State Leaders Signaling Budget Agreement Possibly Near
The Situation Report | April 28, 2025
State legislative leaders and the Governor’s office are signaling that an agreement on a new state budget for the 2025-26 state fiscal year may finally be near.
Budget negotiators met throughout the weekend to progress on outstanding issues, as well as to try to button down standard parts of the budget to prepare for overall finalization of the massive budget bills when able to be closed out. Although the discussions were primarily held behind closed doors, HCANYS and HCANYS' government relations team fielded questions when asked, and meanwhile kept our rallying for HCANYS 2025-2026 State Budget Priorities at every opportunity as we have done throughout the budget session.
As of this morning (April 28), there were no new revelations on funding items or levels, and in relevant cases, also no new revelations on accompanying language for such items, as budget negotiators were still wrestling with substantive issues.
Literally all of the items outlined in our 2025-2026 State Budget Priorities document are still at play and HCANYS will continue to press for all of them as windup toward final budget continues, and as the opportunity windows remain open.
The budget delay has been attributed to overarching issues and differences between the Governor and Legislature on priority items that have included: the Governor’s “Bell-to-Bell” restrictions on cell phone use in schools; mandatory confinement for mental health; criminal justice discovery laws; prohibitions on masks; and other predominately non-health items.
New Emerging Items
During the protracted budget period, however, and particularly in these final days and hours of negotiations, other items can newly arise of a highly consequential nature to society, government or the health system in particular, and this year appears to be no exception.
Media outlets have reported that discussions of potential new or increases in taxes on businesses of $10 million or more in the downstate region to support MTA funding. No details have been shared at this time; however, considering the consequence of the proposal to health care employers, HCANYS is vigilantly tracking this, attempting to learn what we can, and to weigh in accordingly.
Also, “Medical Aid in Dying” legislation A.136/S.138, was reported last week in NY media to potentially be under consideration for an attempt at passage during this time, and indeed the Assembly version, A.136 is on an Assembly Health Committee agenda being called off the Floor in the Assembly today. HCANYS is likewise tracking and will determine if these bills are actually being advanced with intent to pass simultaneously with the state budget.
These are among the examples of the major issues and items that can arise at this time of the budget process, and then again, especially near the end of session in June (but ultimately, any time!) and why vigilance by HCANYS and our grassroots membership is so critical.
Starting last fall, and again in January, HCANYS reached out to ALL HCA MEMBERS to request a designee from each agency to serve as the agency’s point person for HCANYS government relations working group to receive high level advocacy alerts, call-to-action, call-to-meeting, and other essential advocacy engagement. Many members have yet to register their point person. If your agency has not yet done so, please sign up here; if you are not sure, please contact HCANYS Assistant Vice President for Policy and Advocacy Jan VanDeCarr
HCANYS will keep members closely apprised of these newest developments as well as any other major emerging issues as the state budget process progresses to finalization, and ultimately, on HCANYS' session-long 2025-2026 State Budget Priorities.