Governor Hochul Releases NYS FY26 Executive Budget

Last Tuesday, Governor Hochul released her $252B FY26 Executive Budget. The proposal includes funding for $1B in tax cuts for middle class New Yorkers, $3B in rebate checks, $800M to expand the state’s child tax credit, $340M for school meals for every student, and $59M to provide more police officers on subway trains. The state legislature will now hold joint budget hearings throughout the month of February before introducing their own one-house budget proposals.

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council passed legislation requiring middle and high schools to offer a peer-based mental health literacy training, and requiring DOH to create student wellness club toolkits to support middle and high school students. Additionally, the Council passed a bill preventing former heads of NYC agencies, Chiefs of Staff, Chief Counsels, and Senior Advisors from lobbying any city agency for one to two years, depending on their position. Legislation was also introduced expanding current rules and requiring all restaurants to post sodium warnings and added sugar notifications for food. You can find all of the legislation that was passed and introduced here.

NYC Agencies to Designate Chief Nonprofit Officer

Mayor Adams issued Executive Order 47, instructing agencies that directly engage in substantial contracting activities with nonprofit organizations to designate a Chief Nonprofit Officer. The Chief Nonprofit Officer will report to the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. Each agency’s Chief Nonprofit Officer will be responsible for coordinating with these offices to improve services and expedite payments and communications with nonprofits.