Assembly passes one‑house budget resolution proposing $256.5 billion all‑funds plan and $7 billion UI payment

The New York State Assembly on March 13 approved its one‑house budget resolution proposing $256.5 billion in all‑funds spending for state fiscal year 2025–26 and a $7.0 billion payment to restore the solvency of the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. Chairman Pretlow, who introduced the package, described it as a plan that "prioritizes the investments in New Yorkers in youth, students, families, workers, business owners" and set out the line‑item increases.

Pretlow provided a line‑by‑line summary of the changes from the executive budget, saying, "All on an all funds budget, we have, 256,500,000,000," and listing increases in school aid, Medicaid, mental hygiene, transportation and other categories. He told colleagues the package balances near‑term needs while acknowledging out‑year budget gaps that members repeatedly raised during the floor exchange.

Opponents on the floor objected to the plan's scale and its projected out‑year deficits. One member urged colleagues to vote against the resolution, saying, "I urge my colleagues to vote no on this budget proposal," warning the package would create structural fiscal pressure in coming years. Supporters emphasized tax relief and investments targeted to low‑ and middle‑income New Yorkers.

After floor explanations, the clerk recorded the result: 100 ayes and 47 nays. The Assembly adopted the one‑house resolution and will move into negotiations with the other house and the governor to produce a final enacted budget.