The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is excited to have hundreds of advocates come to Albany on Tuesday, February 10th, for our Annual Legislative Day!
As you all prepare for Legislative Day 2026, we are happy to officially release the Alliance’s priority policy agenda for the year, elevating the issues we heard most during our regional forums from people in recovery, service providers, families, and communities across New York. With federal funding threats, workforce instability, and growing unmet need, this moment demands a strong, unified voice.
Our Top Priority This Year: Fund a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (COLA)!
This rate increase is essential to stabilize the behavioral health workforce, address severe staffing shortages, and ensure agencies can continue delivering critical services. Without it, programs face closures, longer waitlists, and increased strain on already overwhelmed systems.
Full Alliance 2026 Legislative Priorities
- Fund a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase
- Carve behavioral health services out of Medicaid managed care
- Create a State Hospital Rightsizing Commission
- Increase funding for first responder pilots and pass Daniel’s Law
- Increase funding for Housing First and Supportive Housing
- Pass the Treatment Court Expansion Act
- Safeguard Raise the Age
- Pass the Forensic Rehabilitation Act
- Sustain and expand Self-Directed Care
- Restore Adult Home Advocacy and Resident Council Programs
What’s Happening on Legislative Day
- Press Conference calling for continued funding of Daniel’s Law non-police crisis response pilots and passage of the Treatment Court Expansion Act (A.4869 / S.4547)
- Rally in the War Room at the Capitol demanding a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Rate Increase for behavioral health agencies and their staff
- Meetings with legislators and policymakers from across the state
Get on the Bus!
We are also announcing bus transportation from regions across New York State to make it easier for advocates to attend Legislative Day. See below for the locations we will have buses coming from, as well as links to register for these buses!
Brooklyn: https://forms.gle/5nKrc5iQfrn9fDsJ7
Buffalo: https://forms.gle/TXEbtrihFxA8R5f18
Hells Kitchen: https://forms.gle/N9cwVtaNAwMYaZc89
Hudson Valley: https://forms.gle/mWCLvzehfm2D6KGYA
North Country: https://forms.gle/iNDtssZpCyRPgCDu6
Queens: https://forms.gle/G78LHE5vK276733c7
Rochester: https://forms.gle/Q6kRNZ48jRnu3eEY7
Syracuse-Binghamton: https://forms.gle/ebkP6kPQcSTjdnZc7
Union Square: https://forms.gle/x4Ns2vj15XwgapFR9
More to come:
Later this week we will be releasing more information about our legislative agenda, including our full legislative day book, more details about the activities of the legislative day, speakers, and other relevant information. Continue to monitor this email for more information and share with your friends and colleagues as we look to have a massive turnout during a critical year for funding!
Be there. Be heard. Help protect and strengthen the services that make recovery possible!