Carl Hasty elected speaker of New York Assembly; vows action on affordability, Medicaid and transit

Carl E. Hasty was declared duly elected speaker of the New York State Assembly for the 2025–2026 term after a roll call and majority vote, and he addressed members with an outline of the majority's opening priorities. The presiding officer announced that Hasty had received a majority of the votes cast and he then spoke to the chamber.

In his first remarks as speaker, Hasty said the "cost of living remains too high" for many New Yorkers and said he would seek tax relief for middle-class families. "We must double down on our effort to work with our federal partners to finally repeal the SALT cap so families are not taxed twice over," Hasty said, referring to the federal limit on state and local tax deductions. He praised a Ways and Means proposal—credited to Phil Fields—to increase Medicaid reimbursements, saying a recently approved federal funding mechanism will allow hospitals, nursing homes and other health programs to receive additional funds.

Hasty outlined additional priorities for the session. He said the majority had worked to make child care more affordable, fully funded Foundation Aid to assist schools and had worked to keep tuition frozen at CUNY and SUNY while expanding Tuition Assistance Program eligibility. On housing, he pointed to rental relief, tenant protections and down-payment assistance as measures to help families. On transit, Hasty stressed the importance of steady federal support for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, noting that more than $30,000,000,000 of the MTA capital plan is fully financed but federal assistance remains critical.

Hasty also addressed public safety and social services, urging investments to address homelessness, behavioral health and substance use disorders and saying jails and prisons are not the place to solve those problems. He cited the Assembly majority's record on codifying Roe v. Wade into state law and new environmental laws as examples of recent legislative priorities. "We must find solutions," Hasty said, and asked members to work together "to make New York a better, more affordable place for families." His remarks closed with a welcome to returning and new members and an invitation to begin the work of the session.

The speaker's statements were delivered during the organization portion of the Assembly's opening day; no floor votes on policy measures occurred during his address. The Assembly then continued with organizational business, including the election of chamber officers and adoption of rules.