[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6125962,"mediaKeyId","2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0","parentId",2674211,"title","Minority members criticize budget size, raise renewable energy and electric school bus concerns","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1270000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0&start=1270&end=1270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0/thumbnail_1270000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125962/New-York/Minority-members-criticize-budget-size-raise-renewable-energy-and-electric-school-bus-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125962-353b005644efc4e55c837163e2a135f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787118&Signature=NPgSzBgJk4ju60SCd7wETmqiqWhhiknDUdJop8zxxNktQDXxteWTPEPEXvYFrOKVowaGBtmuW-65L5X6SwuBjQ3ENM4GAEzvlqyTg0ZJ7XnjaiqDhR~Velq~CQIKjD6-xbcyotZfPVgrQf2i1OZioUqFOsuHGasJX87kamd776Q~MaBeCqz4B2vFzi6JzhTgl4LfDeIJYtsI38qoAtQM619vHFvCnZsu4p0Bsd~CZaJkyDJb4tSUB840a0tXEbHLToK4lxtNKPn-5W1JEEUYN4eQY8uS0diqM-V8vSfYQWHhJOmLMXJ95zO6ixloDebEi6~fUYqtHs0UlDB5K4MYRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","NYSenate","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","During the joint budget kickoff, Assembly minority members used their time to criticize the overall size of the proposed one‑house budgets and to raise concerns about energy policy and education transportation mandates.

Assembly minority speaker Chris Hague said the minority supports the New York Food Insecurity, Farm Resiliency and Rural Poverty Act (A.3623 of 2025) but warned about broader policy choices. \"The farm labor wage board's decision to lower overtime thresholds to 40 hours threatens the survival of Upstate New York farms,\" Hague said. He also criticized what he described as insufficient clarity around the costs and benefits of implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), saying residents face \"lost farmland, ruined views, and potential environmental hazards from wind and solar projects,\" as presented by minority speakers.

Hague also called the electric school bus mandate infeasible given cost estimates presented by his conference. The minority stated the mandate could cost as much as $15,000,000,000 and said the majority's $200,000,000 proposal to support the transition was inadequate.

The minority framed these comments within a broader critique of overall state spending levels, citing year‑over‑year increases in the proposed budgets and urging greater fiscal restraint. Majority chairs responded by outlining prioritized investments and said they would continue to negotiate with the governor.

No formal votes were taken during the session; the comments were positioned as political and policy input in a larger three‑way budget negotiation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 Joint Budget Subcommittee on Environment/ Agriculture/ Housing - 03/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly minority speakers warned the one-house majority budgets increase state spending sharply, criticized CLCPA implementation impacts on farms and landscapes, and called the proposed electric school bus mandate and funding insufficient compared with their cost estimate.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NY, New York","taxId",77685,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125966,"Lawmakers propose new capital dollars for parks, New York Swims and cultural infrastructure",446,938000,1384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0&start=938&end=1384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0/thumbnail_938000.jpg","/articles/6125966/New-York/Lawmakers-propose-new-capital-dollars-for-parks-New-York-Swims-and-cultural-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125966-9763179a128530cfa0b5d07f0b371e2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787118&Signature=bilT03Vp-5MfWrQcw2NQXeZBGZEPAH0-JpnKeofAC9l4CDkh8Cz7BvZssWOgEE5jLnk~sRRIBidnvz4DSTwimRowrx6bR2h~DrK7G5axDIgIv2T~j1xCy3ksgTkhHu-7DQ~nKk7jtsG~ZCvxr~k8-SHZyOpSGBoSuS3P~D~tuwI6OBYhXn4aYB8MPoWvZnA98PPyB3EtXQwxFIMQBpKMMGlMuyT8LjMa6Oo40on9ceFzeifgfCnVcHvv-6I2ZNWNwPtqYiRLdrTXUpC5tux2RD-QRaLFNFaURL709AWbGiwWfQIOaksa-Td680YMrLfqD7QH463jP~TyNU82sJqYTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and Assembly members told a joint budget kickoff that state parks, recreation, and cultural institutions need capital investment to meet rising demand and protect irreplaceable assets.

