Hochul’s ‘fighting for your family’ in 2025 State of the State

In “fighting for your family,” Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday delivered her 2025 State of the State address, including more than 200 initiatives that she says will put money back in people’s pockets, keep New Yorkers safe and ensure the future of New York is a place where all families can thrive.

“Your family is my fight — and I will never stop fighting for the people of New York,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers expect results and that’s why I fight day in and day out to make New York safer, healthier, cleaner, more affordable for you and your family — and that is what we’re doing with the initiatives announced as part of my 2025 State of the State.”

To help more families get ahead and make life in New York more affordable, the governor said she is committed to driving down costs and putting money directly back into people’s pockets.

To do that, Hochul proposes: Cutting middle class taxes for more than 8.3 million New York taxpayers – lowest level in nearly 70 years; sending inflation refund checks of up to $500 to over 8.6 million New York households; expanding New York’s child tax credit to provide up to $1,000 per child to 1.6 million families; and fighting for the full restoration of the SALT deduction to provide much needed relief for New Yorkers; and supporting the youngest New Yorkers and their families.

Gov. Hochul called for New York to set a path towards universal child care, and introduced policies aimed at enhancing resources for families in New York, helping them build a strong foundation for their children.

She said she will provide universal free school meals for every single one of New York State’s over 2.7 million kids; put New York on the path to universal child care and investing $110 million in child care capital funding; advance another nation-leading legislative proposal to improve maternal and infant health through the provision of a birth allowance — the New York State BABY Benefit; and expand access to infertility treatments, increasing support for New Yorkers hoping to start a family.

Under her leadership, Hochul said gun violence is down across the state, and investments in law enforcement and innovative initiatives are delivering “real results for New Yorkers.”

To continue those efforts, she proposes streamlining the discovery process by amending reforms passed in 2019, adding additional resources to fight transnational criminal networks and fighting sexual assault and domestic violence.

The governor plans to streamline the discovery process to ensure fair trials, end procedural delays and hold criminals accountable; strengthen the state’s response capabilities to fight transnational criminal networks operating along the northern border; combat sexual assault and domestic violence with new protections to help survivors; propose first-in-the-nation Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters; and, among other things, close loopholes to crack down on drugged driving in protecting New Yorkers on the road.

The governor proposed new initiatives to recruit, train and protect first responders, supporting those who step into harm’s way to keep New Yorkers safe; supporting veterans with critical mental health investments and proposing legislation to expand support for gold star families; and expanding resources for crime victims by increasing compensation thresholds and dedicating more funding to Child Advocacy Centers

Hochul said she has worked proactively to respond to safety concerns on New York City subways.

This included the deployment of more than 1,250 state personnel to assist the NYPD with bag checks and an initiative to install security cameras in every subway car — a goal that was achieved within eight months of being announced.

Realizing that more must be done to meet this challenge, the governor said she is building on the foundation of earlier initiatives with new investments and program expansions.

She said these initiatives to improve subway safety include: Partnering with New York City to increase NYPD presence on platforms and trains by temporarily surging patrol levels and working with New York City to add police patrols on every train between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM for the next six months; expanding the NYC Department of Homeless Services 24/7 “Welcome Center” model near end-of-line stations in an effort to reduce homelessness in the subways; working with NYC Department of Homeless Services to create spaces within stations that have a large presence of unhoused people for mobile outreach teams to better connect and coordinate services; and providing funding to install LED lighting in all subway stations and platform edge barriers at over 100 additional stations by the end of 2025.

Building on Hochul’s landmark mental health plan, Tuesday’s announcement will reduce barriers to care and ensure the facilitation of earlier intervention for individuals at risk of harm by revising the criteria for involuntary commitment and addressing the current shortcomings in New York’s Mental Hygiene Law.

The governor said she would amend New York’s Mental Hygiene Law to address gaps in the standards for involuntary commitment; strengthen Kendra’s Law, which governs Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) for individuals with serious mental illness, to ensure New Yorkers with severe mental illness are connected with the care they need; and continue record-setting investments in youth mental health, and build on $1 billion plan to transform the mental health continuum of care.

The governor said she would build upon her commitment to address the housing shortage and increase affordability by creating more homeownership opportunities, strengthening State support to unlock local housing development and taking actions to protect housing affordability.

Since taking office Gov. Hochul said she has led a comprehensive campaign to connect communities across the state by promoting “safe, equitable, sustainable and efficient transportation for all New Yorkers.”

To build on her legacy of advancing transformative transportation projects and policies, she proposes: Advancing the Second Avenue Subway and critical capital projects; modernizing rail service across New York with major investments planned for the Hudson Valley; and working with the Legislature to support a transformative MTA Capital Plan.

Recognizing agriculture as a cornerstone of New York’s economy, Hochul said she has made record investments to support the state’s farmers.

She said she will continue to build on “this progress” with innovative solutions to strengthen key industries, support small businesses and create economic opportunities across the state.

Hochul said that, under hers leadership, New York has become a national leader in economic development, driving job creation, community revitalization and support for key industries.

The State of the State proposals build on her ongoing strategy to build a modern 21st century economy fueled by “innovative, next-generation businesses and high-skilled workers ready to meet their needs.”

The governor proposes Free SUNY and CUNY community college for New Yorkers aged 25-55 pursuing careers in high-demand fields; growing the semiconductor industry and bolstering its supply chain and doubling down on shovel-ready sites for modern manufacturing; and turbocharging hiring by startups and supporting small businesses with Low Interest Capital (LINC).

Hochul announced plans for an over $1 billion climate investment to achieve a “more sustainable and affordable future in New York State.”

She said this ambitious proposal would be the single largest climate investment in state history, generating thousands of jobs, slashing energy bills for households and cutting harmful pollution.

Hochul’s agenda includes a $500 million funding commitment for clean water, a commitment to increase climate resilience in the face of extreme weather and an expansion of access to green spaces, particularly in underserved urban areas.

In making government work better to deliver streamlined, efficient and more customer focused services, the governor unveiled an array of initiatives designed to get the government working faster and more efficiently for all New Yorkers as a part of her 2025 State of the State.

In particular, she proposes to advance a series of reforms designed to make sure that the New York State government delivers on the infrastructure projects that change and improve lives: Creating a capital projects dashboard and public-facing property inventory map to enhance transparency and efficiency; Increasing access to government services in high need communities; creating a State Office of Innovation and Efficiency; bolstering cybersecurity of networks, increasing to training for government employees; and modernizing the process for digital working papers for teens to streamline the process and reduce burdens for employers.

The governor also announced initiatives aimed at broadening health care access for New Yorkers and fortifying the State’s health care system by improving outcomes for individuals struggling with obesity through access to life-changing GLP-1 medications; helping hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers navigate varying dental care benefits and costs; ensuring access to emergency medical services; and strengthening the health care safety net by extending the Safety Net Transformation Program.