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Legislature Goes Live, Hochul Previews Agenda, Power Plays
Jack O’Donnell
January 12, 2026
Good morning from Albany, New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul is set to deliver her annual State of the State address tomorrow at 1 pm from Albany’s newly renovated The Egg.
Last week, Hochul previewed a number of proposals that will be included in Tuesday’s address, including the “Stop Online Predators Act.” The legislation would restrict certain AI chatbot interactions and require online platforms to automatically implement the highest privacy settings for users under 18. Internet platforms would also have to receive parental consent for any financial transactions for users under 13 and provide parents with a list of users connected to the child’s account. At a press conference, Hochul offered, “As New York’s first mom Governor, the well-being and safety of our children has always been one of my top priorities, and today we are continuing to break new ground to give our kids the tools and safeguards they need to contend with the unprecedented mental health challenges and real world dangers that can sometimes be a byproduct of navigating today’s digital world.”
Joined by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, Hochul also announced new legislation cracking down on illegally 3D-printed ‘ghost guns.’ The proposal establishes criminal penalties for manufacturing 3D-printed firearms and would implement safety standards for 3D-printer manufacturers to prevent the production of firearm parts. It also requires 3D-printed guns to be reported to the New York State Police’s Criminal Gun Clearing House. Hochul declared, “When I took office, I made a promise to New Yorkers to attack the gun violence epidemic head-on, and as gun technology continues to evolve, so do our strongest-in-the-nation gun laws. From the iron pipeline to the plastic pipeline, these proposals will keep illegal ghost guns off of New York streets and enhance measures to track and block the production of dangerous and illegal firearms in our state. I remain committed to continuing the progress we saw in 2025 to reduce gun violence in New York and ensuring our laws remain the strongest and safest in the nation.”
For a complete legislative roadmap, the team at OD&A has prepared a very thorough and engaging policy preview:
The most ambitious proposal—so far at least—is Hochul’s plan to implement universal childcare for children under five years old. Joined at a press conference in Flatbush by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Hochul announced the state will be investing an additional $1.7 billion to increase the availability of quality childcare in New York City and across the state. Additionally, Hochul said New York State will fund the first two years of New York City’s 2-Care program, which will provide free childcare to children as young as 2 years old, starting in “high-need areas” and expanding citywide by the 2029-30 school year. The plan will also guarantee universal Pre-K access to all 4-year-old children by 2028. In addition to increased funding for childcare subsidies, Hochul’s plan establishes an Office of Child Care and Early Education to oversee the rollout of the aforementioned childcare initiatives. Mamdani lauded Hochul’s proposal, saying at the press conference, “Over the past 14 months, a movement was born to fight for a city where every New Yorker could afford a life of dignity and every family could afford to raise their kids. Today, Governor Hochul and I meet that movement as we celebrate our joint commitment to universal child care. This victory represents much more than a triumph of city and state government working in partnership—it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way the government serves working families.”
You can tune into Hochul’s State of the Address tomorrow here.
The 2026 Legislative Session officially kicked off last week with lawmakers gavelling in and quickly gavelling out on Wednesday. Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado presided over the first day of session in the Senate, taking advantage of one of the last official duties that Hochul has not stripped from him since he announced his candidacy for governor. While most lawmakers are walking a fine line between professional courtesy for Delgado while not crossing an incumbent governor, Senator Jabari Brisport announced his endorsement of Delgado last week, offering this rationale: “New Yorkers are demanding leadership that meets this moment with courage, clarity, and a real plan to make life affordable. Antonio Delgado has shown he is willing to take on powerful interests, tax the ultra-wealthy, and partner with movements and legislators to deliver real change.” Stay tuned to see which other lawmakers follow Brisport’s lead.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie hosted their respective welcome receptions before offering opening remarks to their Chambers. Stewart-Cousins indicated one of her main priorities will be New York for All, legislation that would create statewide standards for how state and local law enforcement interact with federal immigration authorities. In her speech, Stewart-Cousins said, “We will stand firm in defense of voting rights and equal rights, with one of our central focuses being standing up for communities that are being targeted and marginalized, which includes protecting our immigrant brothers and sisters by advancing the goals of New York for All.” Heastie’s remarks were centered on affordability and addressing the economic precarity felt by millions of New Yorkers, telling his conference, “I urge us to remember the fact that we know how to take care of families here in New York. In spite of all that Washington is doing to us, we know how to fight to ensure that every New Yorker can climb the economic ladder of success. That every child in every home from Long Island to Buffalo can dream of a better tomorrow.”
Some veteran lawmakers were offering advice for their first-year colleagues to get through the organized chaos of a legislative session. Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, who is retiring after a decade in the Assembly, offered, “Pack a blanket and a pillow, and stock the refrigerator with liquor. My liquor’s in the office. It’s well-packed.” Assembly Member John Zaccaro had more pragmatic advice, telling his freshman colleagues, “Learn first, but also have fun. And save your money and prepare for a long budget.” There will be more fresh faces after the three special elections on February 3rd to replace former State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, former State Senator Sean Ryan, and former Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani.
