April 13, 2026 · 2,447 words · 9 speakers · 87 segments
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Mr. Speaker, will you please call the house to order?
The house will come to order. In the absence of clergy, let us pause for a moment of silence. Visitors are invited to join members in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, for liberty and justice for all.
A quorum being present, the clerk will read the journal of Friday, April 10th.
Mr. Speaker, I move to dispense with the further reading of the journal of Friday, April 10th, and at the same stand approved.
Without objection, so ordered. ordered. So we have a quote today from Martin Cornfield, who is an author, and the quote says, if we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.
And these words are from Martin Cornfield, who is an author. Mr. Speaker, if I can have the members attention to announce the schedule for today. Members have on their desk an A main calendar. Before any housekeeping and or introductions we will be calling for the following committees to meet. Ways and means and rules. These committees will produce an A calendar which we will take up today. I will announce any further floor activities as we proceed. So with that, as a general outline, Mr. Speaker, let us begin by calling for the Ways and Means Committee
to meet in the Speaker's conference room. Ways and Means to the Speaker's conference room. Ways and Means to the Speaker's conference room.
On a motion by Mr. Bronson, page 32, calendar 295, Bill number 8-845-1-A, the amendments are received and adopted.
We have no introductions this afternoon.
Mr. Fall. Can the House stand at ease?
On Mr. Fall's request, the House, the motion, we stand at ease.
Thank you.
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I like the worst money. It's on, but the light bulb right now. Okay, cool. Mr. Speaker, would you please call the House back to order?
The House will come to order. Mr. Fall?
Members have on their desk an A calendar. Mr. Speaker, I now move to advance the A calendar.
On a motion by Mr. Fall, the A calendar is advanced. Page 3, Rules Report 93. Clerk will read.
Assembly number 10935, Rules Report 93, Mr. Pretlow, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
On a motion by Mr. Pretlow, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is advanced. Governor's message is at the desk. Clerk will read.
I hereby certify to an immediate vote, Kathy Hochul, Governor.
Exclamation, please. An explanation has been requested. Mr. Pretlow.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon, everyone. Before us, we have an extender bill. As we continue to negotiate the final state budget, this extender takes us through April the 16th. It includes funding for institutional payroll public health programs unemployment insurance public assistance programs veterans programs and general state charges
Mr. Palmasano?
Yes, Mr. Speaker, will the chairman yield for a few questions?
Mr. Chairman, will you yield?
A few is three, yes, sir.
Chairman yields.
In multiple parts. Just kidding.
Well, you answered a couple quick questions already with your answer. The first question I wanted to ask you, and I mentioned in the committee, but for the floor, with this being our third extender, how much is the total amount we are spending through these three extenders?
Since April 1st, it was $7.4 billion.
Okay. And this extender is how much of an increase over the last one we passed?
$3.4 billion.
Okay. And you mentioned this as the institutional payroll, correct?
Yes.
So that would be for like DOCS, OCFS, OPWD, is that correct?
Yes. Yes.
Okay. And since this goes to Thursday, what payroll and other state expenses would we need to account for in a fourth budget extender for taking it up on Thursday?
Just the emergency payroll.
Okay, for like the National Guard?
Yes.
Do you expect at this point in time, I know we have to plan for an extender, we might be taking up any budget bills at that particular day?
I would hope so, but I don't foresee that in the extremely very near future.
I can appreciate that, Mr. Pratlow. I did want to do a little baseball analogy with this discussion, too. I know we talked about hopeful on opening day. So right now we have three budget extenders. One budget bill has passed. Now we have nine budget bills to pass. In this discussion, based on your knowledge and your conference's knowledge, where we are in our budget negotiations, what inning would you say we're in in the ballgame in the process?
In the middle or extra innings, depending on your group?
It depends.
If we're playing Little League, it's a seven-inning game. We're close. If we're playing Big League, not so much.
Okay. So we're not even in extra innings yet. Okay, so I hear you. We're definitely not here now. So we're going to do another extender on Thursday. We'll come back the following week. That will be extender four, probably five. That depends on the governor, but it should be around that year. I understand that. So do you anticipate how many more extenders we might need before we actually take up budget bills?
I'm hoping that the next one is our final, but that's not looking that bright. But my hope springs eternal, as I said.
I know that's a good buzz line I hear you say often. And it's good to be hopeful. I'm hopeful, but not so optimistic, unfortunately. So here now we are 12 days late with the budget. The public and this body really deserves to know where we stand on some major sticking points in the negotiations. So maybe I could ask a few questions if you could possibly clarify, if you could clarify on some of these things, some of the policy proposals. I know you said in the past that those policy proposals are sticking up. Relative to the auto insurance reforms, do you have any update on where we stand there? And has the governor maybe provided any information about how premiums will be reduced with her policy?
Not at this point.
