Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) represented the Assembly Minority Conference as the Chair of the Joint Budget Conference Committee on Transportation. This conference committee brings together the four legislative conferences to negotiate an agreement on a final state budget as related to state programs and issues regarding transportation, including programs Norris has been a leading advocate for such as the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and other local, upstate infrastructure funding streams.

A video of the assemblyman’s opening remarks at the conference committee can be viewed in full here: 2024 Conference Committee - Transportation; Health - Norris - Budget Conference Committee Transportation. 

Norris and his colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference are calling for at least a $200 million increase in local infrastructure funding for upstate communities. Additionally, Norris and Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt held a press conference last week to update constituents on their joint efforts to build consensus on this issue across party lines and in both houses.

Governor Hochul proposed a $60 million reduction in CHIPS funding as part of her executive budget. The Assembly one-house proposal restored the $60 million cut in CHIPS and the Senate one-house proposal restored the $60 million and added another $100 million for CHIPS. 

In addition to CHIPS, Norris would like to see increases in programs like the Extreme Winter Recovery program, PAVE-NY and BRIDGE-NY. These programs saw no changes in the governor’s proposed executive budget. 

Norris is hopeful a final agreement between the Governor and two houses will see the CHIPS cuts restored as well as some additional funding, so long as the governor gets on board.