New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced she had reached a deal with legislative leaders on a $254 billion budget that would raise payroll taxes on employers.
The budget agreement also would overhaul criminal discovery laws by giving judges options beyond dismissing cases when prosecutors don’t reveal all evidence related to a case. Hochul also secured a ban on smartphones in public schools and lower barriers to involuntarily committing people with serious mental illnesses into treatment. The deal will also increase criminal penalties for people who wear masks with the intent to harass others, according to Hochul.
Hochul pressed ...