Lawmakers, organizations react to Gov. Hochul’s State of the State
Attorney General Letitia James
“I am pleased with key legislative proposals outlined in Governor Hochul’s State of the State that will help New York families throughout our state. Expanding free school lunches, protecting children’s mental health, and securing affordable housing are essential issues that I have long advocated for and worked to address throughout the years. These measures will help ease the burden for struggling families and help students and teachers thrive in schools. Additionally, I am pleased that addressing mental illness is a key priority, and ensuring more available beds and services must be a key component of that effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues in state government to advance these issues and ensure New Yorkers receive the quality services and protections they deserve.”
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay
“It was encouraging to hear a number of Assembly Republicans proposals referenced in Gov. Hochul’s State of the State Address—inflation relief, public safety, and child care accessibility. While we were disappointed when these legislative solutions were blocked by Democrats in previous years, I am optimistic we can now work together to address these issues.
However, as is often the case with State of the State addresses, Gov. Hochul’s speech offered an overly optimistic picture of New York’s current state of affairs. The reality is, for six years, one-party rule has created a more expensive and more dangerous New York. Public safety and affordability are real problems, driving families and businesses away — but we need real, permanent solutions. The governor may finally be saying the right things on issues Republicans have been sounding the alarm on for years, but the record speaks for itself.
I urge caution following Gov. Hochul’s remarks claiming affordability can be addressed without a commitment to rein in out-of-control state spending. While the governor outlined ambitious proposals, there was no indication new taxes would be avoided. Furthermore, meeting Democrats’ climate goals will require billions of dollars and raise utility prices on every family. We cannot continue on this unsustainable financial path. Hopefully, the governor will address these concerns in her Executive Budget address next week.
If today was any indication, the state will fall woefully short on the urgent reforms needed to restore accountability to a dismantled criminal justice system. Until policies such as New York’s sanctuary status, Raise the Age, and bail reform are meaningfully addressed, the safety of every constituent will remain in jeopardy.
We have an opportunity in 2025 to break from the status quo and make New York a more affordable, secure and desirable place to call home. It is time to deliver the changes New Yorkers deserve and create lasting solutions that will strengthen our state for years to come.”
New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person:
NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address:
“Gov. Hochul’s address today was a welcome declaration that she is focused on making New York more affordable for working families. NYSUT shares her vision to strengthen our schools and communities through transformative policies like distraction-free learning environments, new pathways connecting kids to high-demand careers and free school meals for every student in the state.
We look forward to working with the governor and state Legislature to ensure our schools are spaces where students and educators can thrive. Together, we will fight for policies that make New York a better place to live, work and raise our children.”
As part of her address, the governor made several proposals that align with NYSUT’s legislative goals for 2025. These include:
funding for universal school meals,
a commitment to distraction-free learning environments,
expanding media literacy to combat misinformation,
tuition-free pathways for students to enter high-demand occupations,
expanded mental health resources in schools,
funding our world-class facilities at SUNY and CUNY, and
supporting our students through early childhood and family tax credits.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan
Statement from Mayor Kathy Sheehan Regarding Governor Hochul’s $400 Million Proposed Investment in Albany
“As President Biden likes to say, ‘this is a big effing deal’ — and that might be the understatement of our last four centuries along the Hudson River. $400 million for Downtown Albany is a tremendous jump-start for our Capital City. With it, we are going to promote business development, encourage more housing, enhance public safety, and create even more opportunities for our residents and visitors. No other Governor has been this supportive of Albany, and today is another example of why I am proud to call Kathy Hochul my friend. We have a true partner in the Capitol, and know that the future of our city has never been brighter.”
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, applauds Gov. Kathy Hochul’s assertion that “Your family is my fight” heard repeatedly in today’s State of the State address.
“The governor’s proposed funding of breakfast and lunch at school for all of New York’s children benefits families in a positive and concrete way,” said Michael-Aaron Poindexter, chair of the board of directors of the American Heart Association in the Capital Region, chief community officer of the Regional Food Bank and Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church. “Having meals at school goes a long way toward addressing food insecurity, promoting equity, and fostering lifelong healthy eating habits for children. The anticipated $165 savings per child each month is also a relief to parents managing family budgets.”
While that’s a good start, the Association calls on the governor to fund Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in New York’s schools.
