1. Budget Negotiations Continue — Extender Passed
The Legislature passed a second budget extender this week as negotiations on a final state budget remain stalled. The extender covers this week’s payroll and keeps state government operating through Tuesday, April 14. Lawmakers are expected to return Tuesday to pass another extender to ensure Institution payroll members are paid on time.
Budget talks slowed this past week due to the Easter and Passover holidays, and there is still no clear timeline for a final agreement.
2. OCFS Body Scanners Legislation
The Senate and Assembly have passed legislation, S.8963/A.9003, that would authorize the Office of Children and Family Service (OCFS) to utilize body scanning technology in juvenile justice facilities. This technology will help reduce the presence of contraband that threatens the safety of staff, residents, and visitors alike. Originally, this authorization was included in Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget and the State Senate’s one-house budget. The bill has now passed as standalone legislation and is awaiting action by the governor. CSEA strongly supported this bill, as incidents involving contraband have increased by more than 84% in OCFS facilities.
3. Peoples-Stokes Retiring
Crystal Peoples-Stokes, who represents parts of the City of Buffalo in Assembly District 141, has announced that she will not be seeking reelection. Peoples-Stokes has represented AD 141 since 2003 and has served as the Assembly Majority Leader since 2018.
4. State Agency Overtime Use
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has published a report on State Agency’s use of overtime in 2025. State employees worked 1.4 million more overtime hours than in 2024, with more than two-thirds of these hours accrued by employees in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), Office of Mental Health (OMH), and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
However, the report included some positive news – 2024 marked the second consecutive year that new hires outpaced attrition in the State workforce, a trend not seen in over a decade. CSEA is continuing to fight for policies that continue to improve recruitment and retention, like Tier 6 reform, which will help to reduce the state’s reliance on overtime.
5. Next Week
While no session days are scheduled for next week, the State Legislature is expected to return Tuesday to pass another extender to ensure Institution payroll members are paid on time.
6. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. You can also check out our summary of the 2025 legislative session.
| Civil Service Victories: | K-12 Victories: | Health Care Victories: | |||
 |
|
 |
|||
| SUNY Victories: | Local Government Victories: | OPWDD & OMH Victories: | |||
|
|
|
|
|||
| Child Care Victories: | Work Zone Speed Cameras: | DMNA 25-Year Retirement: | |||
|
|
|
|