Albany, NY – Today, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) is announcing the legislature’s passage of the State’s Education, Labor, and Family Assistance (Article VII Budget Act, A.10006C). Passing the Assembly today, this new legislation will soon deliver investments in education, workforce development, housing, and family assistance for residents across New York State.

“Today in Albany we passed our second out of a total of ten budget bills that need to be passed. Today’s bill addresses Education, Labor, and Family Assistance. There are eight remaining bills that need to be passed. Below are some of the highlights of this bill.”

School Aid Funding Projections

• Foundation Aid for 26-27 school year shall be the greater of either the total foundation aid or the foundation aid base multiplied by 1.02 (two percent increase)
  • Provides for a minimum 2% increase as well as an increase in school funding for Homeless and Foster Count
• Zero Emission bus mandate pushed back 5 years
  • Requirement for all new purchases of buses to be zero-emissions is pushed from 2027 to 2032
  • Requirement for entire fleet to be zero-emissions pushed from 2035 to 2040

“While I continue to support the complete repeal of the zero-emissions school bus mandate, this is a step in the right direction. This Act will provide the districts time to purchase their diesel buses over the next five years and then begin a transition to leasing buses in order to extend making any purchasing decisions until 2037.”

Universal Pre-K

• Adds non-profit organizations, charter schools, libraries, and museums to the definition of eligible agencies under the Universal Pre-K Program
• School districts shall receive 50% of the universal Pre-K apportionment upon approval of the application submitted, but not earlier than September 1st
• Districts may be eligible to receive up to an additional 20% of apportionment after April 1st upon completion of a request for funds

“It is evident that the saying, that as States, we pay our dues now or tenfold later, is the best example of why we need to work extensively with our non-profits and community partners to offer pre-k programs at all of our schools. While some of the districts I represent have been offering exceptional programs for years, others have not. This extra funding is a starting point to level the playing field.”

New York Opportunity Promise Scholarship Expansion

“While I do not support this program, as I do not believe that age should be a criteria of receiving funding, I do realize that there is a need for workforce expansion in these careers and will support all efforts to fill these much-needed roles.”

Expand Masters-In-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship to early childhood educators

• This will specify that early childhood educators are eligible for the Masters-In-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship and establish that recipients are allowed to serve at eligible early childhood education agencies.
• Includes an additional $1 million of related investment in the Masters-In-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship program.

“We need educators. While this is not an immediate fix, and is instead a long-term solution, it is incredibly necessary in ensuring the future success of our schools and the education of our children.”

Authorize the pass-through of any Federal Supplemental Security Income Cost of Living Adjustment

• This would authorize Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to be increased by 2.8% and rounded to the nearest whole number for 2026 in accordance with the SSI Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Authorize Mortgage Insurance Fund Utilization

• Excess balance from the mortgage insurance fund is to be transferred to the housing trust fund corporation and the New York State Supportive Housing Program for distribution to the following programs.

• Housing Program
  • The New York State Supportive Housing Program may provide a sum not to exceed $74,181,000 to this program.

“I have initiated a supportive housing project in Utica. This would provide housing with a supportive component for those that are living in the units. The demographics have changed in our area and not a day goes by that I do not see a person in need of such services on our streets. It is imperative that we assist those with mental illness, and other diagnoses that prevent individuals from being functioning members of society.”

This is the second of ten bills that need to pass as a part of the New York State Budget for the 2026-2027 State Fiscal Year.