New York Budget Deal Adds Charges for Masked Crime, Expands Mental Health Laws, and Breaks Spending Records

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers have struck a deal on a $254 billion budget that packs quite a punch—especially for anyone thinking of pulling a stick-up while masked. The new agreement will tack on an additional criminal charge for suspects caught wearing a mask during the commission of a crime. But don’t panic if you’re just heading to the bodega in a face covering—the charge only kicks in if you’re already facing a class A misdemeanor or something more serious.

According to Governor Hochul, lawmakers decided to dial down the penalty to a class B misdemeanor if the mask offense is tied to another crime. This move comes after months of debate, sparked by last summer’s protests and broader concerns about people hiding their identities amid unrest. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie emphasized that the law zeroes in on those who mask up specifically to conceal their identity while breaking the law or fleeing the scene—not your average germaphobe or New Yorker just trying to keep warm in February.

The governor initially pushed for tougher measures, including extra penalties for anyone covering their face while threatening or harassing groups. However, after pushback from colleagues and civil liberties advocates, the final version of the proposal softened some of these edges. Apparently, not everyone is on board with the idea of turning New York into a real-life episode of "The Masked Offenders."

The mammoth budget has more than just mask rules. Hospitals would now be able to involuntarily commit mentally ill patients who can’t meet their basic needs, lowering the threshold from the previous standard where one had to pose a physical threat to themselves or others. There are also proposals aimed at reducing repeat offenses with a beefed-up discovery law and a ban on student cell phone use during school hours. Because if anything can unite lawmakers, it’s the dream of a classroom that isn’t glued to TikTok.

Despite the headline-grabbing measures, lawmakers still need to iron out details on school and Medicaid funding before the budget goes live. Hochul’s spending plan is set to break records as the largest in state history—$100 billion bigger than a decade ago. With ballooning prison, healthcare, childcare, and education costs, the budget now runs $2 billion higher than what the governor initially pitched in January. Guess New York really is the city that never sleeps—especially if you’re a budget analyst.