New YorkS 30062025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget for the 2025-2026 state fiscal year

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

164 provisions identified: 76 benefits, 10 costs, 78 mixed.

Free breakfast and lunch for students

Starting in 2025–26, students get free breakfast and lunch at district, charter, and nonpublic schools participating in federal meal programs. State payments bring each meal’s combined state and federal reimbursement up to the free-meal rate. Schools must maximize federal funding, group schools where possible, and reapply annually when doing so increases free-meal funding. Schools must match eligibility records at least three times yearly or use another qualifying designation; schools outside Community Eligibility or Provision 2 must collect applications annually. Effective July 1, 2025, state agencies must arrange SNAP application help or referrals and help schools expand free meals and federal funding.

Higher tuition awards for eligible students

Beginning in 2025–26, eligible students receiving awards under Education Law section 669-h can get up to actual tuition. This replaces the former $5,500 cap, subject to appropriations and available funds. Tuition assistance, tuition credits, Pell grants, and other countable aid reduce the award. Aid limited to non-tuition expenses does not reduce it. Students whose grants or scholarships cover their full cost of attendance are ineligible.

Higher unemployment caps and shorter strike waits

The weekly unemployment maximum becomes $869 on the first Monday of October 2025. On the first Monday of October 2026, it becomes 50% of the state average weekly wage, without year-to-year reductions. The 2025 increase cannot be suspended; other scheduled increases depend on the fund reaching the 30% average-high-cost-multiple threshold during April–June, with later restoration available. The benefit-cap changes take effect upon a transfer of sufficient trust-fund money, as determined by the Labor Commissioner. Separately, the strike-related suspension of benefit-right accumulation drops from two weeks to one; exceptions remain for specified permanent-replacement cases and uninvolved claimants.

More part-time students qualify for tuition aid

Part-time tuition aid now covers students taking at least 3 but fewer than 12 semester hours, or the equivalent. The previous minimum was 6 semester hours. Students no longer need to be first-time freshmen. They must still enroll in an approved undergraduate degree program and have a cumulative grade average of at least 2.00.

Higher highway and bridge financing limits

The Thruway Authority’s highway-and-bridge bond-and-note limit rises from $21.458309 billion to $22.309294 billion, plus specified reserve, interest, and issuance costs. Issuance requires the Budget Director’s request and must fund authorized highway and bridge activities. A separate project-cost ceiling for State service-contract commitments rises from $14.844587 billion to $15.822384 billion. Local capital grants cover qualifying projects with a service life of at least 10 years. For that project ceiling, bonds issued after April 1, 2025, for reserves, issuance costs, or refinancing are excluded; earlier refunding-debt exclusions remain.

More funding authority for health services

The law authorizes General Fund transfers of $1 billion for health care transformation and $350 million for health care stability. It also authorizes $159 million from the stability account to the HCRA program account. Uncommitted health charitable funds can move to the General Fund for health care, dental and vision care, hunger prevention, and nutrition. Uncommitted public-health emergency charitable funds can move there only for goods and services needed for public-health disaster response. All transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026; no household payment or eligibility change is set.

Higher bond limit for housing programs

The housing program bond-and-note cap rises from $14.526089 billion to $16.777964 billion. Proceeds finance repayment of amounts already disbursed for housing program purposes. Qualifying bonds issued after April 1, 2025, for debt-service reserves, issuance costs, or refinancing do not count toward the cap. The law preserves the specified treatment of earlier refunding debt. This increases financing authority without setting household eligibility or assistance amounts.

Public colleges gain higher borrowing limits

The law raises the SUNY educational-facilities bond ceiling from $18.988164 billion to $20.948164 billion. The CUNY facilities ceiling, including community colleges, rises from $11.763022 billion to $12.300368 billion. Locally sponsored community colleges get a higher bond-and-note ceiling: $1.365308 billion to $1.495774 billion. Specified reserve, issuance-cost, and refinancing debt is excluded; SUNY and CUNY exclusions cover qualifying bonds issued after April 1, 2025. These are borrowing limits, not appropriations or direct payments to students.

State authorizes billions for school accounts

At the Budget Director’s request, transfers reimburse supplemental education aid by March 31, 2026. Amounts are $2.591119 billion for lottery education, $1.131 billion for video-lottery education, $134.682 million for commercial gaming, and $1.457339 billion for mobile sports wagering education. Another $5 million from fantasy sports and $4.856 million from cannabis education accounts can move to lottery education. Reimbursement limits generally tie transfers to supplemental-aid spending above deposits, except where the law specifies otherwise. Separate transfers allow public-school support from the uncommitted charitable-gifts account balance on March 31, 2025, and lottery deposits above the current supplemental-aid appropriation, also by March 31, 2026.

Transfers support state universities and hospitals

At the Budget Director’s request, New York can transfer up to $1.5226735 billion from the General Fund for state university operations. That authority runs July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. The law also authorizes $312 million from two state university hospital income accounts to the General Fund for hospital health-insurance premiums. The hospital transfer must occur by March 31, 2026. These transfers do not set tuition, student aid, individual premiums, or insurance eligibility.

Unemployment accounts gain major state funding

The law authorizes $8 billion from the general fund for the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Account. It also authorizes $250 million for the Unemployment Insurance Interest Assessment Account. Separate transfers return $11.7 million and $50 million from specified labor accounts to the general fund. All transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. These funding provisions do not themselves change claimant eligibility or individual benefit amounts.

Higher borrowing cap for healthcare projects

New York raises the healthcare capital bond cap from $5.153 billion to $6.168 billion. It covers restructuring, facility transformation, essential providers, and other specified healthcare capital projects. Facilities must hold the required health or mental-health license, or projects must otherwise qualify under the listed programs. Reserve, issuance-cost, and refinancing or repayment bonds do not count toward the cap. Using the authority creates public repayment obligations; it does not expand individual health coverage or benefits.

Higher borrowing cap for development projects

New York raises the bond cap for listed development projects from $20.878194 billion to $23.705253 billion. Eligible purposes include economic development, revitalization, infrastructure, and cultural projects named in the law. Bonds for debt reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment do not count toward the cap. This expands project financing capacity, but borrowing creates public repayment obligations rather than direct household payments.

Higher borrowing cap for environmental infrastructure

New York raises the bond cap for authorized environmental infrastructure projects from $10.86656 billion to $14.48086 billion. Bonds for debt reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment do not count toward the cap. The authority is limited to projects allowed by the governing law; it does not select specific projects. Using this expanded financing capacity creates public repayment obligations.

Higher borrowing caps for transportation projects

New York raises the transportation project bond cap from $15.240669 billion to $17.030027 billion. Eligible uses include the Peace Bridge, highways, bridges, transit, rail, aviation, and related projects. A separate cap for bonds assisting Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital projects rises from $12.515856 billion to $15.515856 billion. Both caps exclude debt reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment bonds. Borrowing creates public repayment obligations; this authority does not change transit fares or provide direct household payments.

Public protection funds can support general spending

The law authorizes moving $2 billion from specified federal homeland-security funds to the General Fund. It also authorizes $9.83 million from Legal Services Assistance and $7.98 million from Fingerprint Identification and Technology. Another $1.1 million can come from a State Police motor-vehicle account and $234 million from Indigent Legal Services. Transfers require the budget director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. These account shifts do not themselves set household benefits or duties.

Transfers support state accounts and reserves

New York authorizes $250 million for specified outstanding account balances and $500 million for its debt-reduction reserve. It authorizes $100 million from a federal revenue fund and $15.5 million from the Community Projects Account for general state purposes. The General Fund can also receive the uncommitted balance of the federal pandemic fiscal recovery fund. Up to $1 billion can move from the General Fund to cleanup, parks, environmental, corrections, housing, and mental-health capital accounts, limited to specified outstanding balances. These transfers support receiving accounts while drawing down source accounts; they require the Budget Director’s request and completion by March 31, 2026.

State gains short-term borrowing and loans

Beginning April 1, 2025, the Dormitory Authority and Urban Development Corporation can issue income-tax revenue notes totaling up to $3 billion per fiscal year. Notes must mature by March 31, 2026, and cannot be renewed, extended, or refinanced; specified financing restrictions do not apply while outstanding. The comptroller also must make legally authorized loans to designated state accounts covering education, housing, health, labor, transportation, and related purposes. Loans to designated federal-fund accounts require a finding that enough federal grant authority exists to reimburse them. The account-loan provisions state no amounts or repayment schedules and do not change household tax bills or benefit eligibility.

State redirects balances for budget costs

At the budget director's request, up to $1 billion in eligible, uncommitted account balances can move to the general fund. Exclusions protect federal, debt service, capital projects, and community projects funds, plus transfers that lose federal money or benefits. Separate requested transfers totaling $294.909954 million must reimburse state asset upkeep through the capital projects fund by March 31, 2026. By that date, the comptroller must also place specified state earnings in an agency banking services account instead of the general fund.

