Sen. Gounardes’ Response to the Governor’s State of the State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 13, 2026

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes issued the following statement in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address:

"This is a pivotal moment for our state and our country. New Yorkers are looking to their leaders to be bold in addressing the challenges they face. Many of the proposals unveiled by the Governor in her State of the State address meet the moment and put us on a path to a safer, stronger and more affordable New York.

“I’m particularly glad the Governor has made a strong commitment to advancing universal child care. As a parent, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to access quality child care in New York. It's a financial albatross that shapes every other decision parents make. By taking this step, we can make New York a place where parents can afford to raise kids with the care and stability they deserve.

“I’m also thrilled the Governor is supporting my Stop Online Predators Act, a landmark bill to protect children from exploitation on platforms like Roblox. It’s time to put our children’s safety ahead of corporate profits.

“I’m grateful for the Governor’s commitment to slowing down reckless drivers and making our streets safer. To truly tackle the traffic safety crisis, we need to make robust use of the tools available to us—that means passing my Stop Super Speeders Act to ensure real accountability for folks who refuse to drive responsibly.

“Similarly, I’m thrilled to see real commitments to freezing tuition at our public colleges and universities, and to providing real support to students struggling to stay enrolled. But to meet this moment, we need to pass my full New Deal for CUNY, which would make CUNY tuition-free and represents a bold reimagining of our commitment to higher education.

“And even as we push forward with policies that make our state stronger, we need to fight unapologetically against President Trump’s attempt to drag us backwards. The Governor’s proposals to protect immigrant families are welcome, but we need to pass my New York For All Act to truly ensure our city and state agencies aren’t complicit in Trump’s dystopian ICE raids.”

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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