In this communication you will find:

• 2026 New York State of the State Address: Overview and Key Proposals
• Take Action: Let NY State Know About Your Contract Payment Delays Today
• NY State Westchester Assembly Delegation Virtual Budget Hearing

2026 New York State of the State Address, January 13, 2026

Overview and Key Proposals
Prepared by Deanne Braveman, Esq., NPW Lobbyist
Senior Vice President

OVERVIEW

On January 13, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address, outlining a wide-ranging policy agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Her priorities span affordability and cost-of-living pressures, consumer and data privacy protections, public safety, healthcare, education, transportation and infrastructure, housing, energy and sustainability, and long-term economic development.

As is typical, the address did not include specific bill language, fiscal details, or timelines; those are expected to emerge through forthcoming legislation, the Executive Budget, and agency briefings. The Legislature is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the agenda.

The Governor is expected to release her Executive Budget next week, which will provide detailed fiscal and policy proposals for legislative consideration.

Find the memo with the full details and key proposals HERE.

YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON KEY PROPOSALS:

• Tax Relief & Income Support

Affordability

• Cost-of-Living
• Child Care Expansion & Early Education

Public Safety

• Gun Violence and Illegal Firearms
• Protecting Civil Rights and Safety in Sensitive Locations
• Law Enforcement Capacity and Criminal Justice System Improvements
• Emergency Preparedness and First Responder Well-Being

• Protecting and Expanding Access to Care
• Healthcare Workforce
• Investigating in Equity

Education

• Teen Mental Health First Aid
• Getting Offline and Outside
• Advancing Student Learning
• Higher Education

Technology

• Consumer Protection
• AI Innovation, Jobs & Economic Development
• Enhancing Enforcement Against Illegal Digital Products
• Responsible AI & Consumer Protection
• Protecting Kids Online & Digital Wellbeing

Transportation

• Infrastructure
• Safety

Housing

• Development
• Affordability
• Rentals

Energy & Sustainability

• Clean Energy
• Workforce and Economic Development
• Empowering the Healthcare Workforce
• Modernization Across the State
• Agricultural Resiliency

Find the memo with the full details and key proposals HERE.

New York State Contracting - TAKE ACTION NOW

As you know, the Governor has vetoed S7001 (Mayer)/A7616 (Paulin), legislation that would have strengthened New York State’s accountability for prompt contracting and timely payments.

At the December 11th meeting of the Governor’s Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee, Cathleen Benjamin, Appointments Secretary, expressed strong support for the nonprofit sector and invited nonprofits to reach out to her directly if they are overdue for payments from NYS for services already delivered.

Take Action Now!

If you are experiencing chronically delayed payments and contracting issues at the State, please click the button below to complete the required information so that Cathleen Benjamin can respond to your concerns.

Participate in the Westchester Assembly Delegation Virtual Budget Forum on January 30th

The forum will be held virtually on Friday, January 30th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Please register in advance to receive a time slot. 

Written comments are due by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, January 28th,  and will be shared with the full Westchester Assembly Delegation. You may also review the Governor’s budget proposals at https://www.governor.ny.gov. Flyer