All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 1
New YorkS 101662025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Provides for emergency appropriation for the period April 1, 2026 through May 6, 2026
Sponsored By: José M. Serrano (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
RULESWAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
32 provisions identified: 26 benefits, 4 costs, 2 mixed.
More funding for New York Medicaid
New York increases its Medical Assistance Program funding from $8.449731 billion to $10.409681 billion. The money pays municipalities and qualifying providers for past or future program costs. It also supports local administration and medical-care rates for authorized child-care agencies. Payments need federal approval where required. This funding increase does not itself change anyone's eligibility or benefit amount.
More funding for affordable housing services
For the 2026–2027 budget year, affordable housing service funding rises from $384.616 million to $480.770 million. Funds and available federal matching money can move to specified state agencies and housing organizations. Transfers require budget director approval and an allocation adjustment submitted by the health commissioner. Spending must consider where grants go. The law does not set a household housing payment or eligibility rule.
More funding for public transit systems
Beginning April 1, 2026, New York funds listed transit and commuter rail systems through its transit operating assistance fund. A new General Fund appropriation provides $42.53615 million, while dedicated operating funding rises from $48.325 million to $61.36025 million. Payments under those two appropriations require a financial plan approved by the budget director. Eligible additional systems receive formula-based aid tied to service and use, with budget director approval where required. Another $13.138 million goes into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's protected central business district tolling capital fund; no fare reduction is set.
More funding for community disability services
Beginning April 1, 2026, community developmental disability funding rises from $615.555 million to $760.608 million. Within it, the state or local medical assistance share rises from $560.016 million to $700.02 million. Payments cover local fiscal periods starting January 1, April 1, or July 1, 2026, with advances for January–March 2027. State aid can cover up to 100% of net deficits in day training and family support programs. Transfers to state operations or another disability agency appropriation need budget director approval.
More funding for noninstitutional Medicaid services
For 2026–27, Medicaid funding for noninstitutional services and other spending rises from $103.02 million to $123.624 million. Federal funding for this spending rises from $719.22 million to $899.025 million. Both appropriations can pay bills owed from before or after the appropriation. The law does not set an individual payment or service amount.
More Medicaid funding for state facilities
For 2026–27, Medicaid funding for care at state-operated facilities rises from $480.77 million to $576.924 million. Covered facilities provide mental health, developmental disability, and addiction services. The funding supports medical care there, but does not set a payment or guaranteed service increase for each patient.
More Medicaid hospital and clinic funding
For 2026–27, New York raises Medicaid funding for hospital and clinic care without changing individual eligibility or benefit amounts. Inpatient funding rises from $121.19 million to $145.428 million; federal funding rises from $303.54 million to $379.425 million. Outpatient and emergency-room funding rises from $36.245 million to $43.494 million; federal funding rises from $54.096 million to $67.62 million. Clinic funding rises from $70.99 million to $85.188 million; federal funding rises from $87.588 million to $109.485 million. These funds support care providers, not cash payments to patients.
More Medicaid long-term care funding
For 2026–27, nursing-home funding rises from $178.425 million to $214.11 million. Federal nursing-home funding rises from $450.96 million to $563.7 million. Other long-term care funding rises from $849.93 million to $1.019916 billion. Federal funding for that care rises from $1.286436 billion to $1.608045 billion. The money supports Medicaid care, but does not guarantee more services or cash payments for each enrollee.
More Medicaid managed care funding
For 2026–27, Medicaid managed care funding rises from $778.55 million to $934.26 million. Federal managed care funding rises from $1.569872 billion to $1.96234 billion. Health home services and grants rise from $18.85 million to $22.62 million. Managed care grants support accessible primary care, integrated-care planning, and electronic health records, within the money appropriated. The law does not set a cash payment or promise more services for each enrollee.
More funding for courts and employees
New York increases court payroll funding from $186 million to $269 million for paychecks scheduled April 1–May 6, 2026. Payroll funding also covers qualifying costs from before April 1. Employee benefit funding rises from $62.25 million to $115.75 million, without changing individual pay rates or benefit eligibility. Court operating funding rises from $25 million to $36 million, and aid to localities rises from $11 million to $22 million. Benefit, operating, and local aid funds cover costs incurred April 1–May 6, 2026.
