Let’s Get It Done: Governor Hochul Rallies With Leaders Across Upstate to Deliver a State Budget Agenda That Makes New York More Affordable and Fights for Working Families

Governor Kathy Hochul today rallied across Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse with community leaders and elected officials to deliver an agenda that makes New York more affordable and fights for working families. The Governor advocated for her state budget plan that will let New York build more housing, lower the costs of auto insurance, put the state on a path to universal child care, and prioritize energy affordability by holding the line against rising utility costs that are hitting families across the state.

"My state budget proposals will make New York stronger and more affordable for millions of working families, and now it's time to get this done," Governor Hochul said. "I'll never stop fighting for your family - and that means building more housing, lowering auto insurance rates, expanding access to child care, and taking action to address rising utility costs for working families across the state."

Last year, the Governor's FY26 State Budget put up to $5,000 back in New Yorkers' pockets by providing inflation refund checks to more than 8.2 million residents, enacting the largest expansion of the child tax credit, lowering middle class taxes to their lowest rate in 70 years, and providing free school meals to all students. This year's Executive Budget promises to build on that progress by reducing the cost of auto insurance, putting New York on a path to deliver universal child care, cutting red tape to build needed housing and holding the line on skyrocketing utility costs.

Highlights of the Governor's FY27 Budget include:

Delivering Universal Child Care Across New York

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested over $8 billion in child care, dramatically expanding access and laying the groundwork for the implementation of universal childcare statewide. This year, the Governor announced $4.5 billion for childcare and early education, including a $1.7 billion increased investment that will make pre-K truly universal and expand child care subsidies to tens of thousands of families.

Additionally, the Governor's proposal includes partnerships with counties in building out new child care pilots that offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income, including Monroe County where the Governor visited today. This pilot program will include a total of $60 million in State funding, along with new investments from each of the three counties, as they expand child care access with a particular focus on serving children 0-3.

Let Them Build: Cutting Red Tape To Spur Housing and Critical Infrastructure Growth

Red tape slows down and increases the cost of critical housing and infrastructure projects across New York. The only solution to high costs and scarce homes is to build more housing. Governor Hochul's "Let Them Build" agenda proposes to modernize the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). These reforms will exempt certain categories of housing and infrastructure projects that meet criteria that ensure they have no significant adverse impacts on the environment from SEQRA review. This will enable localities across the state to deliver the housing and infrastructure like clean water and child care facilities that New Yorkers need faster and more affordably.

In addition, Governor Hochul is proposing to deliver faster decisions to local communities by setting clear timelines, support local communities through a new permitting academy, and modernize New York's permitting processes using new technologies.

Taking Steps To Lower Auto Insurance Costs for New Yorkers

New Yorkers pay some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation - totaling just more than $4,000 annually on average, nearly $1,500 above the national average. Car insurance rates are driven up by a combination of fraud, litigation, legal loopholes, and enforcement gaps, with staged crashes and associated insurance fraud inflating everyone's premiums by as much as $300 per year on average. Governor Hochul is taking common-sense steps to battle fraud, limit damages paid out to bad actors and ensure that consumers, not insurance companies, are prioritized.

Tackling the Affordability Crisis and Fighting Climate Change Responsibly

Under Governor Hochul, New York has been and will continue to be, a national leader on clean energy and climate action. The State has the first operating utility-scale offshore wind farm in the nation with two more under construction, the nation's first congestion pricing plan, met its distributed solar goals a year early, and is set to open the Champlain Hudson Power Express powerline this year, which will bring needed clean hydropower from Quebec to New York City.

Much has changed since the Climate Leader & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was enacted in 2019, including post-COVID high inflation, supply chain issues, and federal tariffs that have driven up costs and a federal government that has launched an all-out assault on renewable energy. As a result of this and a court order requiring New York to issue regulations to fully comply with the CLCPA's short term 2030 targets, New York would have to add crushing costs to New Yorkers and businesses already struggling with high utility bills and high gas prices at the pump. To address the issue, the Governor is proposing several changes to the CLCPA that will maintain the State's commitment to fighting climate change while also prioritizing affordability.

