Gov. Kathy Hochul will not propose changes to a law that prevents 16 and 17-year-olds to be tried as adults in her executive budget to be released next week, her office confirmed Friday night.
The governor has decided to avoid a battle with the Legislature over tweaks to Raise the Age as she and all lawmakers are up for election — disregarding months of pressure from prosecutors to reform the policy.
“There will not be any changes to Raise the Age in the governor’s executive budget on Tuesday,” a spokesperson with the governor’s office said Friday.
Hochul will deliver her annual budget address in the Capitol next week.
The news came as a relief to state Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, chair of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Legislative Caucus. The caucus is firmly against changing the 2017 law, which raises the age of criminal responsibility in New York to 18.
“I appreciate the governor’s decision to keep Raise the Age reform out of this year’s budget,” Solages said in a statement to Spectrum News 1.
Solages said she and Democrats in the Legislature will continue to fight for a permanent funding mechanism in the budget for localities to implement the law correctly and keep young people out of prison.
“As discussions about potential changes continue, our focus should be on fully and effectively implementing the law for 16- and 17-year olds,” Solages continued. “The BPHA Caucus will continue working with the governor and our colleagues to ensure accountability, provide the necessary resources and uphold justice for young people.”
Earlier this week, advocates fighting changes to the law came to Solages — concerned over meetings they had with staff in the governor’s office a few days ago discussing potential tweaks to the law.
“We welcome the governor’s announcement and look forward to seeing it reflected in next week’s budget text,” a spokesperson with the Coalition to Protect Raise the Age said Friday. “Raise the Age has been a success, and we remain committed to working with the administration and the Legislature to ensure that the law is fully funded and can completely realize its promise.”
The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York did not immediatley return a request for comment.
Earlier Friday, DAASNY President Mary Pat Donnelly said DAs are continuing to urge Hochul to set more specifics for the extraordinary circumstances that can be argued for a judge to send a case to criminal instead of family court.
Prosecutors also sought clarification about when a 16 or 17-year-old commits a crime using a gun. Current law requires a loaded weapon to be displayed to be treated as a serious crime.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch strongly favors changing Raise the Age.