State tax receipts and infrastructure money shift

For the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2025, up to $1.396911 billion in personal income tax receipts goes to a designated state fund. Deposits follow the budget director’s schedule and require certification that the money is needed for that fund’s purposes. From April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2030, available money can move between the infrastructure investment fund and General Fund. Infrastructure money can move to the General Fund only during a specified economic downturn or for qualifying federal Medicare or Medicaid repayments or settlements exceeding expected levels by over $100 million. Transfer amounts are set by the budget director; these rules do not change household tax rates or health eligibility.

More prison programs qualify for credits

The correctional commissioner can approve more programs and achievements for merit time credits. People must still meet the existing merit time requirements. The law also adds successful completion of a commissioner-established program lasting at least 18 months to a separate time allowance. These changes do not specify how much time a person earns.

Birth payments for public assistance families

Public assistance recipients get a one-time benefit upon the birth of a new child. The department sets the benefit through regulations; the law does not state a dollar amount. This provision takes effect on the 180th day after the act becomes law.

Higher supplemental income and care allowances

For months beginning January 1, 2025, New York raises supplemental security income standards for eligible people and couples. Living-alone monthly standards include $1,054 for an individual and $1,554 for a couple; these are standards, not guaranteed state-only checks. Monthly personal needs allowances rise from $181 to $186 in family care, $208 to $213 in residential care, and $249 to $255 in enhanced residential care. Beginning January 1, 2026, applicable amounts also reflect qualifying federal SSI increases effective January 1 through before June 30, 2026. The revised statutory provisions take effect December 31, 2025.

Affordable rentals keep long-term conversion protections

Covered preservation agreements must keep at least 20% of all units as income-restricted rentals. Rentals already income-restricted on the law’s effective date must remain restricted permanently. During the extended affordability term, covered restricted rentals must have rent stabilization if they did not already. They cannot lose stabilization through New York City’s condominium-unit exemption. Recording a condominium declaration or starting condominium operations does not remove section 421-a rent-stabilization requirements.

Conversion plans must protect restricted rentals

The Attorney General must reject a preservation plan submitted with any vacant income-restricted rental unit. Plans also fail when other units’ long-term vacancies exceed the greater of 10% or twice the project’s normal vacancy rate. Long-term means more than five months; the normal rate uses the specified two-year period before the January preceding first submission. After a plan takes effect, vacant restricted rentals are reserved for households earning no more than 60% of area median income at initial lease. Owners must follow the housing agency’s marketing and leasing rules.

Conversion tenants gain enforceable housing protections

In covered preservation-plan conversions, people cannot substantially disrupt tenants’ use of their homes, including by stopping essential services. Tenants or the Attorney General can ask a court to stop the conduct. Courts can also halt a sale or further progress of the plan when appropriate. Lease terms cannot waive tenants’ rights under the preservation-plan law. In New York City, contracts also cannot waive required condominium reserve or dedicated capital funds; attempted waivers are void.

Housing voucher pilot helps at-risk renters

Beginning March 1, 2026, a four-year housing voucher pilot provides rental help, subject to appropriation. Households must be homeless or face imminent housing loss and have income no higher than 50% of area median income. Immigration status does not affect eligibility; income is checked initially and at least annually. Financial eligibility ends when 30% of adjusted income reaches the full rent. Subject to appropriation, recipients retain assistance for at least one year after becoming financially ineligible.

Housing vouchers can cover overdue rent

Beginning March 1, 2026, housing access voucher contracts can cover up to five months of qualifying past-due rent. Arrears must come from the recipient’s prior occupancy of that unit, and payment must prevent imminent housing loss. The initial arrears payment is allowed, not guaranteed. Local recipients must add voucher funds to prior-year spending on similar programs, rather than replace that spending. Through May 1, 2030, the commissioner can grant an exception only when prior spending exceeds what is needed to assist everyone homeless or facing imminent housing loss locally.

Low-income renters gain cooperative ownership option

Eligible income-restricted units can become limited-equity cooperatives through a separate offering document when existing law permits. The housing agency must ensure the documents provide affordability for low-income buyers and permanent low-income occupancy. Tenants who do not buy keep rent-stabilization and non-eviction protections. The documents must also provide agency oversight and continuation of specified financial and service duties.

Rent protections for senior and disabled tenants

For eligible senior and disabled tenants in covered homes, increases above New York’s Good Cause Eviction limit are unconscionable. This protection does not block cases for unpaid rent, illegal occupancy, refusal of reasonable access, or similar tenant breaches. Homes already under government rent and continued-occupancy rules remain under those rules.

Restricted rentals get dedicated repair funds

Covered New York City preservation plans require a dedicated capital fund equal to 0.5% of total price. The seller must transfer it within 30 days after plan completion to the qualified owner of income-restricted rentals. The housing agency oversees the fund. Money can pay only for unit-level health-and-safety work, not building-wide capital replacements.

Adults gain community college scholarship help

Starting in 2025–2026, the Opportunity Promise Scholarship helps eligible New York residents at SUNY or CUNY community colleges. Applicants must be ages 25–55 on January 1 for the semester’s calendar year and enter approved high-demand associate-degree programs. Most cannot already have a college degree; an exception covers certain students already enrolled when the section took effect. Subject to available funding, awards cover approved tuition, fees, books, and supplies after other aid, excluding loans and federal work-study. Students must apply for other aid, maintain academic progress and required enrollment, complete six credits per semester and 12 yearly, and stay within 10 award semesters.

Airport workers gain stronger pay enforcement

Beginning January 1, 2026, employers face stronger civil penalties for violating airport-worker compensation rules. Maximum fines are $10,000 for a first violation, $20,000 for a second within six years, and $50,000 for later violations within six years. Employers receive an opportunity for a hearing. The Labor Commissioner weighs employer size, good faith, seriousness, violation history, and compliance failures; fines add to other remedies.

Broader pay protections for airport workers

Coverage includes workers spending at least half their workweek at JFK, LaGuardia, or sites preparing or delivering food for departing flights. Government workers, executive, administrative and professional employees, and workers at employers with 10 or fewer employees are excluded. Beginning January 1, 2025, required compensation includes the applicable Port Authority minimum wage, health and welfare compensation, and paid leave. The Labor Commissioner sets standards using federal service-contract rates. Beginning January 1, 2026, after an employee-group showing and hearing, employers found to withhold hours to reduce obligations can face standard-rate requirements for all employees.

Stronger tools to collect unpaid wages

After review deadlines pass with no review pending, the Labor Commissioner can enforce filed wage orders against defaulting employers. Warrants allow sheriffs or Labor Department staff to seize and sell property; docketed warrants become liens. Workers can request assignment of wage-related amounts to collect as money judgments, and state execution charges cannot exceed actual expenses. Beginning January 1, 2026, the commissioner can recover airport-worker underpayments and costs, with court damages equal to 100% of underpayments unless employers prove good faith. Airport claims generally have a six-year deadline, paused during specified complaints or investigations; unpaid judgments rise 15% after the specified 90-day period.

Teachers in five districts get support

For 2025–2026, teacher-support funding totals $67.48 million across five districts. New York City gets $62.707 million; Buffalo, $1.741 million; Rochester, $1.076 million; Yonkers, $1.147 million; and Syracuse, $809,000. The money adds to existing salaries and includes prekindergarten and adult vocational and academic teachers. Where teachers have union representation, these salary increases require separate collective negotiations.

Young workers gain stronger employer penalties

Employers face civil fines for illegal child employment: up to $10,000 first, $2,000–$25,000 second, and $10,000–$55,000 for later violations. When illegal employment causes serious injury or death, the ranges rise to $3,000–$30,000, $6,000–$75,000, and $30,000–$175,000. Serious injury means permanent partial or total disability, as determined by the Workers’ Compensation Board. The Labor Commissioner considers employer size, good faith, seriousness, prior violations, and compliance failures.

Tax breaks for authority bond investors

The law exempts covered authority bonds and notes, and income from them, from taxation. It also exempts money and revenues pledged to pay or secure those obligations. Covered authority property and activities receive tax exemptions too. Estate, gift, and transfer taxes remain applicable.

Transfers fund police and safety programs

New York authorizes $2.587 million for recruitment incentives, $23.773 million for correctional industries, and $138.272 million for prison improvements. It authorizes $5 million for State Police work-zone activities for transportation officials and $10 million for public-safety communications capital projects. Additional transfers provide $1 million for neighborhood work, $38.938 million for criminal-justice improvements, and $6 million for hazard-mitigation loans. Another $115.42 million moves from a State Police fund to the General Fund for police operations. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026.

Transfers support parks and environmental programs

New York authorizes $125 million for the Environmental Protection Fund and $10 million for hazardous waste cleanup. Transfers also include $7 million for the State Fair and $14 million for patron services. The law authorizes $15 million from the golf account for park infrastructure, plus $5 million to the golf account. It also authorizes $10 million for environmental protection and oil spills and $1.8 million for utility environmental regulation. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026.

