Next week's state budget expectations, opioid law in hands of appellate court

Plus, Hochul's nominee for State Police superintendent is scheduled to move next week.

Good afternoon — it’s Friday, and Pita Day.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Will there be a state budget deal next week? What to expect

• The state could have to refund opioid companies

• Hochul’s State Police superintendent nominee scheduled to advance

• New York By The Numbers looks at the debate over basement apartments

🔨 Is Monday a Session Day? No.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Cloudy, low 30s. New York City: Mostly clear, high 30s. (National Weather Service)

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The Senate in January. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

🕚 What to expect next week as budget talks continue

💰 As we told you Thursday, this year’s state budget will now be late after lawmakers approved an extender and left Albany this week.

• The new fiscal year starts Monday. The extender covers things through Thursday.

Most members of the Legislature are scheduled to be back in Albany by Tuesday, when they’re expected to get a fresh update on where budget talks stand.

The Capitol was dark and empty Friday:

• Even the sergeants at arms were gone. There are usually at least a few of them here, even when lawmakers are gone.

The Legislative Office Building was also lifeless, though I can’t tell you if there were people on the other side of closed office doors.

• I walked from the Capitol to the LOB, took an elevator to the ninth floor, walked around that floor and a few others, and didn’t see a soul.

Nothing was expected to happen today, so the almost post-apocalyptic feel of the complex — a stark contrast to March Madness games being played just down the hill at MVP Arena — was not a huge surprise. But I always like to know how active people are around the building.

• If you’ve ever seen a staffer hastily pushing a dolly with boxes full of legislation around the Capitol, you know what I mean.

And by the way, the Capitol is open to visitors on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in case you want to try your luck running into anyone. 

🤔 So, what are we expecting next week to look like?

That really depends on how budget talks go between now and Tuesday, but most lawmakers I’ve spoken to have predicted a budget deal next week.

• But not all: There are already rumblings of negotiations stretching into the following week.

• There is session scheduled for April 8 and 9 of that week, so lawmakers are expected to be here anyway.

As you probably know, April 8 is the day of the solar eclipse that’s expected to be visible across parts of New York. 🌞🌝

• We have a tool you can use to see if you’re in the path of the eclipse, and it’s free for you all to access.

By then, we could still be in the dark about where the budget is. (That’s the best pun I have for you.)

Okay, back to next week.

There are a few things we already know that are helpful in planning for next week.