All Roll Calls
Yes: 205 • No: 1
New YorkA 107602025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Provides for emergency appropriation for the period April 1, 2026 through April 7, 2026
Sponsored By: J. Gary Pretlow (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
WAYS AND MEANSRULES
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Medicaid spending cap allows benefit changes
Subject to federal approval, state-funded Health Department Medicaid spending is capped at $36.0992 billion for April 1, 2026–March 31, 2027. The cap excludes specified state mental health, addiction, and developmental disability facility services and payments outside Health Department appropriations. The budget director can adjust it for federal matching rates, provider revenues, local payments, minimum wages, disaster costs, and specified state health programs. Officials must review projected spending quarterly and make a savings plan when spending is expected to exceed the cap. The plan can change payment methods, rates, premiums, fees, or approval timelines, and modify or end benefits after required legal steps. Changes must follow federal law and Medicaid rules, obtain required approvals, and protect federal funding where practical. Reductions should be uniform where practical; officials must explain differences and avoid unnecessary paperwork where practical. The Health Department must post the plan and notify legislative budget committees at least 30 days before implementation. Defined public health emergencies allow faster action, and quarterly public reports must explain spending, risks, actions, and regional and service impacts.
Funding for Medicaid care and medicines
For April 1, 2026–March 31, 2027, New York provides $609.931 million for Medicaid services and expenses. This includes $24.238 million for inpatient care and safety-net hospitals, $7.249 million for outpatient and emergency care, and $14.198 million for clinics. It also includes $35.685 million for nursing homes, $169.986 million for other long-term care, and $155.710 million for managed care. Other funding includes $3.770 million for health homes, $71.926 million for medicines, $10.332 million for transportation, and $79,000 for dental care. The law also provides $20.604 million for noninstitutional and other spending, plus $96.154 million for care at specified state facilities. Funds can cover local administration, child care agency medical rates, school health claims, earlier unpaid costs, court settlements, and primary-care or health-record grants. Distressed hospital aid follows state criteria; spending on drugs not authorized by law or regulation requires budget director approval. The law also allows payments for medicines for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, insurance-data checks to identify other payers, and Medicaid pharmacy management. Budget officials can move Medicaid funds among agencies, including toward licensed community behavioral health programs when inpatient services shrink. Specified budget-year funding replaces duplicate appropriations rather than adding to them.
Funding supports developmental disability community care
For the budget year beginning April 1, 2026, New York provides $10.098 million for developmental disability community services. This includes $5.862 million for residential care, $1.440 million for day programs, and $1.620 million for family support. It also provides $936,000 for workshops, training, and employment, plus $240,000 for services such as care-at-home, epilepsy care, and Special Olympics New York. Up to $13,800 of employment funding can transfer to ACCES-VR for FEDCAP's long-term sheltered employment program. State aid can cover up to 100% of day-training and family-support programs' net deficit costs. Funds can reimburse or advance localities and nonprofits, cover voluntary agency loan expenses, or transfer to state operations with budget director approval. Eligible local fiscal periods begin January 1, April 1, or July 1, 2026; advances also cover January–March 2027. Direct support staff in approved programs can perform agency-specified tasks under registered nurse training, supervision, and periodic inspection. Those tasks must match care ordered by an authorized practitioner.
Help for disability family care homes
Beginning April 1, 2026, community services funds can pay for general services, including respite, at certified family care homes. These service payments cover up to 14 days, at commissioner-set rates approved by the budget director. Funds can also cover residents' personal needs in amounts set by the commissioner. Home operators can receive payments for property damage caused by clients. Damage payments must follow commissioner-set standards approved by the budget director; the law sets no reimbursement amount.
Housing help for developmental disability residents
Beginning April 1, 2026, developmental disability funds can cover direct housing subsidies, home changes, adaptive technology, and provider start-up costs. They can also cover appraisals, property options, feasibility studies, and costs before services open. People enrolled in OPWDD's self-direction program can receive housing, continuity-of-care, family-reimbursed respite, and nonstaff supports through an agency-approved budget. OPWDD can also provide aid, loans, or grants to develop supportive housing reserved for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Development funding follows commissioner-set terms and carries a property lien for the funded amount, lasting up to 30 years or longer if another agency requires it.
