Assembly passes fifth budget extender to keep state operations funded through April 22

The New York State Assembly passed an appropriations extender on April 20 to keep state operations funded through April 22.

Assembly sponsor Mister Pretlow told members the bill is the fifth extender this year and would ensure continued payments for school districts, administrative payroll items, public health programs, unemployment insurance, OPWDD services, veterans programs and general state charges. Pretlow described the measure as an interim funding step while broader budget negotiations continue.

Assemblyman Mister Palmisano pressed the sponsor for details on the total appropriated to date and the increment added by this extender. Pretlow said the total appropriated via extenders is $12,600,000,000 and that this fifth extender increases that total by $5,100,000,000. The sponsor said the extender runs through April 22 and does not include payroll funding.

Members pressed on where negotiations stood and whether the governor had shared language on priority policy items such as payroll taxes, auto insurance reform, immigration changes, Tier 6, and climate measures. Pretlow said no specific language had been publicly circulated and argued that the legislature’s scope in budget negotiations is constrained by court precedent established in Pataki v. Silver, suggesting any rebalancing of executive–legislative authority would require a constitutional amendment.

After debate, the clerk recorded a roll-call vote: Ayes 136, Nays 0. The bill passed and will maintain funding through April 22 pending further action from the legislature and the governor.