New York Note: NYS One-Houses, NYC Legislation, NYC Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs

March 16, 2026

NYS Legislature One-House Budget Tax Proposals

On Thursday, the Senate and Assembly passed their respective FY27 budget proposals, marking the start of formal budget negotiations ahead of the Governor’s April 1st budget deadline. Both houses proposed raising taxes, including a 0.5% surcharge on state personal income taxes for the top two tax brackets and a 7.25% to 9% raise on the corporate tax. The budgets also align in granting New York City the authority to raise its unincorporated business tax for firms earning more than $5 million and to increase corporate tax rates for both financial and non‑financial companies, initiatives backed by New York City Mayor Mamdani to address the city’s projected $5.4 billion deficit. Governor Hochul has maintained that the state can meet its obligations without increasing taxes, but all proposals will undergo review as negotiations progress in the coming weeks.

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NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the City Council approved several bills, including a pilot program to improve street cleanliness and accelerate snow and ice removal at bus shelters, bike share stations, and public communication structures; aligned the Housing Maintenance Code with recent zoning reforms to allow cellar accessory dwelling units in newly constructed homes; and required clearer signage for bus lane restriction hours. The Council also advanced several land use applications to support new mixed‑use developments and housing production, including affordable units under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. Additionally, Council Members introduced new legislation to set standards for self‑checkout systems, establish signage requirements for diaper changing stations, study the availability of green space, strengthen scaffolding regulations, create a temporary moratorium on third‑party transfers of real property, and examine eligibility criteria for transferable property. Notably, Council Member Sandy Nurse introduced a bill to establish a $30 minimum wage, reflecting a key policy commitment of the Mamdani administration. See the full list of legislation passed and introduced here.

Mayor Mamdani Establishes Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs

Mamdani signed an executive order on Friday, establishing the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to oversee and coordinate implementation of initiatives across city agencies that serve LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers, including legal services and anti-discrimination measures. The office will be led by Taylor Brown, who currently serves as Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General. Brown brings robust experience in civil rights enforcement, impact litigation, and advancing protections for transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities, and is the first openly transgender person to lead a City office or agency.

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