S3003D

The Senate accepted a Finance Committee report on S3003D, the Aid to Localities Budget bill. The bill was directed to third reading. The Senate voted by voice vote to accept the report without opposition.

The New York State Senate passed the $254 billion state budget bill (S3003D, Calendar 971) on a 44-18 vote, though not before debate over a notable omission: funding for chip technology on SNAP EBT cards. Sen. Murray argued the budget should include approximately $20 million in state funding—with the federal government covering the other half of the estimated $40-50 million cost—to prevent ongoing fraud losses. Murray noted that $40 million has been stolen from New York families since 2022 through magnetic strip skimming, and pointed out that the Department of Labor already uses chip technology on unemployment EBT cards through vendor Conduent. Sen. Krueger, responding for the sponsor, acknowledged the problem and the need to move quickly but said no funding was included in this budget, with the state continuing to negotiate contracts. Murray voted against the bill, citing the failure to address the EBT card security issue despite the feasibility and federal matching funds available. The bill passed with 44 ayes and 18 nays.