers and the roads and bridges New Yorkers rely on. The bill had received overwhelming support in the state legislature despite her rejection.

Governor Hochul listed discovery reform as the first item on her criminal justice agenda in January 2025. The discussion centered on New York's 2019 discovery law, which requires prosecutors to provide defense attorneys with all evidence "related" to a case, including materials like empty police memo books and redundant surveillance footage. Hochul's proposal addressed concerns that the existing discovery requirements had contributed to increased case dismissals and reduced prosecutions.

Hochul appointed Jessica Tisch as NYPD Commissioner, a position from which Tisch has begun addressing recidivism in New York City by initiating daily meetings with police leadership to identify repeat offenders and planning to travel to Albany to discuss changes to criminal justice reform laws. Tisch has identified discovery law burdens on prosecutors and declining prosecution decisions by district attorneys as factors contributing to repeat offenses, and has announced plans to increase police presence on city streets as an initial response to the issue. The appointment followed the January 2025 stabbing death of a teenager by an individual with a history of prior arrests, which Tisch cited as illustrating the need for systemic changes to address the cycling of repeat offenders through the criminal justice system.

Hochul signed the Climate Superfund Act into law, which imposes a $3 billion annual tax on fossil-fuel companies for 25 years to fund climate-related projects under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Hochul delayed implementation of the "cap and invest" tax on fossil-fuel corporations, which had been expected to be announced in her State of the State address. Both revenue mechanisms are designed to support New York's goal of reducing statewide greenhouse-gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050.

Hochul announced continued increases to education funding while implementing the statewide "Back To Basics" reading plan and measures to limit social media's influence on students. The announcement came after the Citizens Budget Commission released a report showing New York spent $89 billion on public schools in the 2024-25 academic year, or $36,293 per student, yet saw test scores decline further than the national average. Hochul had previously indicated openness to scaling back funding for schools with declining enrollment but reversed that position.

Hochul announced a postponement of New York's "cap and invest" program during her 2025 State of the State address, delaying implementation by at least one year. The program, a key component of the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050, was designed to tax fossil fuel companies for carbon pollution and use revenue for green energy initiatives. Hochul directed the state Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Energy Research and Development Authority to gather additional data on emission sources and develop new rules for the program.

Hochul announced a subway safety deployment plan involving hundreds of NYPD officers stationed on overnight trains between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., with two officers assigned to each of approximately 150 overnight trains at full capacity. The deployment began rolling out in phases starting Monday, January 20, 2025, with an initial 100 officers, with the expectation that all 300 overnight train officers would be in place by the end of the month, supplemented by 750 additional officers posted in stations and platforms during day and night hours. The six-month initiative carries a $154 million price tag to be funded by the state, with $77 million allocated from the current fiscal year budget and the remainder to be requested from the Legislature.

During her January 14, 2025 State of the State address, Hochul announced a plan to post NYPD officers on every overnight subway train from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. over the next six months, with state financial support, though cost details were not provided. She also proposed changes to state discovery laws to make it more difficult for criminal cases to be dismissed on technicalities and outlined plans to address mental illness in the subway system. Additional proposals included funding LED lighting for all subway stations and a detailed plan on restricting phone usage in public schools.

Hochul proposed a plan to provide free breakfast and lunch to all New York students regardless of family income, which would extend free meals to approximately 300,000 additional students and make New York the ninth state with a universal free lunch program. Hochul vetoed the Good Food NY legislation, which had passed the Legislature and would have removed the requirement for schools to accept the lowest responsible bid for food purchases, thereby enabling local governments to source healthier meals and allow smaller local farms to compete for institutional contracts. The governor framed the universal meal proposal as part of a broader affordability initiative for families while acknowledging it could reduce household grocery expenses by approximately $165 monthly per child.

During her State of the State address on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Hochul announced a plan to deploy police officers on every overnight subway train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. over a six-month period, with the state allocating $77 million to support the initiative. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated the deployment would place two officers on every overnight train in addition to existing National Guard and police patrols. The announcement left unspecified key implementation details including the exact start date and operational procedures for the expanded subway enforcement effort.

