SC New York News

State Senator Tom O'Mara, a Republican from Big Flats and the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, announced that joint Senate-Assembly hearings on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025-2026 New York State budget will proceed on Thursday. The focus of this session will be on transportation.

The budget hearings began earlier this week and are part of a monthlong schedule of joint sessions reviewing the governor's proposals. The full schedule is available online. Thursday's hearing on transportation can be viewed starting at 9:30 AM, with archived videos accessible after each session.

These hearings provide an opportunity for members of the Legislature’s fiscal committees to receive testimony from key figures including Hochul administration officials, state agency heads, local leaders, and various stakeholders affected by the state's annual budget.

Senator O'Mara stated, “Senate Republicans will continue to be a voice for lower taxes, less regulation, greater accountability, affordability, economic growth, job creation, and more common sense on state fiscal practices. We welcome this year’s budget hearings, at this critical time, for direct input and critique on a range of policy areas that will decide the short- and long-term future and strength of our local communities and economies.” O'Mara represents New York's 58th Senate District which includes Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Yates counties and part of Allegany County.