13 Mar Highlights of the Senate & Assembly One-House Budget Bills

Posted at 14:08h in Uncategorized by

The New York State Senate and Assembly released their One-House Budget proposals—the Houses’ formal response to the Executive Budget proposal—on Monday, March 9, and passed them on Thursday, March 12. The Governor, Senate, and Assembly now begin their “three-way” budget negotiations in earnest.

While we are encouraged to see several priorities included in the One-House Budget proposals, these should be viewed as ‘wish lists.’ With proposed spending totaling billions over available funding, inclusion in a One-House bill does not guarantee a spot in the final budget. We must maintain our momentum and continue advocating to ensure these critical investments remain a priority in the final negotiations. (Make a difference in a few seconds by submitting a One-Click letter to your state representatives today by clicking here!)

The General Budget Conference Committee will hold their initial meeting on Monday, March 16th at 4:30 p.m. to begin the process of reconciling each House’s budget proposal. The Senate and Assembly have released the complete schedule for this year’s Joint Budget Subcommittees, which can be viewed here. Even though the New York State Constitution requires the budget to be balanced and passed by April 1, it’s been many years since New York had an on-time budget. Because the Governor and the full NYS Senate and Assembly are up for election in November and primaries are in June, the budget is anticipated to be completed shortly after April 1, 2026.

The following are highlights of the Senate and Assembly One-House budget proposals by program area. The CP State chart comparing the Governor’s, Senate, and Assembly budgets will be available shortly.

 

OPWDD

Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) – The Governor proposed a 1.7% TII but did not include CCOs in the TII.

  • Assembly: Increases the TII to 4%, with 2.3% of that to be used to support targeted salary increases for support staff, direct care staff, clinical staff, and non-executive administrative staff. Does not include CCOs.
  • Senate: Increases the TII to 4% with 1.3% targeted for workers. It also expands the TII-eligible entities as proposed in S.3669B. Does not include CCOs.

OPWDD Care Demonstration Program

  • Assembly: Includes a proposal to extend the legal authority for the OPWDD Care Demonstration Program through 2028.
  • Senate: Includes language to extend the OPWDD Care Demonstration Program for an additional two years, through March 31, 2028 (S.4848).

Closure of State Operated IRAs

  • Both the Senate and Assembly add language to extend legal authority for the OPWDD to provide notification of closures or transfer of state-operated individualized residential alternatives to the legislature and labor organizations through 2028.

 

DOH

Early Intervention (EI) – The Governor did not propose any increase for the EI program.

  • Assembly: Provides $18 million to increase Early Intervention rates by 5%.
  • Senate: Provides $13 million for EI Rate Increases.

Health care scope of practice – The Governor proposes expanding certain health care professionals’ (medical assistants and certified nurse aides) scope of practice and transferring health care professionals’ oversight from SED to DOH.

  • Assembly: Intentionally omitted.
  • Senate: Intentionally omitted.

 

SED – Special Education

FAPE 22 – The Governor did not provide language or funding for school districts to educate students with disabilities through their 22nd birthday.

  • Assembly: Did not provide language or funding for school districts for FAPE 22.
  • Senate: Calls on the Executive to provide additional local assistance to districts for a free and appropriate education (FAPE) to students with disabilities until they turn age 22.

The Senate also added:

  • $15 million for Excessive Teacher Turnover Grants.
  • $15 million for Direct Care Support Turnover Grants.
  • $30 million for 853 Schools’ Capital projects.
  • Language to provide interim plus rates to include the annual growth rate amount for rates approved in the current school year and annually thereafter.
  • Language to increase tuition rates consistent with the Consumer Price Index.
  • Language expressing concern about new interim guidelines that may restrict approval of capital projects for 853 schools, 4410s, and Special Act School Districts.

 

OTHER

Rent freeze programs for seniors and people with disabilities (Part V): The Governor proposed to increase the income eligibility cap from $50,000 to $75,000 for programs that provide tax credits to offset rent increases.

  • Assembly: Intentionally omitted.
  • Senate: Same as the Governor’s version, with an addition that would index future increases of the cap to inflation.

Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program – The Governor does not include any new funding.

  • Assembly: Provides $50 million for the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment.
  • Senate: No new funding.

 

CP State will continue to advocate for investments in all budget areas funding affiliate programs to include all our affiliates and generate the highest level of support. Please email Barbara Crosier at bcrosier@cpstate.org or call 518-436-0178 with any questions or concerns.

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