I'll never stop fighting for your family - and that means building more housing, lowering auto insurance rates, expanding access to child care, and taking action to address rising utility costs for working families across the state."

Governor Hochul is also pushing a Ratepayer Protection Plan that will hold utilities more accountable, reform the regulatory rate setting process, and make New York State's Energy Affordability Programs more accessible for working families. The plan also will cut hidden fees on utility bills, tie executive pay directly to customer affordability, and require data centers to pay their fair share by paying more for power or providing their own energy supply.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, "Governor Hochul's proposed 2026-27 State Budget makes significant investments in communities like Monroe County, including $300 million through the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative, which helps fund economic development projects to drive long-term growth. It also takes meaningful steps to support working families through the child care expansion pilot program, advances smart proposals to streamline development through SEQR reforms, and helps lower rising costs of auto insurance. I am proud to support Governor Hochul's budget because it delivers affordability for our residents, strengthens our workforce and positions Monroe County for continued success."

Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, "I was happy to welcome Gov. Kathy Hochul to Rochester today and to support a proposed budget that underscores her commitment to Upstate and her recognition that investments in Rochester are investments for all of New York State. The funding initiatives and regulatory reforms in this budget will create new opportunities for residents along the entire length of the economic spectrum."

Syracuse Mayor Sharon F. Owens said, "Governor Hochul's budget proposal is a forward-looking plan that delivers for our communities on every front; bringing down costs for families, cutting bureaucratic barriers to housing and infrastructure and modernizing our environmental review process without sacrificing the protections we depend on. By also proposing targeted updates to the CLCPA that maintain our state's commitment to fighting climate change, we can ensure that progress doesn't come at an unbearable cost to the families and businesses we serve. Amending SEQRA to streamline reviews for projects that already meet environmental standards means we can build faster, smarter and more affordably. This is a budget that says we can be bold on tackling climate change while acting responsibly on costs, and I urge us to come together and get it done."

Onondaga County Comptroller Marty Masterpole said, "Thank you Governor Hochul for putting your commitment to building more housing, lowering costs, and making New York more affordable. This budget is a strong step toward real relief for families across our state. We appreciate you fighting every day to deliver opportunity and stability for communities across New York."

Town of Amherst Supervisor Shawn Lavin said, "For a community like Amherst, regulatory reform would be immensely beneficial. Demand for living here is profound. People want to raise their families here, invest here and build their futures here. Yet the supply of housing has struggled to keep pace. We have opportunities to revitalize underutilized properties, strengthen neighborhoods and expand housing options for young families, seniors and working professionals. Moving forward in a timely and responsible way is essential to maintaining the vitality of our town. Thank you to Governor Hochul for fighting for this needed change to benefit our communities."

CenterState CEO Rob Simpson said, "Central New York is on a path toward growth and shared prosperity unlike anything we've seen before. We're laying the groundwork for long-term success through education, workforce development and expanded business opportunity. That momentum is the result of strong partnerships and planning. Now the priority is sustaining and scaling it at the speed this moment demands. Governor Hochul's budget helps move that work forward by keeping New York competitive, streamlining how we build, lowering costs and advancing a balanced approach to energy and climate that supports both affordability and long-term growth. We thank her for her leadership and look forward to working together to ensure our region fully realizes this opportunity."

First Genesis Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Fredrick Johnson said, "Thank you Governor Hochul for your continued commitment to the people of Rochester. This budget not only delivers for our families, but provides a future that ensures affordability for all. First Genesis Baptist Church is committed to building safe, affordable housing for our families and we know that Governor Hochul's "Let them Build Agenda" is empowering communities like ours to grow. It aligns with our calling to remove barriers, create opportunity and let every person share in the promise for prosperity."

Contact the Governor's Press Office