Funding for hospitals and veterans’ homes

The law authorizes $127 million from HCRA resources for capital projects, $6.55 million for medical-cannabis oversight, and $5 million for occupational health clinics. General Fund transfers include $17.283 million for Helen Hayes Hospital. Four specified veterans’ homes can receive $3.672 million, $2.731 million, $1.455 million, and $4.683 million. Five specified veterans’ homes can each receive another $88,000 from veterans’ assistance accounts. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026; they do not set individual benefits.

Funding for transit, highways, and bridges

The law authorizes $20 million for public transit operations, including $12 million for basic operating needs. It also authorizes $727.5 million for the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. Another $244.25 million can go to the MTA Financial Assistance Fund. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. The money supports transportation systems, not direct rider or driver payments.

More financing for mental health facilities

The mental health facilities bond-and-note cap rises from $12.921756 billion to $13.639554 billion. The Budget Director allocates authority among mental health, developmental disability, and addiction agencies for previously approved bondable projects. Bonds issued after April 1, 2025, for reserves, issuance costs, or refinancing are excluded; earlier refunding-debt exclusions remain. The law also authorizes $2 million for mental hygiene facilities and $20 million in each direction between opioid settlement operating and capital accounts. Those transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026; none of these changes expands individual service eligibility.

Minimum school aid and attendance funding

For 2025–2026, eligible districts receive the greater of their calculated foundation aid or 102% of their foundation aid base. City school districts in cities over one million people must maintain their base-year attendance and dropout-prevention set-aside. At least one-third of any increase above base-year funding must go to community groups, beyond those groups’ base-year allocations. These rules fund school services rather than direct household payments.

More aid options for charter-paying districts

Eligible districts receive the greater of a new charter-payment transitional-aid calculation or the sum of existing specified calculations. The new amount equals eligible pupils times 0.8 times base-year charter school basic tuition. Eligible pupils equal resident charter enrollment minus 20% of total resident public-school enrollment, with a minimum of zero. City school districts with at least 125,000 residents in the 2020 census are excluded.

More career education aid for schools

Beginning with aid payable in 2025–2026, eligible districts receive $4,100 per aid-weighted pupil for career education, up from $3,900. Eligible grades expand from grades 10–12 to grades 9–12. The money supports district programs rather than direct payments to families.

More salary costs qualify for school aid

For Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, salary costs above the applicable threshold are excluded from approved school-aid costs. The threshold is $30,000 for aid payable in 2025–2026 and earlier. It rises to $40,000 in 2026–2027, $50,000 in 2027–2028, and $60,000 in 2028–2029 and later. This changes aid calculations, not employees' salary limits.

Named districts get magnet school funding

For 2025–2026, foundation-aid set-asides support magnet schools and approved alternatives that promote diversity, improve teaching, or raise standards. Allocations include New York City, $48.175 million, including $500,000 for Andrew Jackson High School; Yonkers, $49.5 million; Buffalo, $21.025 million; Rochester, $15 million; and Syracuse, $13 million. Other amounts are Newburgh, $4.645 million; Albany, $3.55 million; Poughkeepsie, $2.475 million; Mount Vernon and Utica, $2 million each; Schenectady, $1.8 million; New Rochelle, $1.41 million; and Port Chester, $1.15 million. White Plains gets $900,000; Amsterdam, $800,000; Niagara Falls, $600,000; Beacon, $566,000; Middletown, Freeport, and Hudson, $400,000 each; Greenburgh, $300,000; and Peekskill, $200,000. Approved alternatives serve schools with substantial minority enrollment, and the Commissioner cannot withhold foundation aid for authorized uses.

School aid and spending commitments continue

In 2025–2026, districts with 2024–2025 Contracts for Excellence must maintain at least their previously approved spending. Districts with every school in good standing are exempt; city districts with at least one million residents follow a separate rule. Academic enhancement aid continues through 2025–2026 at amounts in each district's SA202-1 listing. High tax aid also continues through 2025–2026. Each district's high tax aid equals the greater of its listed 2008–09 base-year aid or 2013–14 estimated aid.

School aid weights rise for districts

Beginning in 2025–2026, the English learner weight in certain school-aid calculations rises from 0.50 to 0.53. Westchester County’s regional cost index becomes 1.351 for that school year and later years. The resulting aid depends on each district’s data and the full funding formula.

Employers face indexed unemployment wage base

The annual wage base for employer unemployment contributions stays at $12,800 for 2025. Beginning in 2026, it becomes 18% of New York’s average annual wage, rounded up to the nearest $100. The average uses the four latest quarters of published state employment-and-wage census data. The change takes effect after the Labor Commissioner determines that sufficient funds have reached the unemployment trust fund. Employer costs depend on the resulting wage base and contribution rates.

More veterans’ relatives qualify for annual payments

The law expands eligibility for a $500 yearly annuity, adjusted annually under the existing formula. It covers eligible spouses and children of Gold Star veterans, plus parents, spouses, and children of qualifying active-duty deaths. Applicants must apply to the Veterans’ Services Commissioner and be New York residents domiciled in the state. Children qualify under 18, or under 23 while attending an approved school; spouses remain eligible after remarriage. Entitlement stops on the 61st day of imprisonment following a felony or misdemeanor conviction and stays suspended until release.

Condo conversion path has affordability limits

The preservation-plan condo conversion path is limited to eligible projects with at least 100 homes, built after 1996. Projects owned under specified limited-profit, limited-dividend, or redevelopment housing laws are excluded, and existing legal or regulatory restrictions still apply. A housing finance agency must confirm eligibility and support the plan before the Attorney General accepts it. Eligible categories include specified tax-abated, tax-credit, bond-financed, inclusionary, and moderate-income projects; certain tax-credit projects need an expired or declined nonprofit purchase right. Inclusionary projects must raise restricted rentals to 30%; qualifying moderate-income projects below 20% must raise them to at least 20% for the extended affordability term.

Converted buildings need repair reserve funds

For covered New York City condominium conversions, sellers or successors must transfer health-and-safety repair reserves within 30 days after plan completion. Reserves equal 3% of total price or specified sales-based contributions, with a 1% minimum and a 3% minimum after five years. Qualifying earlier capital replacements can count up to the lesser of actual cost or 1.5% of total price. Boards report deposits and withdrawals twice yearly to owners and the housing agency, with reports available to tenants. Unless the agency provides otherwise, boards bear necessary common-area and infrastructure repair costs when available funds fall short.

Renters can move vouchers with limits

Housing access vouchers work statewide, but normally require one year in the issuing county, or New York City when issued there. Administrators can waive that wait; it does not apply when a household member has experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The commissioner must explain statewide use and help with housing searches where practical. Only the named household can occupy the assisted home as its primary residence; moving requires a new contract, not a transfer to another recipient. Aid for the old unit must end after the move-out month, even before lease expiration; these rules sunset May 1, 2030.

Renters retain protections after housing conversions

Non-buying tenants keep existing government rent and occupancy protections in covered conversions. Otherwise, covered tenants receive Good Cause Eviction Law rent-increase protections when rent is below 245% of fair market rent. The same managing agent must serve all units, with required services provided without discrimination and access to shared amenities offered. Income-restricted tenants can face only nominal, reasonable, agency-approved amenity fees; these fees are not rent. The seller guarantees service duties until giving up board control, when the board assumes responsibility for required services.

Separated households face voucher continuation reviews

When voucher household members separate, administrators decide who keeps help if there is no agreement or court decision. For otherwise eligible members, they consider custody, domestic violence, the original household head, household makeup, who stays, and professional recommendations. Requesting parties must document relevant factors. Assistance ends if information needed for recertification is not provided. This rule sunsets May 1, 2030.

Voucher renters gain lease and rent safeguards

Voucher leases generally last at least one year; shorter first leases need approval, better housing opportunities, and consistency with local practice. During leases, termination requires serious or repeated lease violations, law violations, or other good cause, with written grounds. Foreclosure successors seeking to move in as their primary residence must give at least 90 days’ notice. Administrators compare rents and increases with similar unassisted homes, using other exempt homes for units exempt from local rent control. They must refuse unreasonable rents, may help negotiate, and must pay owners on time subject to appropriation; these rules sunset May 1, 2030.

Voucher renters get help but pay shares

Beginning March 1, 2026, voucher payments go directly to owners under contracts with local administrators. Households pay the greater of 30% of adjusted monthly income or housing-designated public assistance, adjusted for actual housing costs. Monthly help equals the contract’s maximum monthly rent minus that required household payment. Standards vary by area and unit size, equal 90%–120% of fair market rent, and include utilities, maintenance, and management charges. Fair market rents are published at least annually; standards need not fall for households staying put after market-rent declines, and these rules sunset May 1, 2030.