Senator Marco Serrano, chair of the Senate committee on parks, recreation and historic preservation, said the state’s park infrastructure is aging and needs attention after heavy use during the pandemic. \"Our flagship parks ... get tremendous amount of use,\" Serrano said, urging capital funding to maintain trails, campsites and waterways.

Assemblymember Ron Kim highlighted the economic value of parks and said the Assembly added $50,000,000 for the New York Swims program in its one‑house budget and restored $10,000,000 for zoos and botanical gardens. Kim also flagged infrastructure needs at cultural institutions, asking for an additional $10,000,000 to protect valuable collections at the Metropolitan Museum by upgrading basement infrastructure.

Lawmakers said programmatic and capital funding requests are part of the ongoing three‑way budget negotiations and that staff will reconcile details with the governor’s office.

","Senators and Assembly members urged capital investments in parks and cultural institutions, citing billions in economic impact and calling for funds for New York Swims, zoos, botanical gardens and museum infrastructure protection.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125970,"Lawmakers back $250M Housing Access Vouchers, discuss upgrades for NYCHA and Mitchell‑Lama",207,757000,964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0&start=757&end=964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0/thumbnail_757000.jpg","/articles/6125970/New-York/Lawmakers-back-250M-Housing-Access-Vouchers-discuss-upgrades-for-NYCHA-and-MitchellLama","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125970-f6c10531e23ad22c7ab4ba71bac2b5c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787118&Signature=n4qeRqwEWYAGQtM0-2gKVnq2rlvS1U7XqxZKVcXHFr2uL7FRKDI55YjYFvWndZTTapatGEmT4en7xs2j3tb3CuUnGLv1VOoyrtiZYJsN7izHjCiPItSS9utV2Wjo9mKS1PSwaxwXUYpUDQGZG6oYWUDNvIE~z-AxIncWbUnd37ZClVvbKTOpj0MmvADht3CfsKcubZSEGENhhlBzdv~9uoERh63co7vI296Fh2pWWRYJ5cyKSRvGfdIwOWNpF4PAmrveTVJ1n0H4cMzKvujdG-vezsRyMb8o9KVndrRn9DCXnfZ4jLQGu3RKMr4ISO4sLWlEHrSJGGROWO3fhyKkLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers from both houses made housing a central budget priority during the joint three-way negotiations kickoff, emphasizing rental assistance, public housing repairs and protections for subsidized housing residents.

Assembly Housing Chair Linda Rosenthal said both the Assembly and the Senate included $250,000,000 for a Housing Access Voucher Program modeled on Section 8 to aid people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Rosenthal also noted the Assembly accepted the executive proposal to cap property taxes for Mitchell‑Lama developments at no more than 5% of annual shelter rent, with a local-option provision outside New York City.

Rosenthal told the joint panel that the Assembly directed funds toward NYCHA and Mitchell‑Lama repairs and maintenance. She said the measures are intended to address mold, asbestos and vacant units to return housing to service.

Senate ranker Jack Martens raised concerns about long-term program targeting and means-testing: he warned that some units created for lower-income tenants have, over time, been occupied by households earning 150%–200% of area median income, reducing availability for the neediest renters. He urged stricter means testing and program design that prevents units from drifting out of their intended affordability bands.

The session did not include votes; lawmakers said details remain under negotiation with the governor’s office. Legislators also referenced capital programs outside the rental voucher discussion — including block-by-block infill in upstate regions and funding for land banks — but did not finalize language or allocations.

