Main Street News

We’re only a few weeks into 2026 and the new year is already presenting some hope and continued positive change in New York. The Empire State remains focused on affordability in everything from housing to groceries and farm equipment. It is also prioritizing renewable energy, investing in sustainability, expanding childcare, enhancing economic opportunities, and beyond.

Almost two weeks after the ball fell approximately 100 miles away in Times Square, Governor Kathy Hochul presented her 2026 State of the State address. The Hart Theater at The Egg in Albany was the setting of her mid-day speech on January 13, 2026. She reflected on the birth of our nation 250 years ago and how far we’ve come from then until now. She also recapped some past successes while detailing her vision for the future.

“From the very beginning, New Yorkers have always been a rather rebellious lot, willing to take on forces larger than ourselves in the cause of liberty and freedom. That resilience, that strength, that spirit, that willingness to fight for a better future was born in secret meetings in the taverns of Albany and New York City — charting a path forward under the weight of an oppressive power,” she shared. 

Environmentally Conscious

Part of that mission includes protecting the environment, which has made headlines over the years—from the PCB contamination from industrial dumping to the severe flooding from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and beyond. More recently, there was historic, deadly flooding in 2023, ongoing, severe, erosion threatening the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, and the spread of invasive water soldier plants.

Committed to the well-being of all New Yorkers, Governor Hochul highlighted a continued investment in environmental protection and energy affordability—two topics that remain top of mind for many members of the Hudson Valley community.

Scenic Hudson—a Poughkeepsie-based non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting the region’s landscapes, waterways, and communities—also hopes to see these priorities advanced. Its focus: increased investment in renewable energy and advancement of the goals laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

“We are thrilled that Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address highlighted strong commitments to funding the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), expanding programs for clean drinking water, and climate resilience support for at-risk New York communities,” said Ned Sullivan, President, Scenic Hudson.

Sullivan believes the Governor’s proposal to maintain $425 million in record funding for the EPF will ensure the continuation of critical farmland preservation, native habitat restoration, public land stewardship, and other crucial conservation programs in the Hudson Valley and throughout the state.

“Furthermore, her bold $3.75 billion commitment to modernize New York’s water systems over the next five years will bolster and expand the state’s nation-leading drinking water protection programs and strengthen the ability of drinking water suppliers to protect communities from toxic ‘forever chemical’ contamination.”

A Partnership

Scenic Hudson is partnering with Governor Hochul to help ensure that New York remains a national model for conserving our precious land, water, and agricultural resources. 

Pete Lopez, executive director of Policy, Advocacy, and Science at Scenic Hudson rounded out the conversation. He said, “At a time of skyrocketing utility bills, Governor Hochul has announced important steps to decrease costs for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers through expanded funding for programs like EmPower+. Scenic Hudson applauds those efforts, along with the Governor’s plan to support farmers and schools in decreasing their utility costs by integrating solar energy.”

For those unfamiliar with EmPower +, it is a state program that offers low-to-moderate-income homeowners and renters free or low-cost energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, and new lighting, plus no-cost home energy assessments, to help them save money and reduce energy waste.

Lopez added, “Governor Hochul’s focus on affordability must prioritize renewable energy, which is the fastest, cheapest way to put new energy on the grid and decrease costs for ratepayers. Reliance on new fossil fuel infrastructure like gas pipelines is not just bad for the environment; it will also make energy more expensive. As federal tax credits for solar and wind power are phased out, it is imperative that New York State support renewable energy development by both cutting red tape and investing in renewables.”

Scenic Hudson looks forward to working with Governor Hochul to achieve those goals and urges her to include the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power Act in the budget. It believes that this would save billions of dollars for ratepayers by making it less expensive and easier to build rooftop and community solar projects in New York. The organization requests that Governor Hochul continue working to achieve the goals laid out in the CLCPA, which, it believes, are not just compatible with her affordability agenda, but essential to achieving it.

Governor Hochul also took some time to reflect on some environmental wins that occurred within the last few years. She said, “Four years ago, we laid out a bold vision. I took responsibility for making it real. Clean hydropower flowing in from Quebec to power more than a million New York City homes.” Bravo!

Here’s a recap of some other topics presented at the midday session in Albany.

Childcare Reigns

As your Governor, Kathy Hochul is leading the fight to protect communities and build an economy that works for all. “Whether we’re talking about childcare, groceries, or utility bills, one thing is clear: Parents, veterans, and seniors need relief. That’s why, last year alone working with the Legislature, we put $5,000 back in the pockets of hardworking families.” She’s also doubled down on the fight for a more affordable New York starting with childcare. 

“One year ago, I stood on this very stage and placed our state on the path to Universal Childcare. Today, I stand before you with a clear roadmap to show how we’ll get there. Building on over $8 billion in childcare investments that my Administration has made since 2022, this plan will ultimately deliver Universal Childcare for every single family in New York.”

The work has already begun. Governor Hochul recently stood with Mayor Mamdani to announce the State will fully fund the first two years of his Universal 2-Care program while also helping New York City realize the full promise of Universal 3-K. 

Statewide, they’re taking a different, but equally ambitious approach: Universal Pre-K for every single 4-year-old by 2028. This year, they’ll also pilot community-wide childcare to provide year-round, full-day, affordable care for newborns to 3-year-olds. And they’ll build on the proven success of the State Child Care Assistance Program and voucher system so tens of thousands more families can access high-quality care for no more than $15 per week. They also plan to work with employers and improve tax incentives for those who invest in childcare benefits. 

Fostering Religious Tolerance & Tackling Big Tech

“As we reflect on freedoms fought for 250 years ago, among them is the freedom to practice your religion without interference. In 2026, we’ll take new steps to protect our houses of worship against the rising tide of Antisemitism and Islamophobia,” said Governor Hochul.

New York has already invested $131 million to better secure these sacred places. But clearly, more must be done. That’s why she is proposing a ban on protests within 25 feet of the property line at houses of worship. 

“We’ve taken on Big Tech and passed nation-leading laws. Kids will no longer be subjected to addictive algorithms that manipulate their minds. They will no longer be targets for mega- corporations monetizing their mental health. And now when the school day begins, their phones are tucked away under our bell-to-bell ban,” said Governor Hochul.

Building on our success, she wants to enact new requirements to protect all social media users under 18. That translates to blocking direct messages from would-be child predators with automatic privacy settings, disabling A-I chatbots that can cause serious mental health problems, and blocking location-sharing. She also wants to do more to cut off access to online sports gambling, so our kids are not ensnared by addiction.

The Budget

“That’s why, in this budget, I’m proposing a simple, common-sense update: When communities say yes to housing, infrastructure, or clean energy, we’re going to let them build. When a town or city decides to move forward, they shouldn’t get stuck in regulatory hell. Cutting red tape doesn’t end at the construction site, it extends to government as well,” concluded Governor Hochul. 

This year, she also plans to eliminate outdated and onerous regulations and leverage cutting-edge technology to make government work better. She plans to do it the old-fashioned way: talking to small business owners and other impacted New Yorkers about the bureaucratic barriers that are holding them back. People deserve to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely and their government is operating efficiently.

Many of us look forward to witnessing these plans take flight and leap into reality. Stay tuned. To read Governor Hochul’s entire speech, visit: governor.ny.gov/news/remarks-prepared-governor-hochul-delivers-2026-state-state-address

Caption for image of Gov. Kathy Hochul:  Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers the 2026 State of the State Address at The Egg in Albany, New York State’s capitol. (Photo courtesy Office of Governor Kathy Hochul/Darren McGee).