New York lawmakers are finalizing responses to Governor Hochul’s budget proposal, aiming to address key issues like school funding and immigration assistance, as they navigate negotiations in the coming weeks. With over $230 billion at stake, the budget process includes debates over issues like opioid treatment centers, fossil fuel subsidies, and prison closures, with the Governor, Senate, and Assembly playing central roles in shaping the final budget. Despite the process’s opacity, public involvement is crucial through lobbying, activism, budget hearings, and civil disobedience, as New Yorkers seek to influence the allocation of state funds and priorities.