Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly approves short-term appropriations extender to fund state operations through April 9
Summary
The Assembly passed Assembly A.7695, a temporary appropriations bill intended to fund state payroll and core programs through April 9, by a 143-0 vote after brief explanation and member questions about covered payrolls and program types.
The New York State Assembly on the floor voted to pass Assembly A.7695, a short-term appropriations extender intended to keep state operations funded through April 9, by a recorded vote of 143-0.
Chair Pratlow, explaining the rules report on Assembly A.7695, said the measure "would ensure funding for state operations and other programs through April 9" and listed categories covered, including "administrative payroll, general state charges, public health programs, unemployment insurance, and veterans programs." The clerk recorded the vote as "Ayes, 143. Nos, 0." The bill was announced as passed immediately after the roll call.
Why it matters: The extender keeps paychecks flowing for many state employees and maintains funding for public health and benefits while the legislature continues budget negotiations. Supporters said the measure prevents interruptions to essential services and payrolls pending completion of the full state budget.
Members asked several clarifying questions about the time span and the scope of payrolls included. Chair Pratlow confirmed, "This goes through April 9. That's Wednesday coming." He described the payroll coverage as including SUNY, OPWDD and OMH facilities, executive-branch officers and staff, "the governor, lieutenant governor, the controller, the attorney general, officers and employees of the judiciary, and the employees of the legislature." A member asked whether a subsequent extender would be likely to include payroll; the chair replied that "this completes the 3 cycles of payroll," and that a fourth extender "more than likely would not include a payroll."
The chair stated a dollar figure during explanation: "The total appropriate appropriation is 3,700,000,000.0, which is an overall increase of 178,000,000,000 from our last 1." That figure as read in the transcript appears internally inconsistent and is recorded here as stated on the floor; the transcript does not provide an alternative clarified total.
Several members expressed support for the bill on the floor to avoid interruptions to employee pay. One assembly member, speaking in favor, said legislative staff and other employees were "working around the clock" and urged passage so "they are getting paid as they are working hard on trying to bring this process to a conclusion." The member also criticized public comments from the executive branch about the legislature’s schedule, saying such rhetoric was "not helpful."
The bill took effect immediately per the text read on the floor before the roll call.
Ending: With the bill approved unanimously, the Assembly advanced a short-term funding measure that maintains core operations while broader budget negotiations continue. The transcript records the vote and the chair's explanation; the precise appropriation quantities quoted on the floor should be verified against the enrolled bill or fiscal staff calculations for publication of exact dollar totals.
