State Budget Delayed as Policy Issues Stall Progress; Member Action Needed!
(April 15, 2025) The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 budget is now two weeks overdue, with the Legislature passing a fifth budget extender today, April 15th, to keep State operations funded at SFY 2024-25 levels through Thurs., April 17th. State legislators are likely to pass another budget extension on Thursday, as negotiations continue to move at a slow pace. Policy issues remain the reason for the delayed budget.
Legislators had been scheduled to be on their spring recess for the coming two weeks; however, with an outstanding State budget and subsequent canceled vacations, many legislators are likely to continue their budget and legislative work from district offices.
As negotiations drag on and federal actions that impact State funding evolve, uncertainty grows. LeadingAge NY is urging lawmakers to keep long-term care and aging services at the forefront of State budget discussions. But we need our members’ help to keep our budget requests top of mind!
ACTION NEEDED: Members are strongly encouraged to call and visit State legislators in their district offices over the next two weeks. Members can find legislators’ contact information and district office locations here. Phone calls and/or in-person visits will both be impactful. Please use these State budget issue briefs, including our new pieces on nursing home capital cuts and closures, to inform your phone calls and conversations with offices. Please feel free to reach out to Sarah Daly at sdaly@leadingageny.org if you would like to discuss messaging and focus of meetings with State legislators.
In addition, members are encouraged to continue your advocacy using our digital budget letters and our social media toolkit. Both will be helpful to keep older adults top of mind.
LeadingAge NY will continue to closely monitor State budget developments, and advocate for the funding and reforms that reflect the real needs of NY's older adults and the mission-driven providers who care for them.