2025 state budget

Hochul and state lawmakers approved $400 million in public and private funds for the project known as Empire AI in the new state budget.

On Friday afternoon, the Senate and Assembly were debating bills, but one remaining measure that would include a comprehensive housing deal and distribute school aid, was not yet completed.

The crackdown includes hate crimes, retail theft and illegal cannabis shops.

Governor Hochul and state lawmakers say that the attack occurred at around 12:30 AM Wednesday, in the offices where bills are written and digitally printed.

Hochul made the announcement in her ceremonial office at the State Capitol. The state’s democratic legislative leaders did not attend the announcement. They were still going over the details of the tentative accord with their members.

Lawmakers are due back in Albany Monday to pass a fourth extender.

The state budget is nearly two weeks late, with no end in sight. Lawmakers are expected back in Albany Monday to pass a fourth extender.

It’s the second year in a row that Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature have tried to enact plans that would ease the state’s affordable housing crisis.

New York State lawmakers plan to meet again on Thursday to pass another spending extender that will last until April 16. The budget was due April 1.

Gov. Hochul is proposing new stiffer penalties including making it a felony to assault a store employee. But Democrats in the Senate and Assembly are reluctant to increase criminal penalties. Neither house included the new criminal penalties in their budget plans.