“Gov. Hochul spoke at length about safety today,” Poindexter said. “A great way to keep families safe is to have Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) in schools. Those plans make it very clear where the AED is and what steps will be taken if someone’s heart stops in the school. In addition to the students in schools all day, schools host parents and other community members at many different times of the day. Each year, nearly 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest, and only 10 percent survive. We can change that statistic and make the state safer with these plans in our schools.”
The American Heart Association will ask Gov. Hochul and the state Legislature to allot a minimum of $1 million to support the implementation of CERPs. In addition, the Association will also continue to advocate for funding of programs that improve health, like the State Tobacco Control Program, the Hypertension Prevention Program, and the Healthy Heart Program.
Advocates from across the state will come to Albany for a Day of Advocacy on Tuesday, Jan. 28 to talk with their elected officials about these initiatives.
For information about the American Heart Association’s advocacy initiatives and to join their efforts, visit www.YoureTheCure.org.
Citizen Action NY
For over 40 years, Citizen Action of New York has been steadfastly committed to transforming New York into a just and equitable place where everyone can thrive. Following Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address, Citizen Action Interim Co-Executive Director Rebecca Garrard had the following to say:
“In a time when New Yorkers are desperate for strong, bold leadership, Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address was another glaring reminder of her allegiance to the wealthy few at the expense of working families. Her speech, filled with a woefully narrow scope of solutions and vision, fails to address the urgent needs of everyday New Yorkers who continue to struggle to make ends meet as we enter 2025.
“Despite acknowledging the affordability crisis crushing New Yorkers, Hochul’s refusal to tax the obscene wealth of billionaires and giant corporations speaks volumes. These entities rake in record profits from the hard work of New Yorkers, yet her address failed to offer the necessary relief that a fair tax on these profits could provide. The revenue generated could fund rent relief, bolster public schools, expand health care access, and ensure that all New Yorkers benefit from the wealth they help create. Yet, unsurprisingly, the State of the State contained no plan to generate revenue to fund both desperately needed new programs and programs at risk due to a potential loss in Federal funding.
“Additionally, the governor’s emphasis on “public safety” through the roll backs of crucial discovery reforms does not serve the public — instead, it provides cover for the rampant corruption of the NYPD and denies due process for anyone who might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If the state of Texas can provide transparency of evidence in a timely manner from their police officers, surely the great state of New York can do the same.
“While the proposals to expand the Child Tax Credit, provide free school meals, and provide direct cash payments to low-income mothers represent a step in the right direction, they ultimately fall short. These measures are similar to putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The scale of New York’s challenges demands a far more ambitious and comprehensive approach, one that genuinely addresses the vast disparities and ensures the wealth generated in this state is used to improve the lives of all its residents, not just the privileged few.
“The legislative battles of 2025 are shaping up to be many, but we refuse to back down. Across New York, Citizen Action members stand ready to organize during this legislative session and beyond, leveraging alliances with partners inside and outside state government. We are committed to a people-powered plan to invest in childcare, education, an end to childhood poverty, climate initiatives, and all that is necessary to build a New York where everyone can thrive.
“This fight is not just about policy—it’s about justice. It’s past time for bold, transformative action that puts the needs of the many above the profits of the few. We will not stop until every New Yorker shares in the prosperity they contribute to.”
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Woerner Responds to the Governor’s State of the State
“The themes laid out by Governor Hochul in her State of the State address today echo the issues I hear from my constituents: make the state a more affordable and safer place to live and work.
Certainly, tax cuts, childcare tax credits, and sales tax refunds are all welcome. However, I did not hear, and will be pushing for, systemic changes that lower the cost of housing and energy particularly.
I am encouraged by the Governor’s pragmatic initiatives that address public safety and severe mental illness in people who are homeless. While we made investments to increase the number of mental health beds over the last two years, there remains a significant shortage of care resources for those in need of intensive mental health services.
The Governor’s proposal to provide free tuition at community colleges for adult learners who pursue careers in fields where good paying jobs exist, but there are not enough people to fill them, is an interesting one. I look forward to hearing the details on this and all her other initiatives in the coming days.
Finally, I am disappointed that the Governor did not speak to the ongoing financial challenges facing our upstate healthcare system. Hospitals and nursing homes especially, are on a financial
precipice. A lack of dental care and primary care practitioners in rural areas means fewer people get the consistent care they need. These challenges must be taken head on and specifically addressed this year.”
