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The New York State Senate passed its $254.3 billion budget bill on a 40-22 vote Wednesday, but not before a contentious floor debate that exposed deep divisions over MTA funding, the rushed budget process, and the state's fiscal priorities. The bill, which includes $6 billion in new capital funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority—split between $3 billion from the state and $3 billion from New York City—drew sharp criticism from Republicans and some Democrats who questioned the agency's accountability and efficiency. Senators O'Mara, Murray, Weber, and Martins argued that the MTA has failed to control costs, with fare and toll evasion losses reaching nearly $800 million annually and overtime costs hitting a record $1.42 billion. They also criticized the lack of service improvements for underserved areas like Rockland and Orange counties, which will be hit with new payroll mobility taxes despite receiving minimal MTA service. The budget also rejected the Governor's proposed drugged driving law provisions, drawing criticism from Senators Palumbo, Martins, and Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, who noted that New York is one of only four states requiring drugs to be on a statutory list to prosecute impaired driving, leaving synthetic drugs that cause deaths unprosecutable. Sen. Skoufis delivered a lengthy critique of the budget process itself, arguing that the Legislature receives only one-tenth of 1% discretionary authority in the $254 billion budget and that the system has become 'authoritarian' with the Governor wielding near-total control. The budget was 37 days late—the longest delay in 15 years—and was passed using messages of necessity to bypass the three-day constitutional requirement, a practice Skoufis and others said undermines democratic governance. The bill includes increases in Foundation Aid and school aid ($600 million), health funding ($600 million), and childcare voucher replacement ($400 million), as well as a $7 billion transfer from the Economic Uncertainties Fund to pay down the state's unemployment insurance debt to the federal government. Despite the criticism, the Democratic majority held firm, with supporters like Sen. Gianaris noting that the LIRR—which serves Long Island—receives only 15% of its operating budget from fares and would face service cuts or fare increases without state funding.