New York (WRGB) — Governor Hochul is pushing a new “Let Them Build” agenda aimed at speeding up housing and infrastructure development statewide by reforming New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and cutting what her administration calls unnecessary red tape.

Hochul says the proposal is part of her 2026 State of the State agenda and is designed to help local communities build housing and key public projects faster, while still maintaining environmental safeguards. Hochul said,

For far too long needless, outdated red tape has stood in the way of the housing and infrastructure that New Yorkers need to address the housing crisis and make life more affordable in communities across our state. New York is a place defined by our boundless ambition — we are a state that builds. It is time that we cut the red tape that too often slows down projects and let communities build, so we can offer all New Yorkers the more affordable and livable state that they deserve and attract new residents who want to call New York home.

The governor’s office says the plan has gained support from major local government groups including the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the New York State Association of Towns (NYAOT), and the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), as well as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other local leaders.

State officials say major projects in New York can take significantly longer to move from concept to construction than in other states, increasing costs. Hochul’s administration cited a Citizens Budget Commission report estimating that red tape can add the equivalent of up to $82,000 per housing unit in New York City.

To speed housing development, the governor is proposing SEQRA changes that would exempt certain types of housing, described as consistently found to have no significant environmental impact, from additional SEQRA review. The administration says projects would still need to comply with state rules involving water use, air quality, environmental justice and natural resource protection, and the changes would not override local zoning. Housing would also have to be located outside flood risk areas to qualify for the exemption.

The governor is also proposing to fast-track certain infrastructure projects that meet specific criteria, including:

Clean water infrastructureGreen infrastructure (nature-based stormwater management)Parks and trailsNew or renovated child care centers

Hochul’s office says the fast-track process would apply only to projects located in previously disturbed areas, with the goal of protecting undisturbed lands while still allowing needed upgrades in communities.

The agenda also includes broader process reforms, including establishing clear timelines for environmental reviews, streamlining environmental impact statements for certain projects, modernizing permitting through technology upgrades, expediting major state infrastructure projects, and creating a new “permitting academy” to support local governments.

Local government organizations backing the plan say SEQRA plays an important role in protecting the environment, but argue the current process can be overly complex and time-consuming for projects that have minimal environmental impact.

Hochul’s administration says the proposal builds on the governor’s broader housing agenda, including nearly $4 billion in targeted investments since FY23 and the state’s Pro-Housing Community Program, which offers certified communities access to up to $750 million in discretionary state funding. The governor’s office says more than 400 communities have received Pro-Housing certification, and that the state has created or preserved more than 77,000 affordable homes so far under her current housing plan.

The governor’s office says the FY27 Executive Budget would complete the state’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including supportive housing and home electrification initiatives.