Business Council of Westchester Releases 2026 Legislative Agenda

This week the BCW unveiled its 2026 Legislative Agenda, a wide-ranging roadmap designed to spur economic growth while navigating what the organization identifies as a challenging fiscal and regulatory environment in New York.

“As the county’s largest business membership organization dedicated to economic development and advocacy, the BCW’s annual Legislative Agenda spotlights the critical issues at the local, state, and federal levels that directly impact our members,” said BCW Executive Vice-President and COO John Ravitz. “We pride ourselves on being the eyes, ears, and voice of the business community, ensuring that this agenda reaches all elected officials who represent Westchester County at the county, state and federal levels.”

The agenda strikes a firm balance, advocating for specific business-friendly reforms while pushing back against policies the council argues would hinder recovery and competitiveness.

Regulatory and Legal Reform: Cutting Red Tape

A primary pillar of the BCW’s agenda is the push for greater predictability and speed in state business operations.

• SEQR Reform: The BCW has formally expressed its support for the Governor’s call to reform the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). The organization advocates for commonsense changes to expedite projects that have no adverse environmental impacts, aiming to reduce the cost and duration of doing business in New York.
• Scaffold Law: The current statute is outdated. The BCW estimates that reform-minded changes could save state and municipal budgets hundreds of millions in infrastructure costs and release $200 million annually into statewide education budgets.
• Anti-Trust Legislation: The BCW opposes current anti-trust proposals, warning that the bill’s vague and broad provisions could inadvertently penalize pro-competitive business practices that benefit consumers.
• Prevailing Wage: The BCW voiced concerns over potential new prevailing wage legislation, arguing that it could stifle private construction projects that are essential for attracting new residents and jobs.

Tax Policy and Fiscal Responsibility

The BCW’s agenda highlights a concerted effort to limit tax increases, which they argue would exacerbate the strain on businesses already facing inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.

• “Tax the Rich” Agenda: The BCW strongly opposes a slate of proposed tax hikes, including a new progressive income tax structure, capital gains taxes, heir’s taxes, mark-to-market taxes, stock transfer taxes, and additional levies on individual business income.
• Costly Mandates: The council is fighting against proposed increases to short-term disability benefits and other workers’ compensation legislation, cautioning that these would lead to unsustainable premium increases, particularly for small businesses.
• Nicotine Patch Tax: The BCW opposes the Governor’s proposed tax on nicotine patches, arguing that it creates a barrier for adult smokers attempting to switch to lower-risk alternatives, impacting potential Medicaid savings.
• Support for Small Business: Conversely, the BCW continues to advocate for enhanced tax credits for small businesses, citing their essential role in the health and well-being of local communities.

Industry Growth and Infrastructure

The agenda outlines staunch support for key economic drivers in the region:

• Empire City Casino: The BCW continues to support MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino, emphasizing its role as a high-impact employer that provides essential tax revenue and economic stability.
• Film and Production: Recognizing the sector’s resilience, the council supports tax credits for the film and production industry, noting its significant economic footprint, which generated $924.2 million in activity and 3,103 jobs in 2024.
• Affordable Housing: The BCW supports the Governor’s proposed $250 million in additional funding to accelerate affordable housing construction, provided no new restrictive requirements befall developers.
• Energy: The council advocates for legislation supporting clean fuel standards, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure, and revised fuel blending regulations to include renewable diesel.
• Transportation: BCW supports an additional $950 million in the FY2027 budget for the State Department of Transportation (SDOT) capital program.

Futureproofing: AI, Child Care, Health and Environment

Looking toward the future, the BCW is prioritizing investments that ensure New York remains competitive.

• Artificial Intelligence: The BCW is pushing for federal funding to be accessible to Westchester’s research and educational institutions. They are also advocating for increased support to help small and mid-sized businesses integrate AI, alongside funding for workforce development and upskilling.
• Childcare: The council supports the Governor’s FY 2027 investment of $4.5 billion for childcare and Pre-K services, including $3.2 billion for vouchers to address waitlists and reforms to the Child and Dependent Care Credit.
• Health Care: The BCW supports tax credits for nurses who assist in training students but has voiced strong opposition to a single-payer health system, maintaining that the state cannot afford the financial burden.
• Environment: The BCW opposes the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act that would restrict the sale of plastic packaging and one-use products and require source reductions of all packaging types. We support the Affordable Waste Reduction Act, which creates a more workable approach to increasing the recovery and reuse of post-consumer packaging and paper products.

To read the full 2026 Legislative Agenda, click here.