Hochul announced plans to present affordability-focused proposals during her State of the State speech on Tuesday, including an increase to the child tax credit, subsidies for child care access, free school breakfasts and lunches, and direct payments to families earning under $300,000 annually. Republican critics characterized the proposals as inconsistent with Hochul's prior support for policies including a $9 congestion toll for Manhattan and a $68 billion MTA capital plan. The governor's affordability agenda comes as she seeks to address public dissatisfaction with Democratic policies ahead of her anticipated 2026 reelection campaign.

Hochul implemented a $9 congestion toll in Manhattan's central business district south of 60th Street that took effect on January 5, 2025, following a pause she had announced in June 2024. The toll was designed to generate revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital program. Law enforcement vehicles, including those used as security details for city officials, received exemptions from the toll under the MTA's emergency vehicle exemption plan.

Hochul's proposed state transportation budget allocates 7.8% of annual funding to Long Island, a significant reduction from the region's historical average of approximately 23%. The allocation shifts funding distribution substantially, with Buffalo and Western New York receiving 40.1%, New York City 13.6%, and the Hudson Valley 9.6% of the state's transportation budget. Local officials and trade groups have requested clarification on the methodology behind the funding changes and have advocated for alternative proposals including increased DOT funding and restoration of suburban highway improvement programs.

Hochul announced a "cap and invest" climate program during her State of the State address that requires oil companies to pay for greenhouse gas emissions, with proceeds directed toward green initiatives such as building electrification. The program establishes a cap on carbon emissions and creates a market-based investment mechanism to fund clean energy transition efforts. According to analyses cited in the article, the program could increase gas prices by an estimated 12 cents per gallon in the near term and potentially 22 cents per gallon by 2027.

Hochul announced a proposal to expand free breakfast and lunch offerings to all public school students in New York as part of her State of the State address, reversing her position after allowing similar legislative proposals to expire during budget negotiations in the previous two years. The program would provide universal meal access across all public schools, though the governor's office did not provide a cost estimate at the time of announcement, with previous estimates suggesting an annual state cost of approximately $280 million. Legislation enacting a universal free school meals program had been sponsored by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey and Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas for several years prior to Hochul's announcement.

Licensed cannabis retailers operating in New York City filed a civil complaint in Manhattan state Supreme Court on January 10, 2025, challenging decisions by the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board, both overseen by Hochul, to grant waivers allowing competitor dispensaries to operate within the state-mandated 1,000-foot buffer zone between retail locations. The plaintiffs, four licensed marijuana merchants, alleged that regulators approved the waivers "without notice, analysis, public discussion or due process" in violation of state law. The lawsuit seeks to block the waivers, which the retailers contend will divert customers and diminish sales, jeopardizing their financial viability.

Hochul proposed modifications to New York state budget measures designed to restrict institutional investors from purchasing residential properties during the first 75 days of market listing. The proposal also included provisions to eliminate certain tax benefits, including interest deductions, for firms acquiring homes significantly above market value. Hochul announced these measures as part of a broader set of economic proposals intended to address housing costs in the state.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing plan that charges motorists a $9 toll to drive into Manhattan south of 61st Street, which took effect on January 8, 2025. The City Club of New York, which had sued Hochul's administration to implement an earlier version of the plan after the governor paused its rollout, supported the toll's launch as a means to reduce traffic congestion and encourage public transportation use. The plan has generated criticism regarding its financial impact on working-class New Yorkers and concerns about safety in the subway system that the policy directs riders toward.

Hochul's congestion pricing plan, which began charging $9 per day for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, resulted in NYPD enforcement actions that yielded 195 summonses, 3 arrests, and 27 vehicle seizures during a two-day period beginning January 7, 2025. The summonses included 81 citations for obscured or improper license plates, along with tickets for tinted windows, unregistered vehicles, and other moving violations. The enforcement action represents the initial implementation phase of the toll collection system in the congestion zone established south of Central Park.

