With New York’s state budget now nearly two weeks overdue, Republican lawmakers are raising concerns about delays and what they describe as a lack of transparency in the process.
In a statement, Senators Jim Tedisco, Steve Rhoads and Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano criticized the handling of the 2026–27 budget and renewed calls for reforms aimed at increasing public accountability.
“This is the fifth year in a row the budget has been late,” Tedisco said, pointing to continued delays under Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-led Legislature.
New York’s constitution requires the budget to be adopted by April 1st, but late budgets have been a recurring issue. Over the past several decades, the state has frequently missed the deadline, with a majority of budgets since the early 2000's enacted after the start of the fiscal year.
The lawmakers argue that beyond timing, the process itself has become increasingly opaque.
They are sponsoring the “New York State Budget Transparency Act,” a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the use of “messages of necessity,” which allow lawmakers to bypass the required three-day public review period for legislation.
Critics say the provision has been used to fast-track large budget bills through late-night votes, leaving little opportunity for lawmakers, the media or the public to review them in detail.
“In Albany, messages of necessity have too often become messages of convenience,” Rhoads said.
The proposal would restrict overnight legislative sessions and require a two-thirds vote to waive standard review rules, except in emergencies.
Supporters of the measure say the goal is to restore public confidence in the budgeting process.
“Democracy dies in darkness,” Tedisco said, calling for greater transparency and accountability.