Hochul agrees to expanded immigrant protections but doubts emerge

And lobbying spending hit an all-time high in 2025. Here's what's in the data.

Good afternoon — It’s Thursday and Documentary Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Hochul said she supports an expanded immigrant protections package after talks with legislative leaders but one area raised a red flag with state lawmakers.

• The state Legislature approved a fourth budget extender Thursday with another expected early next week. Here’s where talks stand.

• A state judge has ordered attorneys for the state to appear in court and explain why Bruce Blakeman was rejected public campaign matching funds.

• Lobbying spending reached a new high in 2025. These are the bills that were lobbied on most, which firms earned the most and which lawmakers were lobbied most.

• Rules and Regs: A new rule for how attorneys can use artificial intelligence to prepare legal papers to file in court and medication in New York’s jails.

Names in today’s CapCon: Michael Gianaris, Kathy Hochul, Carl E. Heastie, Natalia Aristizabal, Sanford N. Berland, Steve Cohen, Jeremy Cooney, Michaelle Solages, Peter Harckham, John T. McDonald, Harry Bronson, Shelley Mayer, Amy Paulin, James Skoufis, Jamaal Bailey, Bruce Blakeman, Denise A. Hartman, Todd Hood

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Hochul on Thursday (New York Governor’s Office)

🗣️ ‘Slow and steady progress’ in state budget talks as fourth extender passes

Democrats in the state Legislature approved a fourth state budget extender Thursday with a fifth expected next week as negotiations continue.

The top sticking points remain unchanged, state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said Thursday.