As the end of 2024 draws closer, updates about the 2025 Legislative Session/Budget are beginning to trickle out. The first of these was Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that she will deliver her 2025 State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 14 at 1:00 PM at The Egg, part of Albany’s Empire State Plaza. This marks a departure from her first three addresses, which were delivered in the Assembly Chamber to a joint session of the State Legislature, as centuries of New York Governors have done before her. Hochul’s decision to deliver her speech in another venue is reminiscent of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was the first to depart from that joint-session tradition. The move once again provides an opportunity for a broader audience, including industry leaders, union representatives, and advocates, to attend as she sets out her administration’s vision for New York. The Governor’s announcement was followed by Budget Director Blake Washington announcing that Gov. Hochul will unveil her Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget on January 21, 2025.
It was also reported that, in an email sent just to Assemblymembers, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie revealed he is planning to appoint Assemblymember Gary Pretlow as the new Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Pretlow, who has served in the Assembly since 1992, will succeed Assemblymember Helene Weinstein who is retiring at the end of the year. “Recognizing the important work we must tackle heading into the new session and budget negotiations, it’s important that the Ways and Means Committee be able to hit the ground running,” Heastie said in his email. “I am confident with Gary’s leadership we will not miss a beat as we work to craft a budget that will help move our state forward.” As a result of Pretlow’s new committee appointment, the Racing and Wagering Committee will get its first new chair in almost 20 years. There are also several other committees that will receive new Chairs due to members either retiring or leaving the Assembly this year. These include the Higher Education, Mental Health, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports Development, and Local Governments committees. Committee assignments will not be officially announced until after Heastie is formally reelected as Speaker on January 8th.
Lastly, the Legislature has released the calendar for the 2025 Legislative Session. Next year’s Session will include 62 scheduled session days beginning on Wednesday, January 8th with the final scheduled session day as Thursday, June 12th . Like every year, there are breaks scheduled from February 17th through February 21st , and another from April 10th through April 25th . The full Legislative Calendar can be found here:
https://nyassembly.gov/write/upload/leg/session_cal/session_calendar_2025.pdf