Budget & Taxes

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1279: Establishes supermarket wine licenses

S 1279 would create a new license allowing supermarkets (defined as 4,000+ square feet with over 65% food sales revenue) to sell sealed wine for off-premises consumption. It requires a $10,000 franchise fee and prohibits licenses within 200 feet of schools/churches or 500 feet of liquor stores. Local governments cannot ban these licenses but may regulate operating times or locations. The bill would expand wine sales in grocery settings while preempting conflicting local laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes $10,000 franchise fee generating state revenue, directly contributing to budget through new licensing income.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4715: Relates to the period during which the empire state digital gaming tax credit may be claimed, criteria for such tax credit, and allowing a rollover of such credit

Extends the period during which the empire state digital gaming tax credit may be claimed to 01/01/2032; amends the eligibility criteria for game development companies by changing the yearly timeframe structure, lowering the dollar threshold per production, and removing the in-state cost incurred threshold to accurately fit current digital gaming industry models; allows unused credits to be rolled over to the following tax year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax credit period, lowers eligibility thresholds, and allows rollovers for digital gaming companies, providing targeted tax relief aligned with tax policy support.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExtends tax credits for digital gaming industry, lowering barriers and providing financial incentives to tech companies in a growing sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 638: Relates to reimbursement of non-public and private schools where COVID testing is being mandated

This bill requires the state to reimburse non-public and private schools for costs incurred when the state mandates COVID-19 testing for students, teachers, and staff in in-person school settings. It directly affects all non-public and private schools subject to such state-mandated testing requirements. The state must cover these costs through a process established by the Commissioner of Education, who will create rules and procedures for reimbursement. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state to fund school testing reimbursements, increasing budget allocation for mandated programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReimburses non-public/private schools for mandated COVID testing costs, providing direct state funding to support school operations during pandemic requirements.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1507: Requires shelter allowances be set at up to one hundred percent of the fair market rent for the local social services district

This bill requires local social services districts to set shelter allowances at up to 100% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) fair market rent (FMR) for a recipient's unit size in their district. It directly affects low-income housing recipients who receive shelter assistance through local social services districts. The key provision mandates that allowances cover the recipient's actual rent obligation, capped at HUD's current FMR for their specific area and unit size. This change ensures assistance aligns with local rental market rates rather than fixed or lower rates. The bill takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates local districts to cover up to 100% of HUD FMR for shelter allowances, ensuring adequate funding for low-income housing assistance programs.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates shelter allowances cover up to 100% of HUD's FMR, ensuring low-income recipients' rent obligations are met without excessive out-of-pocket costs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4471: Enacts the "Lead-Free Homes Act"

Enacts the "Lead Free Homes Act"; requires the department of health to promulgate standards for lead remediation and abatement of exemption; provides tax credits to class A multiple dwelling owners who undertake a successful lead remediation or abatement; requires lead testing on drinking water prior to the sale of residential property; requires owners of class A multiple dwellings to perform lead testing and provides for fines for violations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credits to property owners for lead remediation, offering tax relief to incentivize public health compliance within fiscal policy framework.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires lead remediation, tax credits for landlords, and testing to protect tenants from health hazards in housing, strengthening tenant safety standards.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2532: Eliminates certain will filing fees

This bill eliminates a $45 fee for filing wills with surrogate courts for safekeeping. It directly affects individuals who use court systems to securely store their wills without probate. The key change removes the fee requirement from court procedures, making it free to file wills for safekeeping (previously, courts could waive the fee but it still existed). The bill modifies court fee schedules to delete this specific charge, effective 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates $45 court fee for will filing, providing direct cost relief to individuals, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle-income residents.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8900: Relates to assessment rates for employers who have an established alternate dispute resolution

This bill lowers workers' compensation assessment fees for employers who operate approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs. Employers with self-insured plans using these ADR programs would pay up to 50% less than standard rates, reflecting reduced administrative costs the board avoids by not handling their disputes. The policy applies to employers who no longer use the state's dispute resolution program after signing agreements with the board. It takes effect for fiscal years beginning April 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill lowers workers' compensation assessment fees (government revenue source) by 50% for employers using ADR programs, reducing state budget inflows from this fee.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8554: Establishes a managerial or confidential higher education differential

Establishes a managerial or confidential higher education differential for employees designated managerial or confidential who hold an earned associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate (e.g., MD, JD, Ph.D.) from a college or university or a professional license issued by the New York state education department are eligible to receive a higher education differential of up to six hundred dollars retroactively for state fiscal year two thousand twenty-four-two thousand twenty-five and for state fiscal year two thousand twenty-five-two thousand twenty-six.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates retroactive state funds ($600) for higher-education differential pay to eligible employees, increasing government spending on compensation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes pay differential for higher education staff with advanced degrees, supporting educator compensation and retention in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3955: Enacts the lift our communities advertise locally (LOCAL) program

Enacts the lift our communities advertise locally (LOCAL) program which provides a tax credit on advertising for locally owned minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises, certified service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises or a small business.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit for qualifying businesses, reducing their tax burden as direct tax relief per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly includes certified service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in tax credit eligibility for advertising, directly supporting veteran entrepreneurship and business growth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 7, 2026

S 1820: Establishes a pilot program to provide high impact tutoring

Establishes a pilot program to provide grants to local education providers to implement high-impact tutoring programs prioritizing low-income or underserved students to address student learning loss or unfinished learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via grants to fund education programs addressing pandemic learning loss, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides grants for high-impact tutoring targeting underserved students to address pandemic learning loss, directly funding educational support programs.95% confidence

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