Senator Fahy’s Statement on Release of FY2026 Executive State Budget Proposal

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany) released the following statement today following Governor Hochul’s release of the FY2026 Executive State Budget Proposal:

“This year’s $252 million budget proposal is a robust starting point for addressing the cost of living and housing crises many families and workers continue to grapple with. Affordability remains top of mind for the Capital Region and New Yorkers. I’m pleased to see a proposed first-time homebuyer grant program, record expansion of New York’s child tax credit and improved access to affordable childcare, free universal school meals, no new taxes or fees for middle class families and the lowest middle-class tax rate in 67 years, investments to lower rising utility bills and energy costs, and further investments in college affordability to alleviate the financial burden on our middle-class families and workers.

To make our communities safer, I’m encouraged to see $85M in new funding directed towards gun violence prevention and law enforcement collaboration. Record investments in the state’s CHIPS program will improve our roads and bridges across Albany, Schenectady, and Montgomery Counties and create good-paying union jobs.

On a local front, the game-changing investment for Albany of $400M in capital funds is one of the most exciting parts of this budget proposal and I look forward to getting this done for our Capital Region. 

As the new Chair of the Disabilities Committee, I’m looking forward to working with the Governor on her proposal to raise the proposed Workers with Disabilities Tax Credit to $5,000, and to meaningfully increasing wages for direct support professionals (DSPs) to strengthen the dedicated workforce that serves New Yorkers living with disabilities.

Finally, I question the lack of targeting when it comes to the $3B one-off rebate checks aimed at addressing inflation and combatting the affordability—we can better target direct relief and also invest in effective alternatives. I look forward to working with the Governor and my legislative colleagues to craft a final budget that delivers real relief for New Yorkers, invests in the Capital Region, and puts middle-class families first.”

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