State Legislature Passes Budget Extender, Signaling Delayed SFY 2026-27 Budget
(March 31, 2026) NYS’ April 1st budget deadline is once again approaching without a final agreement in sight. As negotiations between Governor Hochul and the Legislature continue to stall over policy differences, lawmakers are preparing for another late state budget this year.
Today, March 31st, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, the first budget extender of 2026. The extender bill will keep government operations funded and ensure that state workers are paid through next Tuesday, effectively extending the budget timeline into the first week of April.
This year’s budget delays stem from ongoing negotiations over several major policy issues, including reforms to the state’s auto insurance laws and proposed adjustments to the 2019 climate law. Discussions around taxes, school aid, and pension reform, particularly fixes to the state’s Tier 6 system, remain unresolved as the clock runs down. With lawmakers scheduled to recess for the Easter and Passover holidays later this week, the extender ensures that state government continues to function while negotiations stretch into April.
LeadingAge NY continues to actively engage with lawmakers and state officials as budget talks proceed. We attended approximately 20 meetings in Albany on Wed., March 26th and scheduled several virtual meetings for the following days. We will continue to keep members updated on state budget developments as we learn of them.
With budget work ongoing, we ask you to please continue to use your voice to keep the pressure on policymakers, using the below tools:
Thank you for continuing your budget advocacy throughout this extended process. Your continued involvement is critical to our success in the final budget.
Contact: Sarah Daly, sdaly@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8845