More funding for unemployment benefit payments
Beginning April 1, 2026, New York raises unemployment benefit funding from $1.02 billion to $1.215 billion for the state fiscal year. The money supports state unemployment insurance and federally funded unemployment benefit programs. This appropriation does not change a claimant's eligibility or weekly benefit amount.
Medicaid behavior therapy funding faces limits
The federal Medicaid managed care appropriation can fund applied behavior analysis only with a qualifying practitioner's recommendation. The practitioner must be authorized under New York's professional licensing law. The health commissioner must also designate that practitioner as an applied behavior analysis center of excellence provider. Recommendations that lack either qualification do not allow use of these funds.
More Medicaid drug funding with limits
For 2026–27, Medicaid pharmacy funding rises from $359.63 million to $431.556 million. Federal pharmacy funding rises from $472.876 million to $591.095 million. The health department needs budget director approval to fund drugs not expressly authorized by law, rule, or regulation. The larger budget supports pharmacy services, but this approval rule limits how the money can be used.
More funded supports for disability care
Beginning April 1, 2026, disability funding can cover more family care home and individual support costs. Covered costs include respite for up to 14 days, personal-needs payments, client-caused property damage, and day and residential services. It also covers housing subsidies, provider start-up costs, home changes, adaptive technology, and specified self-direction supports. General service rates and property-damage payments follow commissioner standards approved by the budget director. Self-direction costs must appear in a budget approved by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
More funding for state worker pay
Executive-branch and legislative payroll funding rises from $1.491046469 billion to $1.799296469 billion for April 1–May 6, 2026. It covers qualifying state work-program services, including liabilities incurred before April 1, but does not raise individual pay rates. General state charges rise from $713.806 million to $748.383 million, including fringe benefits rising from $705.908 million to $740.485 million. Benefits funding supports health insurance, Social Security, employee benefit programs, dental and vision plans, and eligible voluntary retirement plans. Voluntary retirement contributions cover eligible employees who opt in and are not eligible for SUNY's optional retirement program.
Disability support staff can do more
Beginning April 1, 2026, direct support staff in covered disability programs can perform tasks specified by the state disability agency. Covered programs include certified or approved programs and specified home and community-based waiver services. A registered nurse must supervise, train, and periodically inspect the work. Tasks must follow care ordered by an authorized practitioner.
Financial help for struggling safety-net hospitals
Safety-net general hospitals in severe financial distress can receive awards from available Medicaid funds. The awards support hospital operations and vital services while hospitals develop long-term plans to keep services going. The health commissioner sets eligibility rules. Awards cannot exceed the funds set aside, and patients do not receive individual payments.
Funding helps replace inpatient behavioral care
State mental health and addiction agencies can adjust funding for services needed after reductions in Medicaid inpatient behavioral health care. They must consult the health commissioner, and the budget director must approve the changes. Funding must stay within amounts set aside for this purpose. The law sets no individual benefit amount.
More disability care and family funding
Beginning April 1, 2026, residential disability service funding rises from $32.241 million to $35.172 million. Day program funding rises from $7.92 million to $8.64 million; family support rises from $8.91 million to $9.72 million. Funding for additional disability services rises from $1.32 million to $1.44 million. These services include hepatitis B, the care at home waiver, epilepsy services, Special Olympics New York, and voluntary fingerprinting. The funding does not set payments for individual participants.
Payment support for developmental disability services
Beginning April 1, 2026, the state developmental disabilities agency can reimburse or advance funds to local governments and nonprofit providers. Covered local budget periods begin January 1, April 1, or July 1, 2026; advances can also cover January–March 2027. Allocations must follow the agency head's plan approved by the budget director. The agency can also pay all or part of nonprofit agencies' loan expenses under their contracts. Eligible loans must be funded by New York's Dormitory Authority bonds or notes.
Housing development aid for disabled residents
Beginning April 1, 2026, the state developmental disabilities agency can help pay to develop supportive housing. Units must be set aside for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency can provide state aid, loans, or grants toward part of development costs, on terms set by its commissioner. Loans and grants give the agency a property lien for up to 30 years, or longer if another regulator requires. The law sets no household rent subsidy amount.
More housing help for homeless veterans
Beginning April 1, 2026, New York increases housing service funding for homeless veterans from $198,000 to $216,000. The money supports services through the Veterans' Benefits Advising Program. The law does not set a payment amount for each veteran.
