New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $254 billion state budget agreement that includes sweeping new initiatives aimed at public safety, economic relief, and student mental health — headlined by a statewide “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban in public schools. The proposal, set to take effect in the next school year, would make New York the largest state in the country to ban smartphones and internet-enabled devices during the entire school day, from morning bell to dismissal.
The cellphone ban is being positioned as a critical step toward improving student focus and mental health, with support from the New York State United Teachers union, which called the current situation a “crisis point.” The policy would prohibit the use of smartphones, smartwatches, and similar devices throughout the school day, including during lunch and study periods, while still allowing for non-internet-enabled phones and school-provided educational technology. Exceptions would be made for students who require devices for medical or translation needs. Implementation would be left up to individual schools, which could use pouches, lockers, or cubbies to store devices, while ensuring parents still have a way to reach their children in emergencies.
Beyond the education initiative, the budget deal delivers on two major campaign promises from Hochul: boosting public safety and easing economic burdens on working families. Safety measures include making it a misdemeanor to wear a mask while committing or fleeing from a felony, securing funding to place police on every overnight subway train, and reforming mental health laws to allow for more efficient involuntary commitment of individuals who may pose a risk. Discovery laws in criminal proceedings have also been adjusted to prevent dismissals based on procedural errors.
On the affordability front, the state will expand its child tax credit — giving $1,000 per child under four and $500 per child aged 5 to 16. Additionally, $2.2 billion is being allocated for child care subsidies, with $350 million dedicated to New York City families. The budget also includes funding to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students, projected to save families an average of $1,600 per child. Another $1 billion is earmarked for tax cuts for middle- and low-income residents, along with $400 inflation refund checks for eight million taxpayers.
While Governor Hochul has called the agreement a major success that tackles some of the state’s most urgent challenges, fiscal watchdogs have raised concerns. The Fiscal Policy Institute has cautioned that several elements of the plan may pose long-term financial risks, especially if anticipated federal funding is reduced.
Still, Hochul remained optimistic: “We protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol, and drunk driving. Now, we’re protecting them from addictive technology. Bottom line is, we got it done.” The full budget plan will now move to the state legislature for final approval.
