New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a $254 billion state budget that includes a statewide ban on cell phone use in public schools, $1 billion in middle-class spending cuts, and new funding to deploy more police officers across the city’s subway system.
“This budget puts money back in New Yorkers’ pockets and makes our streets and subways safer,” Hochul said at a press conference in Albany, adding that she had “promised to fight like hell” for working families.
The comprehensive proposal—nearly a month overdue after extended negotiations among Democratic lawmakers—will go to a vote in the state Legislature by the end of the week.
If passed, New York would become the ninth state to prohibit cell phone use during the school day, joining California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.
Hochul did not elaborate on how the ban would be implemented—whether through school-wide secure lockers or classroom-level enforcement—but said exceptions would be made for students with disabilities or medical needs. The stated aim, she added, is to reduce distractions and restore focus in learning environments.
Though discussed in Albany for years, previous efforts to restrict phones in schools stalled amid pushback from parents who cited concerns about being able to reach their children during emergencies.
The budget also includes a significant expansion of the state’s Child Tax Credit, offering $1,000 per child for families with dependents aged 0 to 4, and $500 for children up to age 16.
An additional $340 million is earmarked to provide universal free breakfast and lunch for all K–12 students, while $357 million would go toward gun violence prevention programs statewide.
Mental health also features prominently: the plan sets aside $160 million to open 100 new inpatient psychiatric beds across New York City.
Another $47 million is dedicated to adult education, including initiatives to allow qualifying adults to attend college tuition-free.
The governor also introduced a crackdown on mask-wearing during crimes, proposing stricter legal penalties for individuals who conceal their identity while committing offenses.
The budget is being introduced 28 days past the state’s April 1 deadline, following extended intraparty disputes over the originally proposed $252 billion framework.