Okay. How about relative to some of the proposals the governor has talked about on the climate proposals, any update on any of those or where they stand?
We're working closely toward climate. But no, my personal main focus is on the fiscal aspects of the budget and not policy.
I understand. I do understand it The reason I just asking the question is because the public is still kind of wondering what going on So I just asking if you know where on some of these things like one example just this week we seen bipartisan support to delay the electric school bus mandate Is that a part of the discussions that might be going on in the policy discussions around the climate agenda?
Well, that's part of CLCPA, yes.
Yeah, okay. So there is possibilities maybe a delay in the school bus mandate that might be a possibility?
It is a possibility.
All right. Any proposals being discussed to help businesses and homeowners and families with rising energy costs?
That's part of the discussion on CLCPA also. Energy costs continue to rise. Gasoline is going through the roof now. Fuel oil is going through the roof. Diesel oil is, diesel fuel for cars is $5, which translates to home heating oil being over $5 a gallon. This is all part of the discussions now. We're trying to lower those costs.
I understand and I appreciate that, especially with the report that came out from NYSERDA a couple weeks ago about the cost increases to residents based on the policies that are in place. Those policies were throided by the current administration's removal of funding that was earmarked for wind and solar generation. generation. So with those funds from the federal government being drawn, it puts us in a bind. So we don't have the battery storage nor the ways to facilitate the construction of wind and solar energy. And we could certainly have more of a lengthy debate on that, but we don't need to do that right now. The other part I wanted to talk about with the budget policies, we hear a lot about tax increases. We know that New York is dead last in competitiveness. Do we know where we stand on the process of tax increase? You know, in your one-house budget, you guys had billions of dollars in tax increases. The governor says no. Is that still part of the discussions and negotiations that are going on at this point in time?
Well, this part of the discussion, when we're talking fiscal items, but so far we've basically only been talking policy.
Yep. And so I guess that would just answer the next question I had. So there's really no discussion on what we have for a total spending amount, all funds, or out-year budget gaps and things of that nature then, right, at this point in time, since we're focusing on the policy issues, is that right?
Yes.
All right. All right, Mr. Chairman, thank you for your time. I appreciate it very much. Mr. Speaker, on the bill.
On the bill.
Well, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, here we are, April 13th. This is our third budget extender. We passed one budget bill. We have nine more budget bills to pass. You know, jokingly, I said, what inning are we in? Sounds like we're in the middle. But at what point are we in extra innings? I mean, we're already late. It seems like it's late now. So we're 12 days past the April 1st deadline, and yet there are even more basic questions that remain out of reach for us and the public. We've asked here today again about major policy issues, spending and taxes, and really the consistent answer is we're not really sure because of policy. We just don't have those answers. And I think that's a problem. We should have more accountability and answers for the public because they expect us to be doing our job. If there are issues holding up a budget over a quarter of a trillion dollars, and they can't be described and discussed at a high level, then the public are really not part of this process. And from where I sit and we sit, this process has not changed. It's still three leaders in a room making decisions without public visibility, without meaningful member input, and without accountability. Instead of hearing about progress on real issues, we see headlines going around about pothole tours, about political... endorsements and a so-called budget tour across the state when we don't even have a budget yet, so I don't understand that. What's changed over time is not just the timeline, it's the expectation. A late budget used to be the exception, now it seems like the default and the norm, and something happens when a budget becomes a default. Accountability starts to disappear, and that's problematic. There are no deadline pressures, there's no clear updates, no defined process for members to engage in. It's just ongoing negotiations behind closed doors. So the question becomes, when is this going to change? When do we move to a process where members are informed, where the public actually understands the issues that we're talking about, and when deadlines actually mean something? And when there is no transparency and there's no accountability, and the result is simple, the public loses faith in the system, and we know they continue to lose faith in the system. That said, this extender is necessary. We absolutely have an obligation to pay our state employees, make sure services continue, and that the government remains open. So for that reason, I will certainly be supporting this extender here today, but let's be clear, keeping the government open is the bare minimum. And supporting this extender should not be mistaken for supporting this process? Absolutely not. Because, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, until there is greater transparency in this process, clearer communication, and real accountability, we will keep finding ourselves in the same position, late, uncertain, and in the dark. And New Yorkers deserve better. But I will be voting yes on this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Read the last section.
This act shall take effect immediately.
The clerk will record the vote.
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Are there any other votes? Announce the vote results.
Ayes 132, nays 0.
The bill is passed. Mr. Fall?
Mr. Speaker, do we have further housekeeping or resolutions?
We have no other housekeeping or resolutions, Mr. Fall.
I now move that the assembly stand adjourned until Tuesday April 14th tomorrow being a legislative day and that we reconvene on Thursday April 16th at the call of the speaker
On Mr. Fall's motion, the House stands adjourned.
Thank you. Thank you.