Assembly approves short-term budget extender to fund payroll, Medicaid and National Guard through April 7

The New York State Assembly on April 3 approved a short-term appropriations bill to extend funding for state operations through April 7, 2025, including payroll, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, general state charges and veterans programs.

The measure, read as "an act making appropriations for the support of government," passed on a recorded vote announced by the clerk: Ayes, 147; Nos, 0. The clerk then announced, "The bill is passed."

The bill provides a total appropriation of $1,930,000,000 and an increase of $340,900,000 over previously enacted amounts, according to floor discussion. The extender includes $45,000,000 identified to fund National Guard personnel currently assigned to special missions, including support at correctional facilities and New York City transit operations.

During floor debate, an Assembly member who spoke at length said the extender was necessary to avoid payroll disruptions while lawmakers continue work on a final budget. The same speaker warned against repeated reliance on short-term extenders and said, "I will be voting in the affirmative, but I'm going to do so with hope that this does not become a recurring issue," adding that uncertainty creates difficulties for schools and local governments setting budgets.

Assembly members and staff on the floor said the controller's office had advised that the extender would cover payroll for legislative and executive employees, the attorney general's office and other state workers through the new effective date. A chair responding to questions said roughly 3,000 National Guard members were deployed to special operations at the time of the discussion and that 34 correctional facilities were being staffed by guardsmen; the chair said eight facilities did not have national guard staff.

Lawmakers stressed that the extender is meant to bridge a short gap while they negotiate a final budget, and several members urged swift work over the coming days to produce a full fiscal-year plan.

The governor's message certifying an immediate vote was placed on the desk before passage, as recorded on the floor.

Next steps: The extender keeps state payment flows intact through April 7, 2025. Lawmakers said another extender would be required if no final budget is enacted by that date. The Assembly did not vote on the final, full-year budget on this day.