Larger special education classes remain allowed

Through June 30, 2026, qualifying districts with at least 125,000 residents can enlarge specified middle- and secondary-level special education classes. The Commissioner must find that this addresses fiscal problems from resources underused because of low attendance. Districts must file notice and submit attendance corrective plans for approval. Classes generally may reach 1.2 times the usual maximum, rounded up, but projected average size cannot exceed the usual maximum. In districts with at least one million residents, classes capped at 15 may add only one student.

New limits on late-pay damages

For covered wage-frequency violations, employers paying on regular paydays at least twice monthly do not owe liquidated damages under this rule. First-violation damages are capped at 100% of lost interest, calculated using the applicable annual interest rate. For conduct after the provision takes effect, qualifying repeat violations can bring damages equal to 100% of wages due. That requires a prior final finding involving employees doing the same work, with no review pending and review deadlines expired.

Nonpublic schools gain instruction approval routes

Nonpublic schools gain listed routes to recognition that their instruction is substantially equivalent to public-school instruction. Routes include qualifying state approval, approved accreditation or provisional status, International Baccalaureate participation, specified federal approval, or assessment-based criteria. Meeting one route removes further requirements under this section, but schools must keep meeting that route in later years. Assessment routes phase in through 2032–2033 and require comparable subjects and grade levels, plus applicable testing participation requirements.

Schools restrict students' internet device use

Districts, charter schools, and cooperative education boards must ban student internet-device use throughout the school day on school grounds. Policies require stakeholder consultation, on-site storage, ways for parents to contact students, and online posting by August 1, 2025. Translations into the state's 12 most common non-English languages must be available on request. Non-internet devices and school-supplied devices used for education are outside the restriction. Policies may allow educational, health, emergency, translation, caregiver, or legally required uses, and cannot block use in an IEP or Section 504 plan.

Teen work permits move online

The Labor Department must create a confidential online database for employment certificates and permits for people under 18. Employers must register, supply required job and worker information, certify compliance, and keep permits accessible before work begins. Minors must register and update their permit for each employer; education-law certificates and permits are issued electronically. Certain school officials can request revocation using grades, attendance, work-learning participation, and other supporting information, including student submissions. The Labor Commissioner can revoke a permit after review; database information is not public, with specified law-enforcement sharing.

Higher borrowing cap for prison improvements

New York raises the correctional facility borrowing cap from $10.299359 billion to $11.117359 billion. The financing covers state spending from capital appropriations for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. For bonds issued after April 1, 2025, debt reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment do not count. The earlier exclusion for refunding debt remains in place. Expanded financing capacity comes with public repayment obligations when used.

Higher borrowing cap for youth facilities

The borrowing cap for specified Office of Children and Family Services projects rises from $1.066755 billion to $1.217755 billion. Proceeds go to the state for those capital projects. For bonds issued after April 1, 2025, reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment do not count toward the cap. Earlier refunding-debt exclusions remain in place. Borrowing creates public repayment obligations and does not itself change who qualifies for services.

Higher borrowing caps for security facilities

The homeland security and training facility borrowing cap rises from $522.5 million to $550.5 million. The State Police project cap, including technology, rises from $538.1 million to $550.1 million. The military and naval public-protection facility cap rises from $297 million to $397 million. These caps exclude debt reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment debt; police and military authority also covers specified leases, debt service, and state reimbursements. Using the authority creates public repayment obligations, not direct household payments.

Required local funding for child care

Beginning October 1, 2025, the social services district for a city of at least one million must spend $328 million or more locally on child care assistance. This sets a local funding floor, not a payment amount for each family. State funding is withheld from districts that underspend their required local share when statewide funding falls short of federal matching requirements. The withholding is tied to lost federal matching funds.

Schools get more electric bus time

School districts can receive two extensions of up to 24 months each for zero-emission bus requirements, instead of one. The commissioner reviews district efforts and outside barriers, including bus, infrastructure, and funding availability. A second extension requires work with the state energy research authority on a fleet electrification plan. That authority must provide yearly technical-help meetings during extensions. No extension is allowed after the authority tells the commissioner that the district can comply.

Family service funds can shift into budget

The law authorizes $18.67 million from specified federal funds and children’s services program revenue to move to the General Fund. It also authorizes $205 million from specified temporary-assistance or health special-revenue funds. Another $205 million can come from the youth facility per diem account and $5 million from the State Central Registry account. Transfers require the budget director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. The law does not specify resulting changes to family benefits or eligibility.

Higher borrowing caps for state facilities

The state building and facility borrowing cap rises from $1.855286 billion to $2.168331 billion. The technology and related project cap rises from $1.742712 billion to $1.873412 billion, and equipment rises from $593 million to $693 million. The Agriculture and Markets food laboratory bond cap rises from $41.06 million to $41.175 million for construction and related project costs. Building, technology, and equipment caps exclude reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing or repayment debt; technology covers the state technology office, Department of Law, and associated costs. Equipment includes technology, safety, machinery, security, and laboratory items; borrowing creates public repayment obligations rather than direct household payments.

State reserves can move into general spending

By March 31, 2026, at the budget director’s request, the General Fund can receive $292.4 million from health insurance reserves and $50 million from cannabis revenue. It can also receive $3 million from surplus property, $19 million from revenue arrearages, $6 million from standards and purchasing, and $1.5 million from plaza events. A further $19.81 million can come from code enforcement, plus uncommitted underground-safety-training and business-licensing balances. Authorized transfers include $3.828 million from revenue arrearages for the Authority Budget Office and $3 million from the General Fund to revenue arrearages. The law also authorizes $150,000 each way between the General Fund and the not-for-profit revolving loan fund.

State shifts money for shared technology

At the budget director's request, up to $100 million can move from eligible non-general-fund accounts to state technology accounts. Another $400 million can move from eligible accounts to the general fund for shared technology purchases and services. Transfers cannot exceed each account's technology costs under a legally funded plan or cause lost federal money or benefits. Technology financing transfers must follow deposit and agency-agreed schedules; general fund transfers must use amounts collected under a deposit schedule.

Brooklyn public hospital gets funding authority

The state can transfer up to $100 million for the State University health science center or hospital in Brooklyn. Transfers run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The budget director must request transfers and approve a plan for costs attributable to those institutions. The law does not set lower patient bills or broader care eligibility.

New formulas shape school aid

School aid's poverty count adds 65% of the economically disadvantaged student count to 65% of the federal SAIPE poverty count. Counts use enrollment and three-year average rates, rounded to four decimals; disadvantaged counts include unduplicated K–12 students in specified assistance programs. The tier-two state-sharing value equals one minus 0.616 times the district's combined wealth ratio. The final sharing-ratio cap rises from 0.91 in 2024–2025 to 0.93 in 2025–2026 and later. For 2025–2026 payments, the law identifies the SA252-6 printouts as the current-year school aid listing.

School transportation aid gains new limits

Beginning in 2025–2026, the transportation-aid maximum equals the base-year maximum times one plus 2.5 times the Consumer Price Index percentage increase. Districts must maintain annual transportation spending at least equal to the amount used for their base. For zero-emission buses and infrastructure receiving specified state grants or vouchers, the law reduces allowable transportation costs to account for overlapping support. The reduction uses excess maximum state support divided by the district's transportation-aid ratio, and remaining allowable expenses must exceed zero.

Spending rules for career education aid

Districts must spend career education aid on current-year career programs. Aid falls by any shortfall in local spending below the base-year level, in the current or a later year. The commissioner can waive that reduction when overall per-student career spending reaches the prior school year’s level. New York also withholds employment preparation aid due to New York City schools to help pay workforce education costs. The amount credited to the state education account cannot exceed $13 million, and withholding ends after 2025–2026 payments are complete.

State shifts money for education programs

At the Budget Director's request, transfers by March 31, 2026, include $343.4 million for a state-university dormitory account. They also include $300,000 for the Archives Partnership Trust and $900,000 each for Batavia's blind school and Rome's deaf school. Education Department transfers include $24 million for indirect costs and $4.2 million for capital projects, drawable from its special-revenue and internal-service funds. Further transfers provide $30.013 million for Higher Education Services Corporation insurance premiums and $25 million for the state-university green-energy loan fund. Separately, budget and university leaders can direct transfers between university special-revenue funds and that loan fund for its specified purposes. This separate authority allows at most $25 million from each fund per July–June year and creates no direct household energy subsidy.

State university shifts dormitory and tuition money

The budget director and State University chancellor can direct transfers between dormitory income and residence hall rehabilitation funds. Transfers cannot exceed $125 million from each fund. The chancellor must also move estimated tuition balances from the collection fund to the income fund's revenue offset account by March 31, 2026. These transfers do not set student tuition, dorm rents, or aid eligibility.

Defendants get statements before grand jury testimony

Prosecutors must provide specified defendant statements at least 48 hours before scheduled grand jury testimony. This applies after local-court arraignment on a still-pending felony complaint involving the grand jury case. The deadline becomes 24 hours when no grand jury is open and available in time for 48 hours’ notice.

