Asm. Carl Heastie

Chair Pretlow presented the Assembly's $266 billion One-House Budget Resolution (excluding $6 billion in Federal Medicaid reactivation), emphasizing investments in education, healthcare, affordable housing, and tax relief for working and middle-class families. The proposal includes $10.8 billion in combined personal income tax relief, energy rebate checks ($500 for incomes below $150,000; $300 for $150,000-$300,000), a two-year utility rate freeze, and $2.1 billion in education funding over the current year. Ranking Member Palmesano raised concerns about budget growth, out-year deficits ($30.3 billion cumulative), tax increases on high earners and corporations amid out-migration concerns, energy policy impacts, and workforce retention issues in corrections.

Chair Pretlow presented the Assembly's $266 billion One-House Budget Resolution (excluding $6 billion in Federal Medicaid reactivation), emphasizing investments in education, healthcare, affordable housing, and tax relief for working and middle-class families. The proposal includes $10.8 billion in combined personal income tax relief, $2.1 billion in education funding over the current year, energy rebate checks ($500 for incomes below $150,000; $300 for $150,000-$300,000), and a two-year utility rate increase moratorium. Ranking Member Palmesano raised concerns about budget growth, out-year deficits ($30.3 billion cumulative), tax increases on high earners and corporations amid out-migration concerns, energy policy impacts, and workforce issues in corrections and healthcare.

Chair Pretlow presented the Assembly's one-House budget proposal totaling $256.5 billion in all-funds spending, $4.5 billion above the Executive's proposal. The budget prioritizes tax relief for working and middle-class families through new tax credits (New York Works Tax Credit, LIFT Tax Credit), expands education funding by $2.7 billion over current year, invests $7 billion to resolve the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund debt, and increases funding for healthcare, housing, and human services. Ranking Member Ra questioned the sustainability of the budget given $38 billion in cumulative outyear deficits through 2029, the use of reserve funds to address the UI debt amid federal uncertainty, and the lack of safeguards for potential revenue losses. Ra also raised concerns about the continued tax increases on businesses and high earners despite claims of business-friendly policies, and questioned the rejection of certain policy proposals like PBM transparency. Chair Pretlow defended the budget as balanced and noted the Majority's attempt to remove policy from the budget resolution to allow committees to handle such matters through legislation.

Extensive debate on the Assembly's 2024-2025 budget resolution. Chair Weinstein outlined a $245.8 billion all-funds budget with $2.3 billion in revenue enhancements including corporate franchise tax increases (7.5% to 9% for businesses with income over $5 million) and personal income tax surcharges on top earners. The budget includes significant investments in housing ($250 million housing vouchers, $1 billion Mitchell-Lamas), education ($1.8 billion school aid restoration), healthcare ($3.1 billion including 3% Medicaid base increase), and child care ($500 million wage enhancements). Ranking Member Ra raised concerns about spending growth (6.1% over prior year), reliance on wealthy taxpayers for revenue, out-year budget gaps ($5.4-11.7 billion), and the effectiveness of economic development programs. He questioned the Medicaid Investment Fund mechanism relying on managed care organization taxes and Federal approval. Weinstein defended the budget's investments and noted that wealthier residents are returning to New York despite population concerns.

The bill schedules the 2024 Presidential primary for April 2nd and makes permanent changes to Election Law including provisions for curing absentee ballot errors, counting write-in votes for candidates already on the ballot, and allowing non-postmarked ballots received 2-7 days after Election Day to be cured via affirmation. Assemblyman Norris raised concerns about early voting during Holy Week (including Good Friday and Holy Thursday), the burden on Boards of Elections, and the permanent changes to Election Law regarding postmarks and write-in votes, which he characterized as a potential slippery slope toward fraud. Ms. Walker defended the write-in provision as respecting voter intent and noted that the non-postmarked ballot provision codifies a recent U.S. District Court decision.