Senator Jim Tedisco, R – Glenville
“If this is the Governor’s new ‘vision’ for New York State, she needs a new eyeglasses prescription!”
“The irony of all ironies is that Kathy Hochul has been the Governor for almost four years and Lt. Governor for over seven years before that and during that reign she has been at the center of one-party rule and total domination of all levers of power in Albany that has led to our state’s affordability and public safety crisis. Now she’s going to be the one to save our state! If you didn’t laugh, you’d cry.”
“The Empire State is a beautiful state with amazing and talented citizens. Unfortunately, under one-party rule that Kathy Hochul has been a leading part of, it’s become too expensive for many people to afford to live and work in, which has led to a mass escape from New York over the past few years.”
“We agree with the need to cut taxes for New Yorkers and enhance and bolster public safety to end our state’s crime crisis but missing from the Governor’s pie-in-the-sky State of the State Address was any semblance of reality as to how she’s going to pay for her ‘vision.’ What programs will the Governor cut? Where’s the cap on unsustainable state spending?”
“Forget pulling a rabbit out of a hat, the Governor’s going to need to be a magician on the order of Houdini to convince her pals in the super majorities in the Legislature to pass her vision without raising taxes and spending to even higher levels.”
“Maybe the Governor missed her calling. Instead of running for Governor, she should have become a comedian because her State of the State proposal is laughable.”
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara
“As Chair of the Committee on People with Disabilities, I have to start by addressing the critical workforce challenges in the disability services sector,” said Santabarbara. “Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of support for individuals with disabilities, yet they remain undercompensated. This ongoing workforce crisis must be met with substantial investments to stabilize this essential sector and ensure quality care for our most vulnerable populations.”
Beyond disability services, Santabarbara stressed the need for action on affordability and public safety. “Families across New York are struggling with rising costs of living, from housing to healthcare to childcare. We need bold, long-term solutions that go beyond temporary relief, giving working families the stability they need to thrive,” said Santabarbara.
On public safety, Santabarbara emphasized the importance of both prevention and accountability. “Public safety is fundamental to strong communities. Law enforcement must have the tools and resources they need, but we must also hold repeat offenders accountable and strengthen community-based programs to address the root causes of crime.”
Santabarbara concluded by stressing the importance of bold and decisive action to meet New York’s challenges head on. “Our state’s future depends on our ability to build a thriving and equitable environment where all residents, including individuals with disabilities, can succeed. By prioritizing workforce stability, affordability, and public safety, we can create a stronger, safer, and more inclusive New York for everyone.”
National Federation of Independent Businesses
The Governor’s proposal to cut personal income taxes is welcome news, as many small businesses pay their taxes through personal income tax. NFIB is hopeful this tax cut will benefit small business owners, but more needs to be done. Small businesses are the engines that drive the economy, and they have struggled to survive in the Empire State. New York’s tax and regulatory environments have direct impacts on small businesses’ bottom lines – when the cost of doing business goes up, prices go up, jobs and business growth are negatively impacted, and the state’s economy continues to lag. To make New York more affordable, the state needs to tackle high Unemployment Insurance taxes, costly lawsuits, rising utility bills, and overregulation.”
Keith Chambery, Executive Director of the New York Providers Alliance
“Inadequate Medicaid funding threatens the care and dignity of our seniors across Upstate New York. From the Hudson Valley to the North Country across to Buffalo, the average upstate nursing home is losing $1.8 million every year. This is leading to staff shortages, limited admissions or closure. The strain on nursing homes doesn’t just affect residents and their families — it disrupts the entire healthcare system, causing some patients to linger in hospitals, clogging emergency rooms and delaying care. The Senate and Assembly have recognized the need for meaningful rate increases in recent years. We implore Governor Hochul to fulfill the intent of the Medicaid statute by adjusting reimbursement rates to reflect the actual cost of care in the FY 2025-26 New York State budget.”
Legal Aid Society
“We are disappointed that Governor Kathy Hochul, in her State of the State address, called for rollbacks to New York’s widely successful and transformational discovery statute.
“Since its enactment in 2020, this reform brought New York in line with evidence-sharing practices in most states and corrected a deeply flawed system that, for decades, contributed to wrongful convictions, mass incarceration, and case delays.
