Thursday, October 1, 2026
As the State Legislature wrapped up its 2026 session, New Yorkers were focused on the issues affecting their daily lives: skyrocketing utility bills, the rising cost of living, jobs and public safety.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats were focused on something else entirely. Instead of addressing the affordability crisis facing hardworking New Yorkers, they spent valuable time advancing legislation to replace the words “mother” and “father” in state law with terms such as “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent.” Senate Democrats also passed a bill requiring gender-neutral breastfeeding rights.
Parents aren’t asking Albany to redefine parenthood or biological reality. They’re asking for relief from the crushing cost of living driven by high taxes and bad policy. At the same time, the $277 billion state budget is over $20 billion more than last year and $110 billion higher than when Democrats took control. One-party rule continues to ignore you.
But bad policy and misplaced priorities have become a recurring theme under one-party rule in Albany. For example, while rejecting my legislation that would have provided New York families the largest personal income tax cut in state history and put as much as $5,000 annually back in your pocket, Democrats instead made the time to further undermine non-partisan elections.
In 2014, New Yorkers voted to create a bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission to prevent politicians from drawing their own districts. In 2021, Democrats weakened that system. Now they’re trying again. In the closing days of the session, they passed a constitutional amendment that effectively guts the commission and returns control of congressional and legislative map-drawing to politicians, with the power to redraw lines whenever they choose. If they don’t like election results, they can change the maps.
For 250 years, voters have chosen their representatives. This flips that principle on its head. Republicans shouldn’t be exempt, either — if either party manipulates maps for political gain, it is wrong.
New Yorkers still get the final say. The amendment must pass the Legislature again next year before going to voters, likely in 2027. Separately, Democrats also removed the bipartisan Board of Elections from parts of the referendum process and gave themselves control over ballot language. So be careful.
The same pattern is evident in election policy. While rejecting voter ID legislation, Democrats passed automatic voter registration tied to Medicaid and DMV interactions unless individuals opt out. The problem is that they have given illegal immigrants and non-citizens the right to obtain Medicaid benefits and driver’s licenses. Unless they voluntarily disclose they are not entitled to vote … you can guess what happens. Your local bipartisan Board of Elections is again cut out of the process.
Public safety was another casualty. From cashless bail and parole changes to Raise the Age, Democrats have repeatedly advanced policies that weaken accountability. This session, they also moved legislation that limits cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement, creating communication barriers that undermine public safety. The same communication failures that contributed to 9/11 are now codified into state law because Democrats care more about protecting illegal immigration than protecting New Yorkers. Our communities’ safety shouldn’t be the casualty of a partisan fight over immigration policy.
Energy policy followed the same pattern. Democrats continued pushing costly mandates, including floating solar projects on lakes and reservoirs, despite concerns about recreation, tourism and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, New Yorkers already pay energy bills 70 percent higher than the national average. Republicans warned that the 2019 climate law would cause costs to skyrocket, and we were right. Even worse, Hochul’s own energy experts predict that annual utility costs for the average family will increase by as much as $4,100 by 2031.
We offered real solutions: returning over $2 billion in ratepayer funds, enacting a utility tax holiday, cutting state fees and surcharges, and increasing transparency so families can understand their bills.
After sustained pressure from Republicans, Democrats delayed their $20 billion electric school bus mandate. While that delay is a step, it does not remove the long-term costs. I will continue fighting to repeal the mandate and to rein in broader CLCPA policies that threaten affordability and reliability.
In short, this session showed a troubling reality. At a time when New Yorkers need affordability, stronger communities, and economic growth, one-party rule focused on itself. The lesson? In November, voters will have to change who is in charge of this state if you want to change its direction.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th State Senate District.
