February 20, 2026 – Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 30-day amendments to her executive budget were largely the typical technical exercise of making adjustments to the original spending plan. Despite signals this month that she could seek changes to the state’s 2019 climate law or pursue other policy shifts, no such proposals were included. Still, her office says potential tweaks to the climate law are not off the table during budget negotiations, where Hochul wields the power of New York’s executive driven budget process.
One of the things we’re doing is working closely with our legislative allies and the folks who fought for this law to make sure it stays strong. Not just staying strong in this moment, but that New York is moving toward embracing a climate future that is healthier, more affordable and puts New Yorkers first.
–EANY’s Katherine Nadeau