Authority bondholders gain stronger default remedies

Holders of at least 25% of an affected bond issue's outstanding principal can appoint a trustee after listed defaults. Payment defaults must last 30 days; failures to follow the governing law or bondholder agreements also qualify. On written request from holders meeting the 25% threshold, the trustee can sue, seek an accounting or injunction, or seek a receiver. The trustee must give 30 days' written notice before declaring all principal due.

Military families get annuity application outreach

The state veterans' department must post information online about expanded family-annuity eligibility. When practical, it must contact potentially eligible families of service members who died on active duty. The department must explain possible eligibility and offer application help. Outreach does not guarantee that a family qualifies.

Tenants gain conversion notices and records

Every tenant in a covered project must receive written notice when a preservation plan is submitted. Plans must include agency support for extended affordability and required ownership, financial, governance, and oversight details. An agency-approved owner must take title to restricted rentals within 365 days after plan completion. For New York City properties, the Attorney General must post plans and amended filings in a searchable online repository. Within 30 days after filing acceptance, sellers must post building violations or offer on-site inspection through an agent, updating new violations within 48 hours until plan completion.

Full-day preschool continues for New York families

New York’s universal full-day pre-kindergarten program continues. The Education Department’s authority to run it extends through June 30, 2026. This provision does not specify changes to family eligibility or benefit amounts.

Job education funding helps qualifying adults

The Education Commissioner may reserve up to $2.5 million for employment preparation education through the 2025–2026 school year. Eligible adults must be at least 21 and have attended no school during the prior school year. They must hold a high school diploma or equivalent but not demonstrate basic educational skills on required tests. The money supports program services, not direct payments.

Partial unemployment payments follow revised calculation

For an eligible week of partial unemployment, benefits equal the weekly benefit rate minus earnings above the partial benefit credit. The law removes a former exception to this calculation. Each payment depends on the claimant’s benefit rate, earnings, and partial benefit credit.

Payroll safeguards for covered airport workers

Beginning January 1, 2026, covered airport employers must keep accurate payroll records as work occurs and retain them for six years. Records must show hours, pay, benefits, and overtime details for workers entitled to overtime pay. Employers must provide records to the Labor Commissioner and post the commissioner’s summary of the law. They must also allow private employee interviews during work hours.

Students protected from device-only school suspensions

School districts, charter schools, and cooperative educational services boards cannot suspend students solely for violating internet-enabled device policies. Schools may still suspend students when there are other grounds.

Teen work permits move online

Beginning two years after enactment, the Labor Commissioner issues minors’ work certificates and permits through the Labor Department’s electronic database. The Commissioner may share permit status with specified school officials. Applications for work certificates and farm permits no longer need physical-fitness certificates, but still need age proof and written parental consent. Full-time work certificate applications require school records. Some districts requiring attendance for unemployed 16- and 17-year-olds also require a job pledge.

Buffalo parking authority faces public safeguards

Authority members, officers, employees, and contracted staff must follow conflict-of-interest rules and limits on outside work and business dealings. Knowing, intentional violations can lead to fines, suspension, or removal. The authority must use city purchasing procedures and, where practical, city construction-contract rules, but can perform construction with its own staff. The authority closes only after its bonds, debts, transactions, and other obligations are settled or ended. Its remaining rights and assets then pass to Buffalo.

Federal funds support child welfare lawyers

New York authorizes $15 million for court administration and $10 million for indigent legal services in eligible child-welfare cases. The money comes from available federal funds held by the Office of Children and Family Services. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. This funding does not create an individual right to a payment or legal representation.

State funds reimburse qualified political candidates

New York authorizes a General Fund transfer to the state Campaign Finance Fund for qualified candidate reimbursements. The transfer cannot exceed the total reimbursements due. It requires the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. This funds candidate reimbursements, not direct household payments.

New checks for substitute childcare workers

After the one-year implementation delay, the state's child-services office can certify and regulate centers placing substitute caregivers in covered childcare programs. Centers cannot place caregivers without valid operating certificates. Before placement, centers must verify required training, criminal-history review, background clearance, and other applicable requirements. The state must deny applicants whose operating certificates were revoked within the previous two years.

Funding for family services and training

The law authorizes $7 million for the human resources state-match account and $35 million for multiagency training contracts. It also authorizes $4 million for family preservation, support, and family-violence services and $2.5 million for an assistance program account. Another $788,000 goes to the WB Hoyt Memorial account, and $7 million goes to the housing program fund. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. The state-match transfer follows district agreements, federal transfers depend on available agency funds, and no individual payment amount is set.

Transfers fund health research and technology

The General Fund can support breast cancer, prostate cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease accounts. Each transfer is capped at that account’s collections and deposits in the previous fiscal year. The law also authorizes $13.6 million from three health accounts for healthcare technology capital projects. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026.

Voucher funding targets need with oversight

Beginning March 1, 2026, appropriated voucher funds are allocated among counties and New York City using Census counts of severely rent-burdened households. New York City’s share goes directly to its housing preservation department and/or housing authority, and homeless applicants receive priority. Up to 10% of allocated money may pay administrative costs. When an administrator owns an assisted non-public-housing home, a local government or another approved entity must inspect it and determine rent independently. The administrator bears those costs subject to appropriation; this safeguard sunsets May 1, 2030.

Rochester and Hempstead school oversight continues

State-appointed monitoring and related oversight continue in Rochester and Hempstead schools through June 30, 2027. Hempstead’s oversight previously expired June 30, 2025. Rochester’s separate June 30, 2049 expiration for two parts of its oversight law stays unchanged. These extensions do not specify changes to school aid or household payments.

State checks covered airport workers' pay

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Labor Commissioner can investigate pay for covered airport workers. The commissioner can inspect employer records and workplaces and require written reports about pay and hours. Workers have no new reporting duty under this provision.

Statewide rules for high school college credits

New York requires statewide rules for partnerships that let high school students earn transferable college credit while meeting high school requirements. Schools must submit partnership agreements by September 1, 2026, and resubmit them at least every five years. Agreements must explain program terms and how schools and colleges collect, share, and report data. Participating schools and colleges report participation and outcomes annually; the state publishes results by January 1 of the following school year.

Worker safety programs get funding transfers

At the Budget Director’s request, transfers can support labor and worker-safety accounts by March 31, 2026. Authorized amounts include $600,000 for child-performer protection, $22 million for safety training, and another $1 million from public-work enforcement for training. Another $4 million goes to workplace inspections. The law also allows $850,000 from the Elevator Safety Program Fund to the Labor Department’s Fee and Penalty Account.

Buffalo creates a public parking authority

The law creates the Buffalo Parking Authority to acquire, rebuild, run, and maintain projects on existing city-owned public parking facilities. The mayor appoints five board members with Common Council consent; all initial members and the chair must be appointed before operations. The mayor must file the required state certificate by December 31 of the law's effective year or the authority dissolves. Service and reimbursement agreements with Buffalo, including changes or cancellation, require prior Common Council approval and a majority authority vote.

Transfers support state technology and operations

General Fund transfers authorize $9 million for the health insurance revolving fund and $11.46 million for enterprise technology projects. They also authorize $10 million for the State Data Center and $33 million for the Business Services Center. Building support receives authority for $9.5 million from the General Fund and $12 million from the parking account. Another $1 million from the parking account reimburses state parking facility debt-service costs. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026.

Youth facilities gain broader project financing

Bond proceeds for children’s services capital projects can reimburse qualifying spending from the State capital projects fund. This adds to the existing youth facilities improvement fund source. Reimbursed spending must come from appropriations or reappropriations for those projects. The Office of General Services handles studies, planning, land acquisition, design, construction, renovation, development, and related purchases for the Tonawanda Indian Community House. It performs that work for the Office of Children and Family Services; no funding amount is stated.

Buffalo parking bond sales get oversight

The Buffalo Parking Authority generally must sell bonds to the bidder offering the lowest true interest cost. Newspaper notice must appear 4–15 days before sale, excluding Sundays; negotiated sales need prior State Comptroller approval and guidelines considering minority- and women-owned businesses. Annual sales reports go to fiscal oversight bodies and designated legislative committees and must be available to the public on reasonable request. Idle money can be invested under state law and board guidelines. The authority can buy and cancel its own bonds with available funds, subject to bondholder agreements and redemption-price limits plus accrued interest.

New York City financial safeguards continue

New York City’s state financial emergency law remains in effect until at least July 1, 2035. It continues longer if specified pledged bonds and notes remain unresolved or the specified federal guarantee remains outstanding. It ends only on the later of July 1, 2035, or the date both financial conditions are cleared. This maintains the financial framework rather than providing household payments.

