2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing Witness Request
2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing
Instructions for Submitting Testimony – Please Read Carefully
Thank you for your interest in testifying at the 2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearings. The Hearing Schedule is attached here. There are two ways for your voice to be heard by the Joint Legislative Budget Committees.
Written Testimony:
You can submit written testimony for any hearing, which will be made a part of the record to be considered by the committees. It is not necessary to testify in person in order to have your voice heard. If you are not also seeking to testify in person, then please send your written testimony to wamchair@nyassembly.gov AND financechair@nysenate.gov no later than 5pm on the scheduled date of the hearing. The deadlines are noted here.
In-person Testimony:
While submission of written testimony can be submitted by any witness/ organization for multiple hearings, in-person testimony can ONLY be presented by a given witness/ organization at ONE Hearing.
If you wish to be an in-person witness at a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing, please fill out the witness request form below. You must also submit written testimony to both wamchair@nyassembly.gov and financechair@nysenate.gov no later than the due dates and times listed in the deadline chart below.
Upon review of your submitted form, the Legislative Committees will make a determination as to whether you will be scheduled to testify. The Committees will endeavor to schedule as many witnesses to testify as possible, but time constraints (hearings typically last 8 to 14 hours per day over the course of 12 hearing days) will not allow for all those seeking to testify to be able to present in-person testimony. It is emphasized that all submitted written testimony will be reviewed. You do not need to testify in person for your voice to be heard. The Committees will use their best efforts to contact you as soon as possible if you have been invited as a witness to testify in person.
Substitution of witnesses is only allowed in extraordinary circumstances. Substitution of written testimony is not allowed.
NO POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS, PLACARDS, OR SIGNS ARE PERMITTED IN THE HEARING ROOM.
| Joint Legislative Hearing & Hearing Date | Request to Testify Due by | Submission of Written Testimony For Individuals Giving Oral Testimony | Submission of Written Testimony For Individuals Not Giving Oral Testimony |
| Week 1 | |||
| January 27 Agriculture & Markets/ Parks & Recreation | January 23 at 12pm | January 24 at 12pm | January 27 at 5pm |
| January 28 Environmental Conservation/Energy | January 23 at 12pm | January 24 at 12pm | January 28 at 5pm |
| January 29 Elementary Education/ Secondary Education | January 23 at 12pm | January 24 at 12pm | January 29 at 5pm |
| Week 2 | |||
| February 3 Transportation | January 28 at 5pm | January 30 at 12pm | February 3 at 5pm |
| February 4 Mental Hygiene | January 28 at 5pm | January 30 at 12pm | February 4 at 5pm |
| February 5 Human Services | January 28 at 5pm | January 30 at 12pm | February 5 at 5pm |
| Week 3 | |||
| February 10 Health/Medicaid | January 28 at 5pm | February 6 at 12pm | February 10 at 5pm |
| February 11 Local Government/ General Government | January 28 at 5pm | February 6 at 12pm | February 11 at 5pm |
| February 12 Public Protection | January 28 at 5pm | February 6 at 12pm | February 12 at 5pm |
| Break | |||
| Week 4 | |||
| February 24 Higher Education | January 28 at 5pm | February 13 at 12pm | February 24 at 5pm |
| February 26 1.Labor/Workforce Development 2.Housing | January 28 at 5pm | February 13 at 12pm | February 26 at 5pm |
| February 27 1.Economic Development/Arts 2.Taxes | January 28 at 5pm | February 13 at 12pm | February 26 at 5pm |
Due to time constraints, witnesses/organizations seeking to give oral testimony at the 2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing will only be permitted to testify at ONE hearing. The submission of written testimony is strongly encouraged.