April 30, 2026

NYS Budget Now More than a Month Overdue

The NYS legislature passed its eighth budget extender to fund government operations through May 4, stretching budget negotiations more than a month past the April 1 deadline. While the governor and legislative leaders continue to make progress on key sticking points, as noted by Spectrum News, we expect delays to continue through mid-May.

As negotiations drag on, legislators must continue to hear directly from the people who will be directly impacted by their decisions. We provided tools and tactics in our April 24 update to help you take meaningful action. This week we're joining our coalition partners in a NYDA Advocacy Blitz, and we'll continue these efforts until the budget is inked!

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 information and advocacy tools in last week's update here. And, as always, take a moment to send a message through our one-click campaign.

Our collective voices have power, but only if every one of us adds our voice to the call!

Week of Action at the Capitol and Across the State

As part of our advocacy blitz, The Arc New York joined Liberty Arc and The Arc of Rensselaer at the Capitol to speak with legislators and staff about our budget priorities. Check out this video from Rensselaer, photos from Liberty, and more posts shared on The Arc New York Facebook, which highlight actions taken by many of our Chapters across the state.

Follow our page, and like and share these posts to help amplify our message and leverage social media to make an impact!

NYS Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day Package

The NYS Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by Disabilities Committee Chair Angelo Santabarbara, requesting that Governor Kathy Hochul proclaim April 29, 2026, as New York State Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

The NYS Assembly Majority Conference also announced that they had passed a package of bills to support the needs of people with disabilities by "advancing disability rights and strengthening New York’s commitment to dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. The measures would improve emergency response training, support reforms to the developmental disabilities system, and expand protections for workers. We’ll never stop fighting to strengthen the rights of New Yorkers with disabilities and build a more inclusive future for all.”

You can read the full press release here, which includes more details on the bills passed during Disabilities Awareness Day.

Tell Congress: Protect Home and Community-Based Services!

Congress made the biggest cut to Medicaid in history last year, removing nearly a trillion dollars in federal support. Access to Home and Community-Based Services are already strained, and Congress is considering additional cuts that could further weaken an already fragile system.



We need your help! We’re asking everyone who cares about disability rights and community living to join the effort to protect Medicaid HCBS.

Use The Arc's one-click campaign to take action today! Contact your members of Congress and tell them to protect HCBS for the millions of people who depend on these critical services.

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.