Stronger rights for authority bond investors

The State pledges not to impair covered authority powers, contracts, or bondholder rights; Buffalo is authorized to make a similar pledge. Those pledges last until bonds, interest, costs, and related contracts are fully settled. Security interests in listed authority property take effect when created or attached, without delivery, further action, notice, or filing. Bonds are negotiable instruments under the Uniform Commercial Code, subject to registration rules. People and entities allowed to invest in state obligations can invest in these bonds or use them for authorized public deposits, excluding trust, estate, or guardianship funds controlled by individual fiduciaries.

Technology funding for financial services oversight

The law authorizes $31 million in transfers for financial-services technology upgrades. Sources are $12.4 million each from banking and insurance funds, $1.55 million from pharmacy benefits funds, and $4.65 million from virtual currency funds. These accounts receive money from assessments authorized by state law. Transfers require the Budget Director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. The law does not specify changes to household fees or prices.

Roswell Park gains control after bond repayment

Referenced financing rules apply while qualifying Dormitory Authority hospital bonds issued on or before March 31, 2025, remain outstanding. These bonds finance Health Department loans for specified state hospital facilities. Beginning April 1, 2025, Roswell Park keeps covered operating receipts once all qualifying bonds are paid or provided for. Those receipts no longer require payment to the comptroller or deposit in the Health Department income fund. This changes institutional finances, not household health coverage or payment duties.

Funding supports housing and homelessness programs

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, the Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation may provide up to $56.381 million. Funding supports the State Supportive Housing, Solutions to End Homelessness, or Operational Support for AIDS Housing programs. The corporation may contract with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to administer it under program requirements. Transfers need Budget Director approval and must occur by March 31, 2026. They may use certified excess Mortgage Insurance Fund balances only while reserves remain sufficient for required credit ratings.

Funding supports neighborhood and rural housing

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, the Housing Trust Fund Corporation may provide up to $18.8 million for neighborhood preservation. It may also provide up to $8.05 million for rural preservation and $23.455 million for rural rental assistance. Each preservation allocation includes $250,000 for its respective coalition to provide technical help to funded companies. Transfers require Budget Director approval and must occur by June 30, 2025. They may use certified excess Mortgage Insurance Fund balances only while reserves remain sufficient for required credit ratings.

Insurance grants help nonprofit housing owners

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation may provide up to $5 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Grants help nonprofit groups assist nonprofit affordable housing owners joining a captive insurance arrangement. Transfers require Budget Director approval and must occur by June 30, 2025. They may use certified excess Mortgage Insurance Fund balances only while reserves remain sufficient for required credit ratings. These grants do not provide direct household payments.

Lower tax limits for qualifying housing projects

Qualifying tax-exempt housing projects in cities with at least one million people have a 5% limit on local and municipal taxes. The limit is based on annual shelter rent or carrying charges. Elsewhere, local lawmakers can approve a reduction to 5% or less. That approval expires after 10 years unless renewed. Without renewal, taxes return to the level set before approval.

City adult education reimbursement continues

For 2025–2026, the approved New York City workforce education program receives reimbursement capped at 58.2% of eligible hourly costs. The calculation uses the lower of approved costs or $19.55 per contact hour. Reimbursement covers at most 1,143,359 contact hours; each means 60 minutes of instruction for an eligible adult. The chapter expires June 30, 2026.

Funding supports renewable energy job training

For the state fiscal year starting April 1, 2025, the Power Authority can transfer up to $25 million to the General Fund. Its trustees must find the transfer feasible and advisable. The money supports Labor Department programs, including the Office of Just Energy Transition and training or retraining for renewable-energy jobs. The law does not set individual eligibility or worker payment amounts.

Buffalo parking claims face filing deadlines

People seeking damages from the Buffalo Parking Authority must first present their claim to an authority member, secretary, or chief executive. They must wait at least 90 days while the authority fails or refuses to settle or pay. Personal-injury and property-damage lawsuits generally must start within one year and 90 days after the claim arises. These claims must also follow municipal notice-of-claim rules. Wrongful-death claims follow separate public-authority notice and deadline rules.

Buffalo parking projects can charge fees

The Buffalo Parking Authority can set and collect rent, fees, and other charges for use of covered projects. Charges must follow applicable agreements with bondholders. The law sets no price and requires no specific fee increase.

Two education award provisions are repealed

The law repeals education award provisions in Education Law sections 666 and 667-c-1. The supplied text does not identify award amounts, eligibility, or whether anyone was receiving these awards. Actual losses for students cannot be determined from these provisions.

Discovery challenges face deadlines and clock pauses

Parties generally have 35 days after service to challenge a discovery certificate when the charging document came first. Motions must confirm timely, good-faith efforts to resolve the specific dispute; extensions require a request before the deadline and good cause. Later challenges remain available for materially changed circumstances or grounds unknowable earlier despite diligent efforts. Extensions pause the speedy-trial clock unless prosecutors unreasonably delayed responding to those efforts or filed the certificate in bad faith. Good-faith motions under the specified discovery-protection rules count as pretrial motions, and time granted to facilitate discovery compliance is excluded from the clock.

Face concealment adds an arrest offense

The law creates a class B misdemeanor for evading arrest by concealing identity. It applies during a felony or class A misdemeanor, or immediate flight from that crime. The person must partly or fully obscure their face without a legitimate purpose. They must intend to prevent identification, apprehension, or arrest for that crime.

Grand jury transcripts can arrive later

Grand jury transcript disclosure can be delayed up to 30 additional calendar days without a motion. This requires limited transcription resources to prevent timely disclosure despite reasonable efforts. Transcripts must still be shared as soon as practical and at least 30 calendar days before the first scheduled trial. A court can order a different deadline. Transcripts needing court review must go to the court promptly upon receipt.

Higher fees for real estate filers

The maximum real estate offering-statement filing fee rises from $30,000 to $60,000. Other amendment fees rise from $225 to $750. Applications to solicit interest or funds before filing, no-filing-required applications, and amendments to those applications cost $750. Preliminary-application fees no longer count as a credit against later filing fees, and the section 352-g application maximum also rises to $60,000. Preservation-plan submissions under section 352-eeeee keep their separate fee schedule; filers, not households generally, pay these fees.

Housing conversion sellers face fees and penalties

Preservation-plan sellers pay $750 for each plan amendment, pre-filing public-interest solicitation application, and amendment to that application. In New York City, knowing preservation-rule violations carry fines of $100 daily per unit, capped at $1,000 per unit. Failure to establish required funds also carries a $1,000 daily fine until establishment, capped at the required reserve amount. The Attorney General may bring enforcement actions.

Housing conversion sponsors pay filing fees

Covered preservation-plan offering filings use a separate fee schedule instead of the usual referenced filing fees. Offerings of $250,000 or less carry a $750 fee. Larger offerings pay 0.4% of the total offering amount, capped at $60,000. For larger offerings, half is a nonrefundable deposit due at submission. The balance is due when the Attorney General issues a letter of effectiveness.

Condo sponsors face control deadlines

Conversion sponsors must surrender board voting control by the earlier of two deadlines: 90 days after the first closing’s fifth anniversary, or when unsold units fall below 50% of common interests. The Attorney General can waive the 51% sales requirement after five years of proven reasonable, good-faith sales efforts. A waiver requires a new disclosed sales deadline and does not extend board control. Starting on the 180th day after enactment, covered filings leave a separate conversion-plan definition, and covered dwellings receive a city Class A definition exception. The dwelling exception ends with the law referenced in city code section 26-520.

Safety and privacy rules for voucher renters

Housing access voucher homes must meet federal voucher inspection standards and state and local health, housing, building, and safety codes. The commissioner must check household income through random, regular, and periodic reviews. Information collected must stay private and serve only income, eligibility, and benefit checks. The commissioner must promote housing choice and fair housing where possible, without weakening other fair-housing duties. These rules end May 1, 2030.

Job retention for Buffalo parking workers

The Buffalo Parking Authority must have an employee-services contract before operating a project. The contractor must retain current city or contractor workers supporting city-managed operations, and local wage rules still apply. The contractor directly pays project operation and maintenance workers. Except for management or confidential roles, the authority must use contractor employees rather than its own staff.

Young teens get revised work rules

Teens ages 14 and 15 can help parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, or grandparents sell produce at eligible farm or farmers’ market stands. School must not be in session, and a parent or guardian must accompany the teen or give written consent. General rules still require work certificates or permits, restrict work during required instruction, and generally bar factory work. The law removes the prior newspaper-carrier and special-certificate exceptions.

Youth work permits become reusable

Beginning two years after enactment, minors can reuse employment certificates for later permitted jobs by updating their online employer registration. Limited and special employment certificates are removed. The Labor Commissioner takes over certificate revocation from specified school officials, replacing listed school-performance revocation provisions. The law also repeals several older Labor Law provisions and adds a new section for minor-employment registration and a database.