Hochul is considering increasing the payroll mobility tax on businesses to help address a $33 billion budget deficit at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, according to sources familiar with the governor's deliberations. The potential tax increase would come after the state implemented congestion pricing tolls of $9 for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, which began on January 5, 2025. Hochul's office has not publicly released details about the specific revenue measures being considered to fund the MTA's $68 billion capital plan.

Hochul stated that she is seeking a comprehensive plan from district attorneys regarding modifications to New York's discovery process, which governs how prosecutors share evidence with defense lawyers. The governor indicated that prosecutors had previously proposed changes that did not advance, and she requested that district attorneys develop a detailed plan for her consideration. Hochul's statement came as State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblyman Micah Lasher introduced legislation aimed at streamlining the evidence-sharing process to address concerns that criminal case dismissals have increased since 2019 discovery reforms took effect.

Hochul's congestion pricing toll, which began on January 5, 2025, charges $9 for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours and does not exempt funeral home vehicles. Funeral directors stated they plan to pass the congestion toll cost to families arranging funerals, as hearses and other vehicles transporting the deceased are subject to the same fee as other motorists. The toll has prompted various businesses and service providers across New York City to adjust their pricing structures in response to the new transportation cost.

Hochul championed the congestion pricing toll, a $9 fee implemented in January 2025 for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours, which became the first congestion pricing program in the United States. The toll was jointly promoted by Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as a policy measure for the region. The implementation of the toll prompted criticism from local officials and residents who cited concerns about increased costs on drivers and businesses in the affected area.

Governor Hochul, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, implemented congestion pricing in Manhattan on January 5, 2025, charging vehicles $9 to drive below 60th Street during peak hours. The policy became effective the day before Lyft, which owns Citi Bike, announced a price increase on its bike rental service. Hochul's administration had previously approved the congestion pricing program despite concerns raised by various stakeholders including unions and local businesses about its potential impacts.

Hochul endorsed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $68 billion five-year capital plan in fall 2024 despite an unaccounted-for $33 billion funding gap. Hochul stated on Monday that the legislature was responsible for proposing new taxes and fees to address the shortfall, while pledging not to raise income taxes in 2025. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins formally objected to the capital plan taking effect on January 1, 2025, allowing them to negotiate its size and funding sources during state budget discussions.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing toll that took effect on January 5, 2025, charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours, with reduced rates of $2.25 during off-peak hours and differentiated rates for trucks and motorcycles. The toll applies during peak hours from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, making New York the first jurisdiction in the United States to implement such a congestion-based tolling system. The policy generates revenue through vehicle tolls collected from drivers entering the congestion pricing zone in Lower and Midtown Manhattan.

Hochul implemented a congestion pricing plan that began on January 5, 2025, charging vehicles $9 per day to drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., with differentiated rates for motorcycles at $4.50, small trucks at $14.40, and large trucks at $21.60. Taxis and rideshare vehicles received reduced rates of 75 cents and $1.50 per ride respectively, while drivers without E-ZPass would receive notices in the mail with a higher fee. The toll structure applied regardless of whether drivers traveled through the congestion zone or continued northward, affecting drivers on the Queensboro Bridge and surrounding areas.

Hochul implemented a $9 congestion pricing toll for vehicles traveling below 60th Street in Manhattan during peak hours, which began on January 5, 2025. The toll requires drivers entering the designated zone to pay the fee, with the stated goal of reducing traffic congestion in lower Manhattan. Critics have raised concerns that the pricing will redirect vehicle traffic to neighborhoods north of the toll zone and in outer boroughs, potentially exacerbating parking shortages and traffic congestion in those areas.

Hochul approved legislation requiring oil, natural gas, and coal companies to contribute $75 billion toward carbon emissions mitigation. State Board of Elections records show Hochul took at least 30 private jet flights since 2021, with costs of $415,000 paid by her campaign committee, including flights to destinations such as the Hamptons, Montauk, Washington D.C., and New Orleans. The majority of these flights occurred in 2022 during her re-election campaign against former GOP Representative Lee Zeldin.

