Budget & Taxes

passed · New York · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 5563: Allows for the examination of industrial development agencies and not-for-profit corporations by county comptrollers

Bill S 5563 allows county comptrollers to conduct audits of specific organizations located within their county. This includes examining projects and actions undertaken by industrial development agencies (IDAs). It also permits audits of not-for-profit corporations that are affiliated with, sponsored by, or created by county, city, town, or village governments. In counties without a comptroller, the chief elected official would designate either the budget director or finance director to perform these audits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables county comptroller audits of IDAs and nonprofits, promoting fiscal oversight and accountability in government spending management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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failed · New York · Assembly May 18, 2026

A 2531: Provides for an annual growth amount for tuition and regional rate reimbursement for approved school-age and preschool special education programs

This bill sets an annual growth rate for tuition and reimbursement payments to schools and programs serving students with disabilities. It directly affects private schools, special act school districts, and approved preschool programs providing special education services for school-age and preschool children with disabilities. The key provision ties future rate increases to the difference between current and base-year public school funding levels, but ensures rates never decrease (the growth rate is the greater of this difference or zero). This creates a predictable, inflation-linked funding mechanism for these specialized education programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual funding increases for special education programs via tuition/reimbursement growth tied to public school funding, ensuring no decreases. Directly funds essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes annual tuition/reimbursement growth for special education programs, ensuring funding increases never decrease, directly advancing educational access for students with disabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding Special Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4037: Adds certain human services programs to the designated human services programs eligible for a cost of living adjustment

This bill requires a 7.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for specific human services programs starting April 2026. It applies to providers under New York’s offices of mental health, developmental disabilities, and addiction services, including programs like supported housing, crisis services, and substance abuse treatment. The COLA must be used to fund at least a 1.7% targeted salary increase for eligible staff at local providers and direct contract agencies. The adjustment replaces other inflation-based increases for these programs, except for federal pandemic relief funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 7.8% COLA funding for human services programs, requiring salary increases for staff at state-funded providers.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds substance abuse treatment and mental health services - key rehabilitation programs linked to criminal justice reform that reduce recidivism and improve outcomes.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 7.8% COLA for mental health/addiction services with 1.7% staff salary funding, directly advancing healthcare program resources and staffing.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds supported housing programs via COLA for staff salaries, advancing housing services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 18, 2026

S 1385: Relates to increasing solar energy tax credits, implementing a solar STAR credit, and amends provisions relating to the siting of major renewable energy facilities

Increases solar energy tax credits; implements a solar STAR credit; amends provisions relating to the role of municipalities in siting of major renewable energy facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases solar energy tax credits and implements a solar STAR credit, directly advancing tax policy through targeted tax relief for renewable energy investments.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyIncreases solar tax credits and implements solar STAR credit, directly advancing renewable energy adoption and infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3915: Extends the duration of certain brownfield redevelopment and remediation tax credits for certain sites

Extends the duration of certain brownfield redevelopment and remediation tax credits with respect to a site located within the Renaissance Commerce Park situate within the city of Lackawanna, Erie county.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax credits for brownfield redevelopment, providing tax relief and fiscal incentives under Budget & Taxes policy framework.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1727: Enacts The New Deal for CUNY

Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state/city funds replace tuition, increasing public funding for CUNY's faculty and mental health services, directly advancing state budget allocation for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases faculty/mental health ratios and replaces tuition with public funds, directly boosting higher education funding and access at CUNY.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases mental health counselor staffing at CUNY, directly supporting mental health services per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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died · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 1733: Creates a program to assist municipalities with water quality improvement of water bodies within the municipality managed by lake associations

Bill S 1733 creates a new program to help municipalities improve water quality in water bodies managed by lake associations within their jurisdiction. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will establish this program to identify water quality concerns, determine effective remediation strategies, and assist with best practices for maintaining water quality. Additionally, the DEC will create a grant program to provide financial assistance to municipalities for remedial actions. The department is authorized to develop rules and regulations to implement these provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates DEC grant program for municipal water quality remediation, directly funding state budget allocation for environmental programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates DEC program with grants to improve municipal water quality through remediation strategies, directly advancing environmental protection of water bodies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3664: Provides elderly individuals water relief in N.Y. city

This bill, S 3664, freezes future water rate increases for eligible elderly homeowners in New York City. It applies to residents aged 65+ who own their primary residence (a 1-4 family home), have household income under $50,000 for two consecutive tax years (starting 2019), and verify this through the city tax department. The exemption prevents these homeowners from paying higher water rates due to future rate hikes, though the city can temporarily suspend it during droughts or water emergencies. The policy takes effect July 1, 2027, and does not affect eligibility for other existing water bill discounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides rate freeze relief for low-income elderly homeowners ($50k income), reducing their financial burden similar to tax relief for targeted group.90% confidence

Tags Seniors

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6334: Expands the healthcare services provided by telehealth

This bill requires health insurers and government programs to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate and under the same conditions as in-person care, directly affecting telehealth providers and patients accessing remote healthcare. It specifically ensures mental health services delivered via telehealth (under mental hygiene law) are reimbursed at full in-person rates unless a commissioner deems them inappropriate. The bill excludes reimbursement for facility fees or clinic costs not incurred during telehealth visits, as these typically apply to in-person settings. It also notes that new telehealth service types or audio-only calls require federal funding approval. The changes expire 60 days after enactment, aligning with the original law's expiration.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates government programs to reimburse telehealth at full in-person rates, increasing funding for telehealth services (a public service) and advancing government spending on essential healthcare.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal reimbursement for telehealth vs in-person care, expanding access and specifically supporting mental health services via telehealth reimbursement at full rates.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates equal reimbursement for telehealth services vs in-person care, advancing technology use in healthcare delivery and promoting digital access to medical services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Telehealth

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3531: Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; appropriation

Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; rewards volunteer firefighters who respond to twenty-five percent of emergency calls for eight years with a student loan award equal to four times the SUNY tuition rate; makes an appropriation therefor.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for firefighter scholarship program, directly advancing budgetary funding for public safety personnel and education support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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