In other election news, a contested congressional primary race in New York’s 10th District is set to test the strength of the nascent political alliance between Hochul and Mamdani. Hochul officially endorsed incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman last week, while Mamdani’s camp has opted to support New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s primary challenge. Hochul downplayed the dueling endorsements, arguing that it will not impact the business of government, telling reporters, "I feel very confident that New Yorkers will not get the drama that perhaps is only enjoyed by the press. It’s not going to be there because we have work to do. We have a city and state that are counting on us to actually lead and not be actors in the larger political theater.” While Hochul and Mamdani have been able to keep their political disagreements cordial, the same cannot be said for the candidates themselves. At his campaign launch, Goldman suggested Lander is in the race for the wrong reasons, offering, “I have stood up to Donald Trump, and I’ve won. That is what New Yorkers want. They don’t just want performative politicians who are looking for their next job. They want people with the experience and the knowledge to get results.” Lander has leaned into an economic populist message and Goldman’s support for Israel to differentiate himself from the incumbent, saying through a spokesperson, “Heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, Dan Goldman literally chummed it up with Don Jr. on vacation in the Bahamas, praising Trump’s Israel policy.” Goldman has also banked endorsements from Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assembly Member Grace Lee, while Lander won the backing of the United Auto Workers Union Region 9A.
We asked Memo readers which issue should be top priority for the NYS Legislature during the 2026 Legislative Session. Scroll down for poll results and comments!
In Washington, D.C., the House passed three funding bills last week to fund the Departments of Energy, Commerce, Interior, and Justice, as well as water programs, the EPA, and federal science initiatives. The deal inches lawmakers closer to avoiding another government shutdown at the end of the month, but Congress still has to pass the remaining nine bills that make up a full government funding package. The Senate is expected to vote on the package this week as House appropriators begin working on the more controversial spending bills, namely Defense and Labor-HHS-Education, which make up nearly 70% of all federal discretionary spending. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) believes he can work with his colleagues across the aisle to get the remaining spending bills across the finish line, telling reporters, “We’re getting good cooperation from our Democratic friends as well. I mean, people are serious about trying to get this stuff done.”
There is little appetite for another government shutdown among Democrats after last year’s 43-day shutdown failed in forcing the GOP to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer threw cold water on the idea that his conference would pursue another shutdown, saying, “Democrats want to fund the appropriations, the spending bills, all the way through 2026. We want to work in a bicameral, bipartisan way to do it, and the good news is our Republican appropriators are working with us.” Of course, a lot can change between now and the shutdown deadline, and some Democrats still see a no vote on government spending bills as one of their last available acts of protest against an emboldened Trump administration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) job of shepherding the spending bills through his slim and fractious majority was made more difficult last week with the unexpected passing of Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa. A former rice farmer in California, LaMalfa was first elected in 2013 and focused primarily on agricultural and water issues. Speaking about LaMalfa to House Republicans, President Donald Trump said, "he was a true defender of American children. He was a defender of everybody. And our hearts go out to his wife, Jill, and his entire family. He voted with me 100% of the time.” LaMalfa’s death, paired with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation last week, leaves Johnson with a 218-213 majority, meaning he now only has a two-vote cushion. Trump spoke at last week’s GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center to ensure House Republicans and the White House are aligned on messaging heading into November’s midterm elections. Trump reiterated the importance of retaining a Republican majority, warning, “they’ll find a way to impeach me” if Democrats gain control of the House. Trump put the onus on members to go out and sell his administration’s wins, telling the crowd, “You have so many good nuggets. You have to use them. If you can sell them, we’re going to win. We’ve had the most successful first year of any president in history and it should be a positive.” Despite Trump’s wishful thinking, historical precedent and publicly available polling suggests that Republicans could be in for a rough election cycle. Stay tuned.
Finally, some insight to how your dog is learning. Read how dogs can expand their vocabulary by eavesdropping on their owners here.
 Listen on your favorite platform!   |  Jack is back ‘From the Lobby’ to break down the OD&A Legislative Preview: 🎙️Albany’s high-wire act over progressive policies 🎙️Political shifts & the Mamdani effect 🎙️High-stakes midterm elections & political party factions 🎙️NY’s most-watched policies in 2026 |
Emma DeForest from Sen. Schumer’s office, Patrick Kennedy of the NYS Comptroller’s Office & OD&A’s Michael Greco
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OD&A was there as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership unveiled its 2026 Advocacy Agenda, a clear roadmap for strengthening the regional economy and advancing policies that drive growth and opportunity. Together with business and civic leaders, we’re working to build a future where workers thrive, businesses succeed, and graduates see Buffalo Niagara as a place to build their careers.
Will you be watching Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State address tomorrow? |
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January 12, 1991: The House passed a resolution authorizing President George H.W. Bush to use military force against Iraq in what became a successful effort to oust Iraqi invaders from Kuwait. Iraq had occupied its oil-rich neighbor since August 1990. Take a look back here. |
 | 15 Best Restaurants in Buffalo for Wings, Pizza, and Fine DiningCondé Nast Traveler sets its sights on Buffalo's food scene and ranks some of its cultural gems. |
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