May 22, 2026

Budget Finish Line in Sight, But Not Crossed

The NYS budget is now 7 weeks late, breaking a 16-year record for late state budgets. Not a record we celebrate. This week, the 13th and 14th extender bills were passed, bringing the budget deadline to May 26.

Fortunately, we are now seeing amended budget bills roll out, with Education, Labor, Family Assistance (ELFA) and Public Protect and General Government (PPGG) passing both houses on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

We await the release of the Health and Mental Hygiene budget bill, which will include the final result of the Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) we have fought so hard for. Lawmakers will take up the rest of the bills Tuesday and into next week after the Memorial Day weekend. We will summarize the final enacted budget in a future update.

Budget bills passed so far:

• Debt Service - AB10002-A / SB 9002-A (Passed Both Houses on 03/26/26)
• ELFA - AB10006-C / SB 9006-C (Passed Both Houses on 05/20/26)
• PPGG Article VII - AB10005-C/SB 9005-C (Passed Both Houses on 5/21/26)

Spectrum News and City and State reported on the current state of the budget in more detail. You can also view The Arc New York’s advocacy updates on the FY27 budget season in our advocacy update archive.

How Can We Advocate Now?

At this point, we have heard that everything is still on the table, including our request for a 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase.

The work is not over. We are all tired, but must remain diligent. As lawmakers continue allocating state spending to meet competing priorities, it's critical that our voices remain strong and visible.

To join us you can:

• Go to the Capitol
• Call legislators
• Help create a social media storm
• Send direct emails with The Arc New York and NYDA TII info sheets attached

You can find more advocacy resources and action tools in our April 24 Update. And, as always, take a moment to send a message through our one-click campaign.

NYS IDDO Releases Annual Report

Last year, the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ombuds (IDDO) program, headed by Community Service Society of New York, launched and began accepting calls from people with developmental disabilities and their family members to provide assistance resolving concerns, navigating barriers to services, and making the right connections. 

After its first year in operation, the Ombuds program has issued its inaugural annual report, covering the period January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. You can read the full report here, the OPWDD press release on the report here, or visit the IDDO website to learn more.

Memo of Support on Ombudsman Program Expansion

The Arc New York support issued a memo of suppport for legislation that would modify the duties of the Ombuds to strengthen the IDD Ombuds program for people with disabilities. The measure, S.4871-B (Fahy) and A.7465-B (Buttenschon), which adds some necessary components to the statutorily designated program, is currently making its way through Senate and Assembly committees.

Specifically, the bills establish a service delivery structure based in New York state, which includes a toll-free telephone hotline and interactive website, and would make ombudsman staff and/or volunteers available to people with IDD through telephone or email.

The measure also provides people with IDD the assistance with paperwork, documentation, preparing and filing appeals, and representation in hearings and appeals concerning adverse benefit determinations. The legislation also includes an information component for people with IDD on their rights and responsibilities in accessing services provided by OPWDD, care coordination organizations, or providers. Finally, it requires the an annual report be published and posted on the Ombudsman and OPWDD website.

You can read the full Memo of Support from The Arc New York here.

Take Action on Federal Threats to People with Disabilities

The Arc of the United States has updated its Action Center with new campaigns focused on:

• Protecting Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
• Reversing cuts to essential SNAP benefits, and
• Sharing stories about why public education matters for people with disabilities

Congress made the largest Medicaid cut in history last year, eliminating nearly $1 trillion in federal support. Access to HCBS is already strained, public education supports for children with disabilities are under pressure, and now Congress is considering additional cuts that could further weaken an already fragile system.

We need your help.

We’re asking you, and everyone who cares about disability rights and community living, to contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect HCBS and the critical services millions of people depend on every day.

This and all advocacy updates are archived on The Arc New York website for future reference. Please contact us if you have questions regarding any of this information.