Authority members gain protection and disclosures

The authority must give members specified legal protections before using powers beyond those needed to start its corporate existence. Independent contractors do not receive these protections. Authority employees must disclose direct or indirect financial interests worth at least $10,000 in activities overseen by a regulatory agency. Statements go to the Secretary of State and are open to public inspection.

Courts review overall evidence sharing efforts

Criminal courts must judge reasonable discovery efforts as a whole, not one item at a time. They must weigh all relevant circumstances, with no single factor controlling, and explain their decision. Factors include missing evidence, correction efforts, case complexity, and harm to the defense. A valid compliance certificate does not block a proportionate remedy for a violation caused by late disclosure.

Criminal evidence access and privacy rules change

Prosecutors must disclose specified evidence and other information relevant to the charges or a defense; state and local police materials count as prosecution-held evidence. Prosecutors need not subpoena material the defense can obtain through the same type of subpoena. Either side can hide Social Security and tax numbers, witness contact details, and material not required for disclosure without a protective order. Covered witness disclosures must still provide one adequate contact method, with a replacement upon request if it fails; non-discoverable redactions need an explanation. Evidence-preservation orders are limited to items the discovery law requires parties to disclose, replacing a broader standard.

Discovery certificates govern criminal trial readiness

Prosecutors must certify diligent, good-faith discovery efforts and identify disclosed items and known required items they could not obtain. More evidence provided before trial requires an added certificate; a good-faith addition after diligent efforts does not invalidate the original. A valid certificate generally is required for trial readiness unless a court finds special circumstances in the individual case. Courts can find readiness despite lost, destroyed, or otherwise unavailable evidence after reasonable, diligent, good-faith prosecution efforts. Discovery failures defeat readiness only when the relevant certificate is invalid.

Employers must verify youth work permits

Beginning two years after enactment, employers must personally verify that a minor's work certificate belongs to that minor. They must keep paper or electronic copies accessible to authorized people and destroy their copies when employment ends. Temporary-service employers assigning and paying minors to work elsewhere must give the assigned workplace a true certificate copy. That workplace must retain the copy and return it when the assignment ends.

Library aid floor continues with limits

For the 2025–2026 state fiscal year, libraries, library systems, and programs generally retain at least their 2001–2002 aid levels. Payments must still fit the appropriation, including proportional reductions when needed. These appropriations cannot pay library construction aid.

Monitored school district faces stronger oversight

Through June 30, 2027, the school monitor can attend all board meetings, including closed sessions, without counting toward a quorum. The district must provide lawful access to records and systems; its board must adopt conflict-disclosure, recusal, and documentation rules. The monitor must schedule three public hearings within 60 days of appointment, with comments considered in improvement plans. The monitor can reject district-paid out-of-state travel, assist with disputes, and recommend savings that require a board vote at its next meeting. The commissioner can overrule decisions conflicting with plans or budgets, except collective bargaining agreements; suspected plan violations pause related actions pending a decision within 20 days, with immediate compliance and remedies required for violations.

Monitored schools must plan and balance

The board and monitor must develop financial and academic plans by November 1, 2025, covering 2025–26 and four more school years. Financial plans must balance spending and revenue, include cash forecasts, and balance major operating funds; academic plans must address state-identified needs. Plans require public hearings and publication at least three business days beforehand; disputes go to the commissioner by December 1, 2025, for action by January 15, 2026. Annual budgets go to the monitor by March 1, with findings at least 45 days before voting and required corrections for plan consistency. Budget materials must be public seven days before hearings; revote budgets reach the commissioner seven days before hearings, requested information is due within three business days, and these rules end June 30, 2027.

More facility financing for listed schools

The bond cap for listed education and community facilities rises from $396.898 million to $440.397 million. Covered projects include specified special education and nonpublic schools, Nation schools, day care facilities, camps, and community centers. Proceeds must serve the listed entities and purposes, including related State costs. Debt-service reserves, issuance costs, and refinancing bonds do not count toward the cap. This is facility financing with repayment obligations, not a direct payment to families.

Roosevelt school salary aid phases out

Roosevelt Union Free School District can receive up to $4 million for salary expenses and related benefits in 2025–2026. Caps fall to $3 million in 2026–2027, $2 million in 2027–2028, $1 million in 2028–2029, and zero in 2029–2030. Covered expenses must occur April 1 through June 30 of the applicable school year. The district must apply during that period, adopt a board resolution, and obtain the Education Commissioner's approval.

School district monitor adds oversight costs

The commissioner must appoint one monitor to oversee and advise the covered school district on education and finances. The monitor serves on the school board without a vote. The district must pay reasonable official expenses and provide legal defense and liability protection equivalent to an employee’s. Where practical, the monitor needs district-finance experience and experience in a listed education area. At appointment, the monitor cannot be a district resident, district employee, or school board member’s relative.

School paperwork law lasts five more years

The law keeps one part of the 2010 paperwork reduction act in effect until June 30, 2030. Its previous expiration date was June 30, 2025. The supplied text does not describe that part’s requirements or establish household savings or costs.

Youth job enforcement rules change

Beginning two years after enactment, the Labor Commissioner can prosecute violations involving child performers and child models. The listed prosecution authority no longer includes street trades or newspaper carriers. The law also repeals two Education Law provisions concerning street trades and newspaper carriers. The supplied provisions do not explain which former requirements those repeals remove.

Agriculture agency shifts money for administration

The agriculture commissioner can request transfers of up to $3 million from department special revenue or enterprise funds. The money goes to the general fund for appropriate administrative costs. Transfers must occur by March 31, 2026. The law does not create farmer payments or change household eligibility.

Buffalo parking projects gain powers and limits

Buffalo can transfer property for parking projects, and the authority can acquire land, including through condemnation, for projects and related roads within one mile. Specified property deals require Common Council approval; state highway and arterial road closures need the state transportation commissioner’s consent. With council and mayoral approval, the authority can limit competing public parking, with public-interest exceptions; street meters remain allowed. That limit ends when bonds are discharged or bond payments remain overdue for at least three years. Selling, dispensing, or handling vehicle-service products is prohibited on covered project property.

Energy authorities redirect money for state programs

For the fiscal year starting April 1, 2025, the Power Authority is directed to transfer up to $10 million for state energy activities. Its trustees must first find the transfer feasible and advisable. The state energy research authority must also transfer $5 million to the Environmental Protection Fund by March 31, 2026. That money must come from auctions or sales of state-allocated carbon dioxide emission allowances.

Energy authority funds the state budget

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority must contribute $913,000 to the state's general fund by March 31, 2026. The transfer moves authority money into the state budget. It does not create a direct household payment or energy benefit.

Environmental agency redirects money for overhead

The environmental conservation commissioner can request transfers of up to $12.7454 million from agency special revenue funds for overhead. This includes $4 million from the Environmental Protection and Oil Spill Compensation Fund and $1.8346 million from the Conservation Fund. Transfers must occur by March 31, 2026. The law does not create a direct household payment.

State can redirect money for litigation

At the Attorney General's request, the state can transfer up to $5 million for litigation and civil recovery work. Money comes from specified federal health and human services accounts or a state recoveries and revenue account. Transfers must occur by March 31, 2026. This does not create direct household payments.

State redirects cleanup and parks money

At the budget director's request, the state can move money for cleanup, conservation, and parks by March 31, 2026. A cleanup capital transfer cannot exceed the cleanup account's cash balance. That account can also send $3 million to the general fund and $3 million to the Environmental Protection Fund. Separate transfers allow $16 million for environmental overhead and $3 million for parks grant overhead. Another $5 million supports conservation or marine resources as needed to avoid diverting conservation funds.

Transportation accounts can cover general spending

The law authorizes $477,000 from the Traffic Adjudication Account to move to the General Fund. It also authorizes $5 million from the Transportation Regulation Account for motor-carrier safety spending above legally designated deposits. Transfers require the budget director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. They do not establish household payments or change individual duties.

School bus buyers get range estimates

Sellers must give buyers an independent third-party range estimate before selling a zero-emission bus for New York school transportation. This covers purchases by school districts and their transportation contractors. Estimates must cover terrain, weather, average battery wear per 10,000 miles, and indoor or outdoor storage. Each noncompliant sale carries a civil penalty up to $1,000, recoverable by the New York Attorney General. For sales completed before January 1, 2026, sellers must share a model's estimate if they receive it later.

Buffalo parking borrowing gets firm limits

The Buffalo Parking Authority can borrow up to $65 million for covered projects and related operating and financing costs. Refinancing can exceed that cap only when the present value of debt payments does not exceed the old debt’s. Bonds, including renewals, must mature within 30 years; bond anticipation notes, including renewals, must mature within two years. Notes must follow applicable Uniform Commercial Code rules. Debts are payable only from authority funds, not State or city funds, and members, officers, and bond signers are not personally liable.

