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Hochul Unveils $268 Billion Budget Framework

Legislative leaders insist no final deal exists.

Overview

  • Hochul announced a “general agreement” Thursday on a $268 billion plan, and Heastie said Friday talks are close after rejecting a deal a day earlier.
  • The framework raises spending and bundles major policy shifts, including auto‑insurance changes that bar ZIP‑code and credit‑score pricing, end “flex rating,” and narrow who can sue for pain and suffering.
  • Climate rules under the 2019 law would be reset with required regulations now due in 2028, and the package adds limits on local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
  • New York City would get about $1.5 billion in aid and a new pied‑à‑terre tax on high‑value second homes projected near $500 million a year, though rates and how values are set are still unsettled.
  • The plan includes $1 billion in energy rebate checks and keeps state income‑tax rates flat, while staff draft nine bills for votes in the coming days in a budget now more than a month late.