Funding supports unemployment checks for workers
New York provides $135 million for unemployment benefits for the state budget year beginning April 1, 2026. Payments must be authorized by New York's unemployment law or a federally funded unemployment program. Federal programs can include disaster assistance and extended benefits. The appropriation does not set a new weekly benefit amount or payment duration.
State workers get bridge payroll funding
New York provides $247.904 million for executive-branch payrolls scheduled for April 1–7, 2026, including earlier unpaid obligations. Covered workers include those in state-operated special employment, work-for-pay, and sheltered-workshop programs. Another $22.525 million covers employer obligations: $21.500 million for Social Security and $675,000 for the metropolitan commuter transportation tax. That tax funding covers state employees working in the tax district. The remaining $350,000 covers state retirement contributions for eligible employees who choose the voluntary plan and cannot join SUNY's optional retirement program.
Disability school aid has payment limits
Beginning April 1, 2026, community funds can reimburse private residential schools for services to people with developmental disabilities over age 21. In-state and out-of-state schools can receive payments for residential and day services. Residential and maintenance payments must be reduced by any Supplemental Security Income for which the person is eligible. Day-service reimbursement cannot exceed the maximum for appropriate services from other OPWDD-approved providers unless the budget director authorizes more.
Funding pays food assistance already owed
Beginning April 1, 2026, New York provides $6.420 million in federal funds for food and nutrition assistance already owed. This funding pays assistance that has already accrued. It does not create new eligibility or change benefit amounts.
Funding supports homeless veterans and advising
For the state budget year beginning April 1, 2026, New York provides $36,000 for homeless veterans' housing services. The money comes from the Homeless Veterans Assistance Account and covers services and related costs. The law also provides a separate $36,000 for veterans' benefits advising. It does not set a per-person housing payment or explain how housing funds are distributed.
Funding pays early April agency bills
New York provides $10 million for executive-branch operating bills other than payroll incurred during April 1–7, 2026. Bills must arise from ordinary agency business and support purposes authorized for the 2025–2026 budget year. This pays agency obligations and their payees, rather than creating household benefits.
Resident funds can pay disability care
Beginning April 1, 2026, directors of facilities licensed but not operated by OPWDD can continue using residents' funds for care. A director must be the resident's federally appointed representative payee responsible for managing those funds. Spending must cover that resident's care and treatment and follow federal law and regulations. This does not create a new payment to residents.
Disability provider inflation increases stay limited
For April 1, 2025–March 31, 2026, the law bars additional inflation-based increases in developmental disability provider rates and contracts. The restriction covers cost-of-living increases and inflation or trend factors. It preserves the 2.6% targeted increase authorized in a 2025 law. Earlier adjustments from resetting base-year costs remain allowed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
J. Gary Pretlow
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/31/2026
FLOOR Vote
Yes: 60 • No: 0
House vote • 3/31/2026
Assembly floor vote
Yes: 145 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
SIGNED CHAP.98
3/31/2026HouseDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
3/31/2026HouseRETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
3/31/2026SenatePASSED SENATE
3/31/2026Senate3RD READING CAL.660
3/31/2026SenateSUBSTITUTED FOR S9630
3/31/2026SenateREFERRED TO RULES
3/31/2026SenateDELIVERED TO SENATE
3/31/2026HousePASSED ASSEMBLY
3/31/2026HouseMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - 3 DAY MESSAGE
3/31/2026HouseMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - APPROPRIATION
3/31/2026HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.90
3/31/2026HouseRULES REPORT CAL.90
3/31/2026HouseREPORTED
3/31/2026HouseREPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
3/31/2026HouseREFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
3/30/2026House
Bill Text
Original
3/30/2026
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