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State lawmakers in Albany, New York, are returning to the Capitol today to continue negotiations on the overdue state budget. Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders aim to reach a tentative agreement by the end of this week, as reported by Newsday. This would allow budget bills to be approved next week, despite the budget being due on April 1.
The state has already passed multiple budget extenders to keep operations running. The latest extender, approved on Tuesday (April 22), allocates $2.4 billion to maintain state functions through Thursday. Since April 1, the legislature has approved $12.1 billion in spending based on the previous budget.
Key issues in the negotiations include changes to criminal discovery laws, a proposed ban on wearing masks with the intent to harass, and adjustments to the involuntary commitment system. Governor Hochul has emphasized the importance of these policy priorities, stating that New Yorkers are more concerned with the substance of the budget than its timeliness, according to Gothamist.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris expressed optimism about reaching agreements this week. However, the negotiations remain private, and details of the agreements have not been disclosed. The legislature is expected to pass another budget extender on Thursday if necessary.