LAC’s Responds to NYS' FY26 Executive Budget Proposals

"The Governor has proposed executive budget increases that have great potential to increase access to SUD care, alternatives to incarceration, and reentry supports for millions of New Yorkers, and we look forward to working with the State to ensure their promise," states Paul N. Samuels, LAC's Director & President.

Christine Khaikin, LAC Sr. Health Policy Attorney, adds, "Amid the ongoing overdose crisis, the Executive Budget proposals to include a long list of fentanyl and other opioid analogues on New York's controlled substance schedule list would only further criminalize drug possession and use without meaningfully impacting overdose rates. Additionally, it is vitally important that New York State strengthen its efforts to address the overdose crisis by substantially increasing its funding for proven harm reduction services, especially in light of the threat to continued federal funding for these services looming in Washington, D.C."

Regarding the funding proposals for alternatives to incarceration and reentry in the budget, Megan French-Marcelin, LAC's Sr. Director for NYS Policy explains, "In our recent white paper, 'Unlocking Potential: The Role of Community-Based Alternatives in Strengthening Public Safety,' LAC and the NYS Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Coalition made a strong case for bringing ATIs and reentry to scale across the state, and in particular, addressing the vast service deserts in upstate and Western New York. While the executive budget once again baselines critically needed increases in funding for ATIs and reentry service provision, it is concerning that nearly all of the previous funding for these programs has been reappropriated, not spent. As programs struggle to maintain services, the State must act expeditiously to RFA these funds and ensure the timely dispersal of resources to service providers."

Among the Governor's FY 2026 Executive Budget proposals that LAC supports are the following:

Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Supports:

• $31.4 million for ATIs
• $11.56 million for reentry services

SUD and Mental Health Care:

• Increases to the overall budget for the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), including:
  • $694 million investment in Health/Behavioral Health/Social Care workforce, including for training, career advancement, and tuition/student loan repayment;
  • $50 million to upgrade OASAS data collection and reporting;
  • $3 million for OASAS street outreach;
  • $3 million for OASAS staffing of Opioid Settlement Fund analysis; and
  • an additional $2.5 million to expand mobile methadone units (MMUs).

• Policy changes to increase access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including:
  • permitting EMTs to administer buprenorphine to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms; and
  • expanding the ability for practitioners in hospitals and other settings to dispense a 3-day supply of methadone and buprenorphine to individuals while they are awaiting a connection to care.

• Improved network adequacy standards for all services.

• $9.084 million for jail-based SUD and MOUD programs.

• $4.3 billion investment in Medicaid, increasing the State's overall Medicaid budget to $35.4 billion.

###

Media Contact:

Arianne Keegan
Director of Communications, Legal Action Center
[email protected]
(212) 243-1313

###