As the New York State Legislature convenes in Albany for the opening of the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers committed to a renewed push to address what they describe as the state’s most pressing challenges: affordability, crime, energy costs, and continued population loss.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano said the new session offers an opportunity to confront problems he says have been ignored for years. “I am committed, as a member of the Republican Conference, to solving the long-standing problems that get ignored by the majority year after year,” DeStefano said.
Affordability remains at the center of that effort. DeStefano pointed to New York’s $254.4 billion state budget, which is $137 billion larger than Florida’s, despite Florida having 3.5 million more residents and no state income tax. He said Long Island residents are being unfairly burdened to support state spending priorities that do not benefit them. “Long Island should not be a cash cow,” he said, arguing that taxes and regulations are driving residents and businesses out of the state.
Public safety is another major focus for Assembly Republicans this session. DeStefano blamed cashless bail and other criminal justice reforms for what he described as a persistent crime wave. “Criminals get arrested time after time, and judges don’t have the power to hold them, allowing offenders to go right back out and commit more crimes,” he said, pledging continued efforts to roll back those policies.
Energy policy and rising utility costs are also expected to dominate debate in 2026. DeStefano sharply criticized the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), saying it has driven up costs for families, schools, and municipalities. “If you want to skyrocket energy prices and shackle an economy, the CLCPA is exactly how you do it,” he said, calling for a more pragmatic energy strategy that includes using the state’s plentiful supply of natural gas.
Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay echoed those concerns, saying affordability has become a political talking point without meaningful action. “Life here remains, quite simply, unaffordable, and there is little evidence meaningful steps are being taken to do anything about it,” Barclay said. He cited rising state spending, above-average electricity costs, and New York’s low national ranking for affordability as evidence the current approach is failing.
“The mass exodus of New Yorkers to other parts of the country is the clearest sign that we need to move this state in a new direction,” Senator Dean Murray pointed out. “Seven straight years of total Democrat control has made New York completely unaffordable and a place where people no longer want to live. This is why we must pass and implement our plan to reverse course and Save New York.”
Reaction to the session opening also came from community and advocacy groups. Walter J. Mejia, president and founder of New York Republican Latinos, said voters are increasingly frustrated with unmet promises. “We need a New York that we can call home,” Mejia said, urging the election of leaders who address housing costs, taxes, education, and healthcare.
With affordability, crime, and economic pressures shaping the debate, lawmakers from both parties are preparing for a contentious 2026 session that could have lasting implications for New York’s future.