","Assembly and Senate negotiators highlighted housing investments in the one-house budgets, including a $250 million Housing Access Voucher proposal, additional aid for NYCHA and Mitchell‑Lama developments, and limits on property tax treatment for certain subsidized housing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125975,"Legislators push new investments to bolster New York agriculture, flag federal funding losses",340,294000,634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0&start=294&end=634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674211-315c783c76172af85cbe6610bcd5e5d0/thumbnail_294000.jpg","/articles/6125975/New-York/Legislators-push-new-investments-to-bolster-New-York-agriculture-flag-federal-funding-losses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125975-e38024f06cdac790346168f6c9d2dfb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773787118&Signature=gUgUQ2KAvckEL7-AsNVrDrUc62UHcyBU2fDtf1is7bvssgi0gN7VVEEkWSVN2hvP9BlMgTfmxydTpGMVNXaV28Bwk2rqD~SwePMQqW83hiep0xU-oCSv0QivGTjX-3UA9zEaB7vO3J9OQLiFmShFADEAUUKm2JByRmgCWm0cBr9Uef1-cmErO8c8UehwI0VxseD0kj48XrY9wI3rBQ1BIs-1aS7tYqzHzVHk4S0OlBUjN9OnYWbqKHFoZHQ1srI5tFkUmmLwXo7vFBtEWgplCKMiroZoh9UdD4vuA8m7iBDNuO0srb4gj5Gs4dQNbspxq7zv5QlXdSNsdF9B8LVAvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State lawmakers from both houses opened three-way budget negotiations by highlighting new and continued investments in agriculture while warning of recent federal cuts that could hinder state programs.

Assembly Chair Deborah Glick and Senate Chair Pete Harcum led a joint session where members from agriculture, housing and environmental panels outlined priorities for the upcoming budget. The Assembly’s one-house plan increased the Environmental Protection Fund and clean water infrastructure funding by $100 million each, Glick said, and the houses will negotiate details with the governor and each other.

Senator Michelle Hinchey, a lead Senate negotiator on ag issues, said this year marks “the fifth year that we are significantly investing in agriculture in our budget,” and highlighted efforts to expand Farm-to-School and universal school meals so more New York-grown food reaches students. She urged continued support for meat-processing grants originally oversubscribed in earlier rounds and said the Senate and Assembly are prioritizing expanded hemp processing to grow new markets and sustainable materials.

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, raised the loss of recent federal funding that has supported state programs. “We’ve already been notified of a loss of $60,000,000 to a program called Climate Smart Commodities. And of that $24,000,000 went to our soil health program,” Lupardo said, adding that the Assembly has sought EPF dollars to help backfill the shortfall. She also said the state will absorb an identified $36,000,000 reduction to the Farm-to-School and Food Bank program that had complemented New York’s NOURISH New York effort during the COVID period.

On farm labor and workforce issues, a representative of the Assembly minority (Chris Hague) and others raised concerns about a Farm Labor Wage Board decision lowering overtime thresholds to 40 hours, which the minority argues could increase operating costs for farms. Hague also voiced support for A.3623 (New York food insecurity, farm resiliency and rural poverty act of 2025), saying the Assembly minority “fully supports” that bill and the expansion of Nourish New York.

Lawmakers also stressed capital investments that support farmers directly: meat-processing grants to expand regional processing capacity, infrastructure for local farmers markets, and measures to make farmworker housing easier to access.

The negotiators did not vote on any measures during the session. Members said negotiations will continue with the governor’s office and staff to reconcile the houses’ one-house budgets and the executive proposal that includes a $1 billion \"sustainable future\" program and additions to the State Superfund (hazardous waste) account.

Looking ahead, participants said they will aim to finalize allocations and program language in the coming weeks during formal three-way budget negotiations.

","Senate and Assembly negotiators emphasized agricultural investments in the one-house budgets, seeking more meat-processing grants, hemp processing support, farmworker housing and protections for Farm-to-School and Nourish New York after federal cuts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Minority members criticize budget size, raise renewable energy and electric school bus concerns

Lawmakers propose new capital dollars for parks, New York Swims and cultural infrastructure

Lawmakers back $250M Housing Access Vouchers, discuss upgrades for NYCHA and Mitchell‑Lama

Legislators push new investments to bolster New York agriculture, flag federal funding losses