State lawmakers voting on final budget bills this week

State budget votes might be in the final stretch after nearly two months of stalled negotiations and weeks after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared victory.

“It looks like we’re going to be wrapping up this week,” said Assemblyman Keith Powers, a Manhattan Democrat, in between floor debates on Tuesday in Albany.

“It’s the first time in a long time the budget has gone this late,” added Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman Brian Cunningham.

State lawmakers are predicting there’s an end in sight to the longest-stalled state budget dealings since Hochul took office in 2021. The over $268 billion spending plan is expected to include big changes to the state’s pension system, car insurance industry and new violations for those who intimidate congregations outside houses of worship.

“Given it’s an election year, I think folks are both antsy about getting a budget down and finished; getting some meaningful legislation passed,” said Cunningham.

“I think no budget is perfect, and that’s part of the negotiation,” said Queens Democratic Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

The legislature is expected to spend the week debating and voting on legislation, after voting on two major budget bills last week. Included in those is a two-year mayoral control extension for Mayor Zohran Mamdani —who opposed the system on the campaign trail — plus, power to kneecap a fledgling charter review commission started by his predecessor.

“If you want to start a charter review commission on the way out, you have to start it much earlier than doing it at the very end because it can look vindictive or it can be vindictive against the next administration,” said Powers.

They’ll also greenlight new penalties for people who intimidate others within 50 feet of houses of worship, community centers and schools, including blocking entrances and exits.

Hochul cheered the move in a statement, saying, “Every New Yorker should be able to enter their house of worship and practice their religion without fear.”

Sources said the governor could sign the budget bill containing the so-called buffer zone legislation into law as soon as Tuesday evening.

Jewish legislators backed the move, pointing to spikes in hate crimes since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

“I think that sends a strong message to Jewish New Yorkers that they should feel safe and comfortable,” said Rozic, a proponent of the measure.

Over 20 state Assembly members signed a letter cheering the passage of the budget bill Tuesday — and also blamed Mamdani for vetoing a separate piece of legislation that would have covered city schools. 

“This state intervention became undeniably urgent following the New York City Mayor’s veto of the City Council’s school safety perimeter transparency and reporting bill,” the group wrote. 

“That municipal failure left many Jewish New Yorkers deeply disappointed and exposed. If the City of New York cannot find it within themselves to take the necessary steps to protect our children, the State of New York must and will step in to act,” they said.

City Hall did not respond to an immediate request for comment.

Meanwhile, changes to retirement benefits for over 830,000 municipal workers are on track for approval.

Teachers will also get to retire and collect pensions at age 58 instead of 63. Supporters and unions affected argue it will help attract and retain employees.

Others said the annual $500 million price tag is too expensive.

“By attempting to ‘fix Tier 6,’ we are going to break the back of our taxpayers and municipalities,” said Republican State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, representing a district in Suffolk County.

Questions about whether Hochul’s plan to lower auto insurance rates will be successful arose during the state Assembly’s Tuesday floor debate, and the state is officially on track to push back deadlines for regulations tied to emissions standards outlined in the controversial 2019 climate law.

“We have to be realistic about how it impacts New Yorkers, how it affects the cost of living, and also how we actually meet those goals,” said Powers.

“Look, I wanted to see us continue to live up to our ambitious promises here. I think we are O.K. with the compromise,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mamdani met with lawmakers in the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus last Friday, where the mayor thanked allies for their help this session and laid groundwork for next year’s priorities.