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Senate stays under extender as lawmakers describe only a "conceptual" $254 billion budget deal
Summary
On April 28, 2025, New York State senators said negotiators have a conceptual framework for the governor's $254 billion budget but not final bill text; leaders said extenders will remain in place while staff finish writing the remaining bills and table targets totaling $375 million were disclosed.
The New York State Senate remained under a budget extender on April 28, 2025, as senators said negotiators have reached only a "conceptual agreement" on a roughly $254 billion fiscal plan announced by the governor and urged that final language be printed before votes.
Senator Krueger, sponsor of the fiscal calendar item the chamber considered Thursday, told colleagues there is "a conceptual agreement" but that negotiators were still working out specific bill text and policy language. Senator O’Mara asked repeatedly whether the remaining eight budget bills were in print and when lawmakers could expect them; Krueger said they were not yet finalized but predicted bills could be ready when members return Monday if work continues over the weekend.
Why it matters: the Senate’s schedule and the state’s school budgets depend on final adoption of the appropriation bills. Senators raised the need to allow the three‑day constitutional waiting period after bills are printed so members and the public can review complex policy and funding changes before votes.
Senate leaders and sponsors offered limited fiscal details while the text remains unprinted. Krueger said she had been advised there was an additional $140,000,000 for Foundation Aid and related education spending above the governor’s executive proposal. She also read a set of table targets, which she said aggregated to $375,000,000 and included $15,000,000 for economic development, $80,000,000 for preK–12 items (separate from the $140 million noted), $150,000,000 for environment, agriculture and housing, $20,000,000 for general/local government, $45,000,000 for health, $30,000,000 for higher education, $110,000,000 for human services and labor, $10,000,000 for mental hygiene, $45,000,000 for public protection and $5,000,000 for transportation.
Senators pressed for specificity on several policy issues that negotiators listed as unresolved or sensitive, including civil discovery reforms, voluntary commitment law changes, cell phone rules, and mask-related provisions. Krueger said there appeared to be three-way agreement on the language of those items but acknowledged that wording still needed to be written into bill text: "I would prefer that we didn't operate in a scenario where there's a press conference saying there's a deal when there is only the conceptual framework of a deal," she said.
Members discussed timing for printing and the constitutionally required three-day waiting period for bills to be read before final votes. Krueger said the current extender runs through Thursday and expressed hope that bills would be in print by Friday or Saturday to allow the waiting period and legislative review.
Senators also asked about capital programs such as CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program). Krueger clarified that the table target monies she described were operating funds and do not include capital CHIPS funding, which negotiators continue to discuss separately.
The Senate returned the Krueger bill to the controversial calendar for consideration and proceeded to additional business; senators expected to reconvene for further budget action when the chamber next meets.