“Efforts were made to clarify the statute, and in 2022, lawmakers, executive staff members, prosecutors, and defense attorneys collaborated to address the alleged ‘loophole’ the Governor claims still exists, which now requires the defense to disclose any missing discovery to the prosecution as soon as they are able.
“In late 2023, the New York State Court of Appeals, our highest court, reaffirmed that the statute has never required a perfect prosecutor — only a diligent one. Diligent prosecutors are not penalized for inadvertent mistakes, and reopening the discovery debate serves only to distract us from addressing the known drivers of violence in our communities and the proven solutions to combat them: access to stable and secure housing, as well as community-based health and mental health services.
“To the extent that there are issues with the efficiency of evidence sharing, the legislation recently introduced by Senator Myrie and Assembly Member Lasher addresses those concerns. Prosecutors frequently attribute their discovery violations, that sometimes lead to dismissals, to their inability to obtain information and material from the police. This issue is best addressed by increasing their access to police databases, which this legislation seeks to accomplish.
“Similarly, adequate funding must be consistently allocated to both prosecutors’ and public defenders’ offices. The initial legislation lacked sufficient resources, hindering its potential and underscoring the importance of proper investment to achieve its goals. The funding allocated in recent years to hire staff and improve technology should first be allowed to take effect.
“We are also strongly opposed to Governor Hochul’s plan to expand involuntary commitment initiatives for people facing mental health crises. Waiting for those with serious mental illness to reach a breaking point, forcibly hospitalizing and medicating them, and then releasing them back into the community only to repeat the cycle fails to address public safety or meet the needs of people with mental illness.
“Instead, as the Governor also suggests, we should increase access to outpatient services and invest in models like Assertive Community Treatment teams, which meet people where they are and provide direct support. We urge the Governor to prioritize investments in these services and support solutions like Daniel’s Law and the Treatment Not Jail Act, both of which offer common-sense approaches that prioritize treatment and care over incarceration and isolation.
“With every session, The Legal Aid Society remains steadfast in our commitment to working with lawmakers on legislation that serves the best interests of the people we represent.”
New York State Conservative Party
“Governor Kathy Hochul is going to tax, spend, and toll financially teetering New Yorkers into ‘affordability’ whether they like it or not. That’s the clear but absurd takeaway from the Governor’s State of the State address today.
“Mrs. Hochul seems to actually believe that expanding government — taking and spending even more of our money — is the way to bring relief to cash-strapped New Yorkers who perennially pay some of the highest taxes in America. That’s the exact governing attitude that put working- and middle-class New Yorkers in the hole they now occupy. Where is the common sense?
“The Governor has also made clear that she refuses to do anything of substance to address the crime and illegal migrant crises that her party directly caused with pro-criminal laws. Nothing but the full repeal of cashless bail, re-implementation of ‘Broken Windows’ policing, and ending New York’s counterproductive ‘sanctuary’ policies will accomplish those goals.
‘To Governor Hochul and her progressive colleagues running all three branches of state government, ‘affordability’ is the new buzzword. But to millions of New Yorkers eyeing the exit doors to other states, it’s the antonym for New York. This state is famously unaffordable, and Governor Hochul’s tired, big-government vision will only make things worse. Governor Hochul laid an egg at The Egg.”
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli
“Today, Governor Hochul outlined her new priorities as the state prepares for a different federal landscape and tries to help New Yorkers address affordability and improve quality of life in our state.”
“Many of New York’s families are feeling squeezed by the high cost of living. The Governor’s proposals for expanding child tax credits and providing school meals are significant actions addressing New York’s startlingly high rate of children living in poverty. These and other proposals and how we pay for them will be debated, and I look forward to the details when the state budget is released later this month.”
Assemblyman Chris Tague, Schoharie County
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has spiraled into crisis after crisis. Families can’t afford to live here, businesses are fleeing, and our communities are less safe. Instead of delivering real solutions, Governor Hochul’s State of the State offers shallow words, superficial ideas, and empty rhetoric – all while New Yorkers pay the price.
The time for excuses is over. We need bold, decisive action to restore common sense and prosperity to New York. Governor Hochul has shown she doesn’t have what it takes to lead.
Our state deserves and must demand better.”