Buffalo parking finances gain budget safeguards

Buffalo can finance required parking authority agreement payments without a prior budget allowance, but must include qualifying obligations in later budgets. The authority must agree to send the city part of its excess revenue each year; no share is specified. The city treasurer must keep authority money separate, with audited payments, required comptroller warrants, and city and state financial oversight. Deposits must be secured when required and earn interest when practical. Before each bond or note issue, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority gets at least 10 days to review and comment.

State authorities gain bond financing options

Certain Metropolitan Transportation Authority bonds and notes issued before April 1, 2027, can run for up to 50 years. Refinancing bonds also face a 50-year maximum measured from the original debt’s issue date. From April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2030, listed state issuers can issue revenue bonds for another listed issuer’s authorized purposes. Existing statutory borrowing limits still apply, and Thruway Authority revenue bonds need Public Authorities Control Board approval. These rules do not directly change fares or household taxes.

University and bond funds cover debt

At the budget director’s request, $25 million must move from public university accounts to the General Fund by March 31, 2026. This includes $15 million from a State University account, $5 million from its dormitory income fund, and $5 million from City University senior-college operations. The transfer offsets state principal and interest costs and cannot exceed annual amounts otherwise due to the New York Power Authority. Separately, up to $25 million can move from specified state bond funds to the General Debt Service Fund by March 31, 2026. That money must redeem outstanding bonds or set aside funds to discharge them.

Health accounts can fund general spending

The General Fund can receive $2.59 million from the Patient Safety Center and $1 million from Nursing Home Receivership. It can also receive $130,000 from Quality of Care and $2.2 million from Adult Home Quality Enhancement. Another $500,000 can move from cannabis revenue to the Environmental Laboratory Fee Account. Transfers require the budget director’s request and must occur by March 31, 2026. These transfers do not set household payments or eligibility.

Health department shifts money for administration

The health commissioner can request up to $13.694 million from department special revenue funds for its administration account. The transfer must occur by March 31, 2026. It funds department operations rather than direct household payments or new health benefits.

State university hospitals gain transfer authority

At the university chancellor's request, up to $55 million can move from hospital-income and Long Island veterans' home accounts into capital projects. The transfer supports hospital operations and capital costs and must occur by June 30, 2026. Through March 31, 2026, the Comptroller can also move specified university funds to cover hospital operating or debt-service shortfalls. That authority requires consultation with university leadership. These transfers do not specify changes to patient bills or coverage.

Housing agency shifts operating account money

The housing commissioner can request up to $6.221 million from agency federal or special revenue funds for indirect costs. The commissioner can also request up to $5.5 million in transfers between special revenue accounts and funds. Both transfers must occur by March 31, 2026. These rules do not change housing aid eligibility or create direct household payments.

Districts can advance old pension costs

Eligible districts can apply by June 30, 2026, for a 2025–2026 apportionment covering specified extra pension accruals. It cannot exceed the extra accruals required in 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 because pension liabilities changed. District officials must certify the amount, and the school board must approve a resolution. City districts in cities over 125,000 people also need mayoral certification and approval. Approved money is paid in September of the following school year and deducted from specified district payments that year.

Higher borrowing cap for library construction

The Dormitory Authority’s bond cap for eligible library construction rises from $411 million to $455 million. The Education Commissioner must request the bonds and certify the amounts. Projects must qualify under New York’s library construction aid law. Libraries gain financing capacity, but borrowing creates public repayment obligations rather than direct household aid.

Mount Vernon schools can advance aid

Mount Vernon schools can apply for accelerated aid for school years 2024–2025 through 2053–2054. The annual maximum equals $8 million × (30 minus school years elapsed since 2024–2025) ÷ 30. Funds must cover district services, education programs, or education-law liabilities, and are deducted from specified general-aid payments. Payment requires a proper claim and required reports; regular applications use the June window, with payment due June 30. For 2024–2025, the application deadline was May 11, 2025, and payment was due May 20, 2025.

Reorganized schools use new aid base

Districts reorganizing on or after July 1, 2024, use a revised base for incentive operating aid. Their operating-aid base equals the total foundation-aid base calculated on the reorganization's effective date. The provision does not state whether any particular district receives more or less aid.

School salary aid advances require repayment

Eligible districts can seek 2025–2026 aid for salary costs incurred April 1–June 30, 2025. Aid cannot exceed those costs or the specified deficit-reduction and gap-elimination adjustment limits. Applications run from the first day of June 2026’s second full business week through the third full business week’s last day. Board approval is required; city districts in cities over 125,000 people also need the mayor’s approval. Payments are deducted from specified district aid the next school year.

State shifts money for university costs

At the Budget Director’s request, up to $55.848 million can move from the general fund to support SUNY operations. That authority runs July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Separate transfers move up to $16 million for University at Buffalo project debt and $6.5 million for University at Albany project debt. Those transfers move SUNY income-fund money to the general fund by March 31, 2026, after consultation with SUNY’s chancellor. These measures do not guarantee lower tuition or more student aid.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Budget
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 172 • No: 61

committee vote • 5/8/2025

Finance Committee Vote

Yes: 16 • No: 6

House vote • 5/8/2025

Assembly floor vote

Yes: 112 • No: 37

Senate vote • 5/8/2025

FLOOR Vote

Yes: 44 • No: 18

Actions Timeline

SIGNED CHAP.56
5/9/2025Senate
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
5/8/2025Senate
RETURNED TO SENATE
5/8/2025House
PASSED ASSEMBLY
5/8/2025House
MESSAGE OF NECESSITY - 3 DAY MESSAGE
5/8/2025House
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.183
5/8/2025House
SUBSTITUTED FOR A3006C
5/8/2025House
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
5/8/2025House
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
5/8/2025Senate
PASSED SENATE
5/8/2025Senate
MESSAGE OF NECESSITY - 3 DAY MESSAGE
5/8/2025Senate
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.973
5/8/2025Senate
PRINT NUMBER 3006C
5/7/2025Senate
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
5/7/2025Senate
PRINT NUMBER 3006B
3/10/2025Senate
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
3/10/2025Senate
PRINT NUMBER 3006A
2/21/2025Senate
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
2/21/2025Senate
REFERRED TO FINANCE
1/22/2025Senate

Bill Text

Amendment C
5/7/2025
PDF
Amendment B
3/10/2025
PDF
Amendment A
2/21/2025
PDF
Original
1/22/2025
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

High Impact

Free breakfast and lunch for students

Higher tuition awards for eligible students

Higher unemployment caps and shorter strike waits

More part-time students qualify for tuition aid

Higher highway and bridge financing limits

More funding authority for health services

Higher bond limit for housing programs

Public colleges gain higher borrowing limits

State authorizes billions for school accounts

Transfers support state universities and hospitals

Unemployment accounts gain major state funding

Higher borrowing cap for healthcare projects

Higher borrowing cap for development projects

Higher borrowing cap for environmental infrastructure

Higher borrowing caps for transportation projects

Public protection funds can support general spending

Transfers support state accounts and reserves

State gains short-term borrowing and loans

State redirects balances for budget costs

State tax receipts and infrastructure money shift

Medium Impact

More prison programs qualify for credits

Birth payments for public assistance families

Higher supplemental income and care allowances

Affordable rentals keep long-term conversion protections

Conversion plans must protect restricted rentals

Conversion tenants gain enforceable housing protections

Housing voucher pilot helps at-risk renters

Housing vouchers can cover overdue rent

Low-income renters gain cooperative ownership option

Rent protections for senior and disabled tenants

Restricted rentals get dedicated repair funds

Adults gain community college scholarship help

Airport workers gain stronger pay enforcement

Broader pay protections for airport workers

Stronger tools to collect unpaid wages

Teachers in five districts get support

Young workers gain stronger employer penalties

Tax breaks for authority bond investors

Transfers fund police and safety programs

Transfers support parks and environmental programs

Funding for hospitals and veterans’ homes

Funding for transit, highways, and bridges

More financing for mental health facilities

Minimum school aid and attendance funding

More aid options for charter-paying districts

More career education aid for schools

More salary costs qualify for school aid

Named districts get magnet school funding

School aid and spending commitments continue

School aid weights rise for districts

Employers face indexed unemployment wage base

More veterans’ relatives qualify for annual payments

Condo conversion path has affordability limits

Converted buildings need repair reserve funds

Renters can move vouchers with limits

Renters retain protections after housing conversions

Separated households face voucher continuation reviews

Voucher renters gain lease and rent safeguards

Voucher renters get help but pay shares

Larger special education classes remain allowed

New limits on late-pay damages

Nonpublic schools gain instruction approval routes

Schools restrict students' internet device use

Teen work permits move online

Higher borrowing cap for prison improvements

Higher borrowing cap for youth facilities

Higher borrowing caps for security facilities

Required local funding for child care

Schools get more electric bus time

Family service funds can shift into budget

Higher borrowing caps for state facilities

State reserves can move into general spending

State shifts money for shared technology

Brooklyn public hospital gets funding authority

New formulas shape school aid