More funding for disability work programs
Beginning April 1, 2026, disability workshop, day training, and employment funding rises from $5.148 million to $5.616 million. Up to $82,800 can transfer to the state vocational rehabilitation program, up from $75,900. That transfer supports FEDCAP Rehabilitation Services' LongTerm Sheltered Employment program. The funding supports services and providers, not specified payments to participants.
Bridge funding keeps state projects moving
New York increases funding for ordinary state operating costs from $44 million to $56 million. It also provides up to $10 million for capital projects with contracts or grants approved before April 1, 2026. Another $20 million is available for capital projects with contracts or grants approved after April 1, 2026. Both project limits cover costs incurred April 1–May 6, 2026, as does the operating funding. All spending must serve purposes approved for the 2025–2026 state budget year.
More funding for food assistance services
The law raises funding for various federal food and nutrition services from $35.31 million to $38.52 million. The money can pay financial assistance already owed before the appropriation. The provision does not name specific programs or change household eligibility or benefit amounts.
More funding for Medicaid dental care
For 2026–27, Medicaid dental funding rises from $395,000 to $474,000. Federal dental funding rises from $7.344 million to $9.18 million. The money supports covered dental services, not cash payments to enrollees. It does not guarantee more dental care for each person.
More funding for Medicaid transportation
For 2026–27, Medicaid transportation funding rises from $51.66 million to $61.992 million. Federal transportation funding rises from $63.528 million to $79.41 million. The money supports Medicaid transportation services, not cash payments to enrollees. It does not guarantee a specific number of rides for each person.
Medicaid funding supports minimum wage costs
Appropriated federal Medicaid funds can support organizations' direct salary costs and related employee benefits tied to minimum wage increases. The wage increase must take effect during the appropriation period. The commissioner can require written certifications and reports showing the amount used and how it was or will be spent. This funding does not guarantee a particular raise or payment to an individual worker.
Facilities can use residents' care funds
Beginning April 1, 2026, certain facility directors can continue using a resident's own funds for that resident's care and treatment. The facility must be licensed, but not operated, by the state developmental disabilities agency. The director must be a federally appointed representative payee responsible for managing the resident's funds. Federal rules still apply, and the law sets no amount.
Local Medicaid changes need state approval
Local social services districts cannot use these funds for changed rates, fees, or procedures affecting care costs without advance approval. Both the New York health department and budget director must approve the change. This limits local spending choices; it does not itself require households or providers to pay more.
Past disability provider increases were limited
For April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, the law barred certain extra increases in disability provider payments. The restriction covered inflation, cost-of-living, and trend adjustments to rates, contracts, and reimbursements. The 2.6% targeted increase authorized in 2025 remained allowed, as did prior adjustments from updating base-year costs. This restriction period ended March 31, 2026.
Adult disability school funding has limits
Beginning April 1, 2026, funding reimburses private residential schools for residential and day services for people with developmental disabilities over 21. In-state and out-of-state schools qualify. Residential or maintenance payments must subtract any Supplemental Security Income benefit the person qualifies for. Day-service funding cannot exceed the maximum reimbursement for appropriate services from other state-approved disability providers unless the budget director authorizes more.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
José M. Serrano
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
committee vote • 5/4/2026
Rules Committee Vote
Yes: 20 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/4/2026
FLOOR Vote
Yes: 59 • No: 1
House vote • 5/4/2026
Assembly floor vote
Yes: 133 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
SIGNED CHAP.109
5/4/2026SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
5/4/2026SenateRETURNED TO SENATE
5/4/2026HousePASSED ASSEMBLY
5/4/2026HouseMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - 3 DAY MESSAGE
5/4/2026HouseMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - APPROPRIATION
5/4/2026HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.106
5/4/2026HouseSUBSTITUTED FOR A11250
5/4/2026HouseREFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
5/4/2026HouseDELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
5/4/2026SenatePASSED SENATE
5/4/2026SenateMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - 3 DAY MESSAGE
5/4/2026SenateMESSAGE OF NECESSITY - APPROPRIATION
5/4/2026SenateORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.880
5/4/2026SenateREFERRED TO RULES
5/4/2026Senate
Bill Text
Original
5/4/2026
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