New York State Bar Association President Testifies on Public Safety and Legal Representation Budget Priorities
2.12.2026
New York State Bar Association President Kathleen Sweet submitted testimony to the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committees on Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026–27 Executive Budget, offering thoughtful guidance to the Legislature to ensure investments in public safety, legal representation, and court infrastructure are preserved and strengthened.
A significant concern is the proposed diversion of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Indigent Legal Services Fund. NYSBA strongly opposes any sweep of these funds, which were created to improve the quality of public defense services statewide. Diverting these resources, the association warns, would undermine constitutional mandates, destabilize public defense, and disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities.
Sweet reinforced NYSBA’s longstanding opposition to statutory caps on non-economic damages.
She also urged the Legislature to expand right-to-counsel protections for vulnerable populations, including immigrant New Yorkers in removal proceedings, children and families involved in child protective investigations, and tenants facing eviction. She emphasized that access to legal representation promotes fairness, reduces system-wide costs, and strengthens community stability.
In addition, NYSBA expressed support for proposals to combat deceptive Artificial Intelligence usage in elections, curb the spread of illegal “ghost guns,” and expand attorney loan-forgiveness programs to address shortages of attorneys in rural and underserved communities.
For more information on NYSBA’s Government Relations Department and the association’s legislative advocacy, please go to: https://nysba.org/governmentrelations/
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