On Tuesday, January 9th, Governor Kathy Hochul gave her “State of the State” speech outlining this year’s legislative session plans. In New York State, assembly members, senators, and lawmakers convene here in Albany to write and pass new laws from January to June in something called “session”.  Session starts with the governor’s State of the State speech. This speech is not actual legislation and is not a promise that the laws will be passed.  It’s a statement of the governor’s goals for NYS legislation. 

Why should you care and what proposals in the State of the State could affect you? Here’s a highlight reel of the proposals that could affect students if they are put into the budget and passed. 

1. SUNY and CUNY colleges will offer direct admission to the top 10% of high school students. This is huge for those who are in the top 10% of their graduating class. Students in the top 10% are guaranteed admission to nearly 90 schools statewide. 
2. The back-to-basics program will help curb the growing number of young students who are not on grade level for reading. This will revert schools to phonics-based learning instead of learning to read via sight words, teaching them to sound out and figure out words instead of just rapid memorization. This is less about high schoolers than it is about pre-k through 2nd grade. 
3. The Reproductive Health Act could be amended to make it so it is easier for minors to safely and confidently get birth control and contraceptives. This means if you go to any state-run facility like Planned Parenthood, they can help give you different forms of contraceptives for free and will keep it confidential meaning they can’t tell anyone and you do not need parental consent. 
4. Legislation making FAFSA financial aid applications mandatory for college bound high school seniors. Many students miss out on getting the money that they would need for college simply because they do not know about the different programs meant to help them. This would solve that and help countless students who otherwise couldn’t go to college.
5. A bill that could ensure eligible students take advantage of SNAP benefits to address food insecurity among college students. In college, many students struggle to afford food along with all of the other necessities that come with living on your own for the first time. This would lift some of the weight and help college students get SNAP and food.
6. SUNY and CUNY will provide information about voter registration to boost college student voter participation rates. You have probably seen the voter registration tables outside of the cafeteria. In high school, most students can’t register and in high school and just don’t in college. Having easy access to being able to register will help get young people to polls to help change our country for the better. This is especially important this year with the presidential election being in November. If you are eligible to vote but aren’t registered, you should go and register.
7. Proposal to expand efforts to protect the mental health of kids and teenagers including a school-based mental health clinic to any school that wants one. Kid and teen mental health has been in decline; this act would make it so that free mental health services will be provided in any school that wants it.
8. The SAFE for Kids Act may edit the algorithm of many social media sites to show people the person already follows in order to curb the apps addictive nature. This proposal has a lot of caveats and interesting information so if you want to learn more about this proposal here is the breakdown from the governor’s SAFE for Kids Act on the state’s website.
9. New state funding to help relieve food insecurity for families during the summer. $200 million to help provide more summer food programs that could help feed up to 2 million children statewide. During the summer many families of students who eat primarily at school during the school year struggle under the financial stress of the extra cost of food. This program would make it easier to get access to free food over the summer.

Remember, these are proposals and there is no guarantee any will be passed. The state budget is released on January 16th and New Yorkers will find out which proposals are in the budget. Even when we do get the budget, all of the bills will need to be passed. Stay tuned for a detailed follow up budget article later this month.