ALBANY, N.Y. — New York families could see big changes as Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out more than 200 proposals in her 2026 State of the State address.
Hochul’s plan focuses on making life more affordable, keeping people safe and expanding opportunity across the State.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is preparing to deliver her fifth State of the State address Tuesday afternoon.
She announced a push for universal, affordable child care with a $1.7 billion funding increase, plans to freeze SUNY and CUNY tuition for the seventh year and a proposal to eliminate state income taxes on tips.
The address also included efforts to lower insurance rates by cracking down on fraud, increase transparency for home insurance and protect renters by raising income limits for rent-freeze programs.
Hochul is proposing new laws to stop illegal 3D-printed guns.
New York is set to strengthen its gun laws with new proposals targeting 3D-printed and illegal firearms.
She said, “We’re putting gun manufacturers on notice: You will no longer sell handguns that can be converted into automatic machine guns — that are able to fire 1,200 rounds per minute.”
To tackle rising costs, the governor plans to demand stricter fiscal discipline from utilities and support energy-saving investments for New Yorkers.
The governor’s proposals include creating a new digital safety office, requiring labels for AI-generated content and cracking down on deceptive online practices.
She announced a new goal of five gigawatts of nuclear power and plans to require data centers to pay their fair share for energy.
New legislation will require social media platforms to display warning labels about the mental health risks associated with certain features.
Hochul said, “My 2026 State of the State lays out a clear, actionable plan to meet the challenges families face today, while preparing New York for the road ahead.”
The plan features investments in health care, mental health, education, environmental protection and infrastructure.
Hochul also emphasizes the importance of protecting civil rights and healthcare access, particularly in response to federal challenges.
She also said that New York “will not allow the use of State resources to assist in federal immigration raids on people who have not committed serious crimes.”
Hochul continued, “Public safety will always come first, but it must be pursued lawfully and with humanity. We will not allow masked federal ICE agents to storm into our schools, daycares, hospitals, and houses of worship for civil immigration raids unless they have a judicial warrant, meaning signed by a judge. And when boundaries are crossed, accountability matters. No one from the president on down is above the law. Let me repeat: No one. That’s why I will move to allow New Yorkers to hold ICE agents accountable in court when they act outside the scope of their duties.”
Click here for the full State of the State book.
New York families could see big changes as Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out more than 200 proposals in her 2026 State of the State address.