1. 2026 Legislative Calendar
The 2026 New York State Legislative Session calendar was released this week. The session is set to convene on January 7, 2026 and will run through June 4, 2026. Governor Hochul’s State of the State address is slated for January 13, 2026 at 1:00PM. The full calendar of session days is below:
2. FPI’s Fiscal Outlook
In October, the State Division of the Budget released updated financial projections that paint a concerning picture for New York’s finances. According to the state’s forecast, New York is facing budget deficits of $4.2 billion in FY 2027, $10 billion in FY 2028, and $12.6 billion in FY 2029. Last week, the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) released its own report that offers a more moderate outlook. FPI projects smaller gaps of $2.8 billion in FY 2027, $8.1 billion in FY 2028, and $10.8 billion in FY 2029. The difference is derived from FPI’s much higher tax revenue forecasts, and though FPI anticipates a larger financial impact from federal cuts, the higher revenue outlook more than makes up for it. As a result, FPI’s projections point to a somewhat more manageable budget picture for the state.
3. State Comptroller Primary
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is now facing four primary challengers as he seeks reelection in 2026. DiNapoli has been a steadfast ally to CSEA members, public employees, and retirees throughout his tenure. Under his leadership, the New York State and Local Retirement System remains one of the strongest and best-funded public pension systems in the country. He has consistently championed responsible investment practices and long-term planning to protect the benefits public employees have earned.
4. Bills Awaiting Action
Governor Hochul is nearly finished working her way through the bills approved by both houses of the State Legislature. On Monday night, 93 additional bills were delivered to her office. Once she finishes this group, only 159 bills will remain for her to address before the end of the year. In total, lawmakers approved 856 bills this session. There are several CSEA-supported bills still awaiting action by the governor, including:
- S.7599 (Gonzalez), which protects employees of local governments, school districts, and the State University of New York (SUNY) from displacement due to use of artificial intelligence.
- A.4003 (Clark), which aligns supervision requirements for CSEA’s home-based child care providers with what is required in child care centers.
- S.8207 (Jackson), which allows court officers and peace officers employed by the Unified Court System to retire at age 55 with 30 years of service.
- A.7861 (Peoples-Stokes), which allows police officers employed by Erie County Medical Center to retire with 50% of their final average salary after 25 years of service.
5. 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 2025-2026 New York State Budget.