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Lawmakers in Albany, New York, are meeting again today to discuss the state budget, which missed its April 1 deadline. The legislature passed a $1.7 billion budget extender on Tuesday (April 1) to keep the government running through today. Without a new budget, another extender may be necessary.
According to City & State NY, policy disputes, rather than financial issues, are causing the delay. Governor Kathy Hochul's proposals on criminal evidence-sharing laws and involuntary commitments are key sticking points. State Budget Director Blake Washington stated that the governor is committed to these changes and is prepared to extend negotiations as long as needed.
State Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger expressed frustration over the delay, noting that fiscal items are being held up by policy discussions. The New York Post reported that Hochul has not signed an on-time budget in four years.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie mentioned that discussions on discovery laws are moving forward, but concrete proposals from the governor are still awaited. State Sen. James Skoufis, whose mask restriction proposal is part of the discussions, noted that negotiations are ongoing and may lead to changes in the proposal.
If a budget agreement is not reached by today, another extender will be needed to fund the government through Monday (April 7). The cycle of extensions will continue until a consensus is reached.