Gov. Kathy Hochul used her fifth State of the State tackle on Tuesday to put out an formidable affordability agenda, increasing transit and housing, and enhancing public security whereas taking purpose at what she described as reckless assaults on New Yorkers by the Trump administration
In a re-election yr, Hochul repeatedly criticized insurance policies from the present federal authorities throughout her speech from Albany, framing lots of her proposals as a defensive and proactive response to actions she mentioned threaten New Yorkers’ rights, well being, and financial safety. Amongst them is a plan to advance laws that may authorize people to carry state-level civil actions towards federal officers who violate their constitutional rights.
“Whether it’s protecting New Yorkers from unprecedented escalations in federal immigration enforcement, ensuring families have access to health care, or supporting small businesses bearing the brunt of Trump’s tariffs, I will continue standing up for New Yorkers no matter what happens at the federal level,” she mentioned.
Public security and federal overreach
Hochul’s proposals aimed to take care of New York Metropolis’s record-low subway crime and improve statewide legislation enforcement. She emphasised the necessity for extra police on platforms, expanded SCOUT groups, and platform edge limitations, alongside investments in crime labs and statewide crime evaluation facilities, together with a brand new heart in Westchester.
She additionally outlined laws to crack down on 3D-printed weapons and DIY machine weapons, requiring pistol producers to stop conversion into absolutely automated weapons. In response to a latest protest exterior a synagogue in Kew Gardens in Queens on Thursday, Hochul proposed banning protests inside 25 ft of homes of worship.
She framed the measure as essential to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia whereas preserving the precise to protest elsewhere: “No one should have to fear attending their house of worship. We will create a buffer zone so that communities can practice their faith without intimidation.”
A key theme of Hochul’s tackle was shielding New Yorkers from federal authorities actions below Trump. Her proposals included establishing a state-level proper to sue federal officers for constitutional violations, defending New Yorkers in delicate areas from civil immigration enforcement with out a warrant, and early planning for the 2030 Census to make sure all residents are counted.
Extra federal protection initiatives included defending farmers from disruptive tariffs, bolstering pupil mortgage help, strengthening the meals security internet, and safeguarding entry to high-quality, reasonably priced well being care, prescribed drugs, and immunizations statewide.
In response, Authorized Support praised the Governor for taking a stand towards aggressive federal immigration enforcement and for measures to guard susceptible communities, together with growing entry to counsel and reinforcing protections for immigrants in delicate areas corresponding to colleges, hospitals, and locations of worship.
Picture by Darren McGee/ Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochul
Transit growth and security
One other centerpiece of Hochul’s tackle was funding in New York Metropolis’s transit infrastructure. As beforehand reported by New York News, the Second Avenue Subway might be prolonged westward alongside a hundred and twenty fifth Road, linking seven main subway traces and enhancing connections to Metro-North and the East Aspect.
Hochul additionally highlighted enhancements at Jamaica Station, the fourth busiest rail hub in North America. The station will endure upgrades to reinforce ADA accessibility, seating, restrooms, and commuter facilities, complemented by ongoing efforts to remove bottlenecks.
Lisa Daglian, govt director of the Everlasting Residents Advisory Committee to the MTA, described the tackle as “a love letter to transit riders” and referred to as the growth of the Second Ave. Subway extension “transformative” for tens of hundreds of riders
Public security on transit was additionally a precedence. The governor mentioned she plans to increase SCOUT groups, which pair NYPD officers with social service professionals to help people in psychological well being crises. This system will develop from 10 to fifteen groups, protecting extra stations throughout the town. Hochul additionally proposed platform edge limitations at 85 extra subway stations, a direct security enchancment for commuters.
As well as, Hochul referred to as for SEQR reform, geared toward chopping regulatory delays for transit-oriented housing and infrastructure tasks, which advocates say will assist sort out each the housing and local weather crises.
Hochul proposed measures to make auto insurance coverage extra reasonably priced, concentrating on fraud, limiting payouts for drivers partaking in illegal habits, and tightening the intense harm threshold to stop inflated claims. She additionally promised elevated transparency and incentives for protected driving.
