Governor Kathy Hochul delivers the 2025 State of the State Address in Albany | Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor
NEW YORK—In the presence of many government dignitaries from New York state, including state legislators, officials, members of the press, and an estimated 1,500 people in the audience, Governor Kathy Hochul, the 58th governor of New York State, delivered her 2025 State of the State address in the heart of New York’s government, the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
Her address, “Fighting for Your Family,” was cautiously optimistic. The audience was eager to see how her proposals might shape New York’s future. She presented a comprehensive vision outline, focusing on affordability, safety, and family support.
However, her address sparked mixed reactions from lawmakers. Some praised her focus on affordability and safety, while others criticized her proposals for not going far enough.
Here are some key points of her address:
- Affordability: Hochul proposed cutting middle-class taxes, sending inflation refund checks, and expanding the child tax credit. She emphasized making life more affordable for New Yorkers by reducing costs and putting money back into people’s pockets.
- Housing: She addressed the housing crisis by proposing measures to increase the supply of affordable housing and protect homeowners and first-time homebuyers.
- Public Safety: Hochul announced initiatives to improve subway safety by increasing NYPD presence and investing in safety upgrades.
- Education: She revealed plans to offer free tuition at SUNY and CUNY community colleges for adult students pursuing in-demand careers.
- Mental Health: The governor proposed updating involuntary commitment laws and strengthening Kendra’s Law to ensure New Yorkers with severe mental illness receive the care they need.
- Support for Families: Hochul introduced policies to enhance family resources, including universal child care and complimentary breakfast and lunch for every student in the state.
Assemblymember Steven Raga, representing the 30th District, was happy that the governor is prioritizing universal school meals, pathways to child care, protections for homeownership opportunities, and affordability.
“New Yorkers have been hit hard by inflation, making access to food, childcare, and housing a luxury rather than a human right,” Raga told the Philippine Daily Mirror. While I celebrate these wins with my colleagues, we also need to do more for our immigrant communities.”
Immigrant rights groups were notably disappointed by Governor Hochul’s State of the State address due to the lack of mention of immigration protections. Advocates like Rosa Cohen-Cruz from The Bronx Defenders criticized the governor for not addressing the needs of immigrant communities, especially in light of potential mass deportations under a second Trump administration.
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, echoed these sentiments in a statement, stating that Hochul missed an opportunity to strengthen protections for immigrant families.
Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, emphasized the need for funding immigration legal services and criticized the governor for not including such measures in her address.
Overall, these groups felt that the governor’s silence on immigration issues was a significant oversight, given the challenges faced by immigrant communities in New York.
Raga added that language access must be expanded so New Yorkers can interpret essential government documents and programs and ensure that the immigrant community’s needs are addressed.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocates to ensure these priorities are included in the enacted budget,” said Raga.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams strongly supported Governor Hochul’s State of the State address. He praised her commitment to making New York safer and more affordable for working-class families. Adams highlighted the governor’s focus on public safety, particularly her plans to address street homelessness and severe mental illness. He also appreciated her willingness to commit state resources to increase police presence in the transit system, which aligns with his administration’s priorities. Adams emphasized that public safety is essential for prosperity and expressed eagerness to work with Governor Hochul to achieve these goals.
Reactions varied along party lines, with Republicans focusing on the perceived shortcomings and Democrats highlighting the positive aspects of Hochul’s proposals. Some praised her focus on affordability and public safety, while others expressed concerns about the feasibility and funding of her proposals.
Republican Senator Dan Stec criticized the lack of new initiatives and detailed funding plans, calling her speech a retread of past proposals. Senator Jake Ashby also found the address lacking coherence and clarity on achieving the proposed goals. Will Barclay, NYS Assembly Republican Minority Leader, acknowledged that Hochul echoed some Republican initiatives, such as the Child Tax Credit and middle-class tax cuts. However, he criticized her for not addressing criminal justice reforms like bail reform. Jim Tedisco, Republican state Senator, found Hochul’s focus on affordability ironic, claiming she caused the affordability problem in the first place.
Democrats, like Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, appreciated Hochul’s commitment to economic vitality, public safety, and affordability, highlighting her proposed tax cuts and childcare tax credits. Assemblymembers Carrie Woerner of Round Lake and John McDonald of Cohoes supported her agenda, particularly her work on mental health and support for police officers. Letitia James, Attorney General, emphasized the positive impact of Hochul’s proposals for free school lunch and child tax credit expansion.
Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address took approximately 45 minutes to deliver.