Hochul announced plans to introduce new legislation during the coming legislative session to reform New York's involuntary commitment rules and expand access to mental health treatment under Kendra's Law, which allows court-ordered outpatient treatment for individuals with serious mental illness. The governor indicated these proposals would be specified in her executive budget and noted her administration has already implemented several mental health initiatives, including publishing new discharge planning regulations, creating the SCOUT program that has assisted over 750 individuals, and opening over 700 inpatient psychiatric beds with additional capacity planned. Hochul stated she intends to work with lawmakers on these changes while also considering making Kendra's Law permanent beyond its current 2027 sunset date and amending the no-bail law to include a dangerousness standard.

Hochul announced on January 3, 2025, that she would introduce legislation in the state budget to expand New York's involuntary commitment standards for individuals with mental illness, changing the definition to ensure more people receive care when their condition poses risk of serious harm. She also proposed separate legislation to modify Kendra's Law, which allows courts to order certain individuals into Assisted Outpatient Treatment, and to simplify the process for voluntary participation in such treatment. Hochul stated that detailed specifications of the proposals would be released when she unveiled her executive budget proposal on January 21, 2025.

Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority proceeded with implementing congestion pricing in Manhattan beginning January 5, 2025, charging $9 during peak hours and $2.25 during off-peak hours for vehicles entering the area south of 60th Street. The implementation occurred despite a federal court ruling by Judge Leo Gordon that cited shortcomings in environmental mitigation planning for New Jersey communities affected by the toll, though the judge did not explicitly order a halt to the program. New Jersey sought further clarification from the court on Friday regarding the judge's decision, challenging whether the toll could legally proceed given the identified deficiencies in the environmental review process.

Hochul implemented the congestion pricing toll, which began at midnight on January 5, 2025, requiring drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street to pay a peak fee of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The policy includes no exemptions for city employees, including emergency medical technicians and paramedics employed by the FDNY. The toll structure resulted in the union representing approximately 4,100 city EMTs and paramedics urging workers assigned to Manhattan stations to transfer to facilities outside the congestion pricing zone.

Hochul implemented congestion pricing in Manhattan starting January 5, 2025, charging vehicles between $9 and $27 to enter the area south of 60th Street, with higher rates for trucks and vans. The policy established peak period charges of $21.60 for large trucks and tour buses, a $2.50 surcharge for yellow taxi trips in the congestion zone, and a daily charge cap for cars while allowing unlimited charges for commercial vehicles. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority projected the pricing would reduce the approximately 700,000 daily vehicles entering the zone by around 100,000.

Hochul appointed Bennie Thorpe as the new superintendent of Marcy Correctional Facility, replacing interim superintendent Danielle Madbury following an inmate death at the facility. Thorpe, who currently heads Shawangunk Correctional Facility and has approximately 20 years of New York prison experience, was selected to bring what Hochul characterized as expertise and a fresh perspective to the position. The appointment occurred as Attorney General Letitia James recused her office from investigating the death of inmate Robert Brooks and appointed Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick as special prosecutor to oversee the case.

New York implemented a paid prenatal leave policy effective January 1, 2025, requiring private sector employers to provide at least 20 hours of paid medical leave for prenatal care appointments. Governor Hochul championed the measure during the state's last legislative session as a means to reduce maternal and infant mortality in New York. The policy designates New York as the first state to offer paid leave specifically for prenatal medical appointments, with coverage extending to physical examinations, end-of-pregnancy care, and fertility treatments.

Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act, legislation that charges oil and gas companies up to $75 billion for pollution emissions occurring between 2000 and 2018, with revenues directed toward infrastructure projects damaged by severe weather. The bill establishes a mechanism to assign historical pollution costs to energy producers operating in New York during the specified period. Energy and economic analysts cited in the article stated the legislation could result in increased energy costs for New York households and businesses.

Hochul signed legislation in November 2024 that repealed New York's adultery law, which had criminalized infidelity as a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. The statute had remained on the books for 117 years despite being rarely enforced in recent decades. Hochul stated that matters of infidelity should be handled by individuals rather than through the criminal justice system.