Joint Senate–Assembly conference committee outlines competing higher education budget proposals to boost SUNY, CUNY and student aid

Sen. Toby Stavisky, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, opened the joint Senate–Assembly conference committee and laid out Senate priorities, saying the Senate is committed to increasing both operating and capital funding for higher education and to avoiding tuition increases that would shift shortfalls onto students. "We don't wanna increase tuition," Stavisky said during his opening remarks.

Assembly member Alicia Hyman, chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, presented the Assembly's proposal to expand college affordability and support SUNY and CUNY. Hyman described several components in the Assembly proposal: raising the income eligibility threshold for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and for the Excelsior Scholarship from $125,000 to $150,000 for dependent students, creating a new graduate tuition assistance program, and allocating funds for operating and capital needs. "The assembly proposal looks to increase college affordability while providing essential and ongoing support to SUNY and CUNY," Hyman said.

Hyman listed figures as presented in the committee: a proposal cited in the transcript as $475,700,000 to increase TAP/related eligibility, additional operating support and collective‑bargaining cost coverage for CUNY ($97,300,000 as stated in the transcript), targeted community college aid ($12,000,000 for SUNY community colleges and $8,000,000 for CUNY community colleges for 2026–27), debt‑service forgiveness for SUNY hospitals (noted as saving hospitals $80,000,000 in the transcript), and large multi‑year capital totals mentioned for SUNY and CUNY. Hyman also described a program referred to in the transcript as "New York Reinvest in student educational supports," cited there as providing $110,000,000 and described as a state‑level loan partnership with an award preference for graduate and professional degrees. The transcript also referenced an additional round of higher education capital matching grants (HECAP).

Members from both houses responded with district‑level priorities and program endorsements. Sen. Rachel May said she supports expanding SUNY Reconnect for learners aged roughly 25–55 and urged a five‑year capital plan for SUNY to allow better planning and maintenance. Sen. Gonzales and Sen. Grifo praised the investments and stressed the need for operating support for medical schools. Assembly members Latrice Walker and Charles Fall emphasized operational aid and scholarship expansions (Walker noted a $97 million operational aid figure in the transcript and an $8 million expansion of the Opportunity Promise scholarship to include associate‑degree students at four‑year colleges). Assembly member William Colton highlighted high‑needs specialties including nursing. Assembly member Robert Smullen (Assembly minority) urged five‑way negotiations, argued TAP award levels need updating, and said community college enrollment declined by 9.8% from 2019 to 2025 (as stated in the transcript).

Assembly member Sam Pieruzzolo cited a $7.5 million private gift to the College of Staten Island that contributed to AACSB accreditation and warned that employers recruiting directly from high school increase the urgency of aligning higher education with workforce needs.

The chairs closed the session after members' remarks; the transcript records no motions or votes during this meeting. Members repeatedly emphasized affordability, capital repair and long‑term planning for SUNY and CUNY as they prepare to reconcile Senate and Assembly budget positions.

The conference committee will continue negotiations as part of the broader budget process; members said they look forward to working together to finalize proposals for the upcoming academic year. The committee adjourned at the close of the recorded remarks.