ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters at the state Capitol on Tuesday that she expected the states budget negotiations to wrap up soon. It was due April 1.
“Its been a long process,” she said. “I do see a path to ramp up the state budget, perhaps as early as the end of this week.”
Legislators missed the deadline for adopting a state budget in part because of disagreements over the governor’s proposals to change bail rules and her ambitious plan to spur the creation of 800,000 new homes statewide over the next ten years. It’s common in New York for policy issues to be included in state budgets.
Hochul’s housing plan was ejected from the budget amid opposition from suburban lawmakers concerned about local zoning mandates. Hochul said she will push some of her plan’s elements this legislative session after the budget is passed.
Hochul’s proposed budget includes a change to the current bail law to give judges greater discretion by removing the “least restrictive means” standard to ensure a defendant returns to court. Hochul describes it as a clarification of guidelines, but liberal lawmakers have resisted further changes to the state’s bail law.
Hochul declined to comment on whether an agreement had been reached on bail, but said she is “satisfied with where we are today.”
FILE – The New York State Capitol (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)