Rochester & Albany, NY – Assemblymember Harry Bronson, representing District 138, announced that he supports the Assembly budget proposal’s rejection of the executive’s education plan, which would have increased tuition for SUNY and CUNY schools. The budget also includes increased funding for student health services and investments into early education expansion.

“The Assembly budget proposal makes crucial investments into the education and wellbeing of our future generations,” said AM Bronson. “I fought hard to reject the executive’s ludicrous tuition hike for higher education in New York and believe wholeheartedly that all students should be able to afford to go to college. Providing funding to be able to offer free school meals and universal pre-K for families is also no small inclusion, and I will continue to work to make sure our budget includes these provisions.”

The Assembly budget would provide $275 million in new operating funds for state-operated universities, an increase of $200 million over the executive’s proposal. This includes an additional $100 million in operating support in lieu of a tuition increase. The budget also increases community college funding by 4% for SUNY and CUNY systems, an increase of $16 million for SUNY and $8 million for CUNY.

Additionally, the Assembly proposal expands the current Maintenance of Effort (MOE) for SUNY and CUNY by requiring the state to provide funding for the SUNY Health Science Centers, along with all mandatory costs of the systems. “These medical centers provide education and care for thousands of New Yorkers throughout the state,” noted Bronson.

Finally, the Assembly spending plan includes $280 million in funding to make school meals free for all students statewide, and an additional $75 million for the Statewide Universal Full Day Prekindergarten grants, bringing the program funding to $200 million in 2023-24.

Assemblymember Bronson is available for comment and media appearance in support of these issues.