“High car insurance rates don’t just impact drivers, they impact all New Yorkers when businesses pass on increased costs to customers. These reforms will crack down on fraud, help drive costs down and put money back in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers,” she mentioned.
Youngster care and youth companies
Alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Hochul final week unveiled what she referred to as essentially the most formidable youngster care proposal in New York’s historical past, aiming to make youngster care universally accessible, reasonably priced, and sustainably funded. In partnership with Mamdani, the scheme will launch free childcare for two-year-olds in New York Metropolis this fall earlier than accelerating the broader push towards common childcare. She made a dedication on Tuesday to implement common pre-Okay for all four-year-olds statewide by 2028.
Rebecca Bailin, govt director of New Yorkers United for Youngster Care, referred to as Governor Hochul’s youngster care plan “a breakthrough,” however pressured that extra work is required to make sure this system reaches each youngster throughout the state. She highlighted a number of priorities for lawmakers:
The plan have to be backed by sustainable income, she mentioned, “a progressive source that protects child care from future budget fights and can reach every child from birth to five. Child care is already a tax on parents, and a regressive one. It’s time to change who pays.”
Bailin additionally emphasised the significance of a common assure, noting that greater than 50 college districts throughout New York nonetheless don’t provide Pre-Okay. “Without a requirement that every district participate, tens of thousands of kids will still be locked out,” she mentioned.
She added that whereas the plan addresses gaps in New York Metropolis’s 3-Okay program, three-year-olds elsewhere within the state stay left behind. “If we’re serious about universal child care, we cannot leave them waiting,” Bailin mentioned.
Picture by Darren McGee/ Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochul
In the meantime, the Governor additionally highlighted initiatives supporting psychological well being companies for LGBTQ+ youth, increasing entry to skilled disaster counselors via the 988 Lifeline. Kei Williams, Government Director of NEW Pleasure Agenda, lauded the proposal as “decisive action” towards federal dismantling of queer psychological well being sources.
Moreover, to guard kids on-line, Hochul backed new restrictions on social media for customers below 18, together with blocking direct messages from unknown adults, disabling sure AI chatbots, limiting location monitoring, and curbing entry to on-line sports activities playing.
The Coalition for Youngsters’s Behavioral Well being, a statewide advocacy group for youth psychological well being suppliers and sufferers, praised Hochul’s concentrate on youth psychological well being however urged lawmakers to take a position $200 million in outpatient companies to satisfy crisis-level demand.
In a press release on Tuesday, Coalition President and CEO Kayleigh Zaloga mentioned the governor’s proposals don’t tackle the core problem of a “widespread lack of access to the continuum of community-based services,” and and never embody the funding vital to meet the state’s obligations.
With out elevated Medicaid reimbursement charges, together with focused inflationary will increase, nonprofit suppliers will proceed to face workforce shortages, burnout, and rising waitlists, leaving kids with out care, Zaloga warned.
What else?
On well being care, the Governor pledged to guard entry to care, curb drug prices, and safeguard immunization entry statewide, citing federal actions as a motivating issue for proactive state protections.
Hochul mentioned she raised the state’s nuclear power purpose from 1 gigawatt to five gigawatts, emphasizing that this represents extra nuclear energy than has been constructed within the U.S. in a long time.
She mentioned nuclear power is critical to satisfy future demand from manufacturing and knowledge facilities, which might be required to pay their fair proportion or generate their very own clear energy.
Hochul additionally spotlighted housing in her tackle, proposing $250 million for reasonably priced housing initiatives and $100 million to increase modern manufactured housing. She referred to as for up to date tax incentives to assist restore rent-regulated buildings, stronger penalties for abusive landlords, and expanded hire aid for seniors and folks with disabilities. Hochul moreover urged modernization of New York’s decades-old environmental evaluate course of, arguing that it now delays housing, infrastructure, and clear power tasks even when communities help them.
