State Budget Agreement Reflects Key Pro-Business Blueprint Priorities, Delivering Meaningful Steps Toward Affordability and Competitiveness
Recently Enacted Budget Includes Several Recommendations from ‘Blueprint for New York – Creating a Roadmap for Change’ Following Months of Advocacy
Albany, NY (May 28, 2026)– The recently agreed-upon New York State budget includes several key policy positions long advocated for by the business community and outlined in “Blueprint for New York – Creating a Roadmap for Change.” These actions reflect meaningful progress toward addressing New York’s affordability challenges and improving the state’s economic competitiveness. We commend Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for listening to the concerns of employers by holding the line on corporate taxes, amending provisions within the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that were creating significant compliance burdens, advancing long-overdue SEQRA reforms, appointing a regulatory czar, utilizing AI to remove duplicative and redundant regulation, and enacting important auto insurance reforms. These steps represent real progress toward reining in tax increases and overregulation and demonstrate the value of ongoing engagement with the business community.
The report, commissioned by the Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc., an affiliate of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. (BCNYS), and the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC), was released in the Fall of 2025 to address the challenges facing our business community and identify solutions to improve our economic competitiveness.
The report, ‘Blueprint for New York – Creating a Roadmap for Change,’ called for improvements to address:
- Prohibitive regulatory and legal environment
- The high cost of doing business due to taxation as well as antiquated policies
- Lack of agency coordination, communication and accessibility
- Lack of modernized digitized public sector
- Population loss
- Pervasive lack of support for the business community
- Energy policy
Supporters of the ‘Blueprint for New York – Creating a Roadmap for Change’ included-
- Centerstate CEO
- Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE)
- Long Island Association (LIA)
- Think Dutchess Alliance
- Builders Exchange of Rochester
- Construction Industry Association of Rochester
- Clinton County Industrial Agency
- Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency
- North Country Chamber of Commerce
- Business Council of Westchester
- The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce
- Monroe County Industrial Development Agency
- Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency
- Capital Region Chamber of Commerce/Center for Economic Growth (CEG)
- Real Estate Board of New York
- Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Heather Mulligan, President & CEO, The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
“This budget reflects real progress in addressing the affordability challenges facing New York’s employers. We appreciate Governor Hochul and the Legislature for listening to the business community and taking meaningful steps to send an important signal that improving the state’s economic competitiveness should be a priority. While there is more work to be done, this is a strong step in the right direction.”
Ryan Silva, Executive Director, New York State Economic Development Council
“The inclusion of key economic development and regulatory reforms in this year’s budget is an encouraging development for communities across the state. By advancing targeted SEQRA improvements, addressing rising insurance costs, and taking steps to reduce compliance burdens tied to the CLCPA, state leaders are helping create a more predictable and workable environment for investment. These changes reflect recommendations we heard directly from stakeholders and align closely with the Blueprint report’s call for a more efficient, modern, and competitive New York economy.”
Mark Eagan, CCE, President and CEO, Capital Region Chamber of Commerce
“New York’s adopted budget delivers real progress on long‑standing business priorities,” said Mark Eagan, President & CEO of the Capital Region Chamber and the Center for Economic Growth. “Targeted regulatory reforms, relief from rising costs, and steps to improve government efficiency all move the state toward a more competitive and affordable future. There is more work ahead, but this budget lays a strong foundation for continued growth.”
Lisa Sorin, President, The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce
“The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand with The Business Council, NYSEDC, and partners across the state in advancing a more competitive and affordable New York,” said Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “For Bronx businesses, the cost of doing business is not an abstract policy issue; it affects hiring, expansion, storefront stability, and long-term investment in our communities. The progress reflected in this year’s state budget, including steps to reduce regulatory burdens, improve agency coordination, and support a more predictable business climate, is an important acknowledgment that employers need practical solutions to grow and remain in New York. We look forward to continuing this work to ensure that small businesses, local employers, and neighborhood commercial corridors are central to the state’s economic agenda.”
Linda M. Baran, President & CEO, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
“The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce appreciates Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for advancing several meaningful reforms in this year’s budget that reflect priorities identified through the Blueprint for New York initiative led by The Business Council and NYSEDC,” said Linda Baran, President & CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “For Staten Island businesses, affordability and competitiveness remain critical concerns. The budget reflects progress on issues consistently raised by the business community, including holding the line on broad-based tax increases, addressing rising insurance costs and fraud, reducing regulatory burdens, and supporting workforce and childcare initiatives. While there is still more work to do, these actions represent important movement toward a more practical and competitive business climate for employers across New York.”
Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
"From energy policies that match the reality of our state to reformed policies that encourage development and innovation, this budget delivers on the needs of New York and its business community. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie for their leadership on these critical issues and for their openness to listen to and work with our organization and partners. We look forward to continued collaboration to build a better New York for all."
John Ravitz, Executive Vice President/COO, The Business Council of Westchester
“The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) appreciates that this year final budget, addressed many key issues that we have been focusing on, including reforming the SEQRA processes as well as making realistic and honest reforms the 2019 CLCPA. We hope the governor and the legislature continue to look at the important recommendations that were in the “Blueprint for Change” which the BCW proudly supported. There is more work to be done regarding eliminating regulations and mandates that put obstacles in the way of New York’s businesses.”
Matt Hurlbutt, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise
“We greatly appreciate the important steps taken by Governor Hochul and the State Legislature to improve New York’s affordability and business climate in the state budget. Greater Rochester Enterprise is eager to work with the Governor and other leaders to implement important policy changes that increase economic prosperity in the region and across New York State. We look forward to greater opportunity for residents and businesses as progress on these important issues continues.”
Robert Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, CenterState CEO
"Central New York is in a moment of generational opportunity. To ensure all Central New York residents can benefit from the historic investments being made in the region, it's paramount that our existing business community can compete and grow," said Rob Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of CenterState CEO. "Maintaining the corporate tax rate, amendments to SEQRA and CLCPA requirements, as well as auto insurance reforms, will help businesses keep pace with new development and remain strong pillars of our local economies. We appreciate Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature for taking these steps to make the state an even better place to do business."
Garry Douglas, President and CEO, North Country Chamber of Commerce
"We thank the Governor and legislative leaders for embracing many of the findings and recommendations of the Blueprint, from avoiding calls for business tax increases to welcome amendments to CLCPA and SEQRA to needed attention to regulatory reforms," says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. "Also advances in childcare and major North Country infrastructure investments."
Robin D. Mack, CEO & Executive Director, Think Dutchess Alliance for Business
"Businesses make location decisions based on one question: is it worth the fight? For too long in New York, the honest answer has been complicated. Regulatory friction, slow permitting, and a public sector that hasn't evolved to assist at the speed of business have all been part of that equation. We have felt it here in Dutchess County. The budget makes an earnest effort to address that directly. SEQRA reform, a genuine push toward modernized governmental operations overall, and improved agency coordination (local, county and state) for accessibility to current data are signals that the state is ready to partner. We welcome that shift. Think Dutchess will keep doing our part to make Dutchess County the place businesses choose first."
Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA)
“I was honored to be a part of the process, which speaks to the depth and range of the input that went behind creating the Blueprint for NY initiative,” said Mark Geise, CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency. “I am pleased to see that the Governor and her staff took it seriously, and this is translating to legitimate reform efforts. I hope it continues.”