Albany, NY – The New York State legislature made a historic commitment of $31.525 million for the fourth consecutive year for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New Yorkers in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 state budget. The NYS APA Task Force and Chair, Assemblymember Grace Lee and State Senator John Liu joined the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition (EBC), a coalition of over 100 AAPI community leaders and nonprofits, in celebrating this historic investment in supporting AAPI communities. This funding will support community-based programming, crisis intervention initiatives, housingassistance, economic development, workforce training, educational initiatives and healthcare services for these communities.

This funding includes $30 million for the AAPI community in New York State. This advocacy, successfully led by Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator John Liu, is a response to the extraordinary needs of New York’s AAPI community and in recognition of the legislature’s responsibility to support and protect vulnerable New Yorkers. The $30 million will fund over 100 AAPI organizations who provide critical language-accessible and culturally competent programs to AAPI communities.

The FY26–27 budget also includes $1.175 million for the Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) at CUNY to continue advancing critical research, data collection, and policy analysis on AAPI communities across New York State. In addition, the budget allocates $350,000 for the SUNY AANHPI Leadership Institute to support educational equity initiatives, culturally responsive programming, and student success efforts for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students throughout the SUNY system.

“With this continued, historic investment, we are giving AAPI communities across New York the concrete tools to build stronger, safer, and healthier neighborhoods,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee, Chair of the Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force. “As a legislative body, it is our job to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected and supported. This $31.525 million budget allocation corrects a long history of neglect, proving that New York State recognizes the vital contributions and urgent needs of our community. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for working alongside the legislature to deliver the recognition and support that AAPI New Yorkers rightfully deserve.”

"The Asian American community in New York is growing faster than ever, so we need to make sure our historically underfunded and overlooked community is getting the necessary resources to effectively serve its diverse populations across the state and fill the gaps that traditional institutions have too often failed to address,” said Senator John Liu. “Many thanks to Governor Hochul, Assembly Member Grace Lee, our legislative colleagues, and the entire AAPI Equity Budget Coalition for continuing to uplift the AAPI community. "

“The AAPI community is the fastest growing population across all of New York State,” said Senator Jeremy Cooney. “It’s our responsibility to support these growing communities, and make sure that from community development to housing assistance, we are giving them the resources they need to succeed. I was proud to work alongside Chairwoman Lee and my colleagues in the New York State Asian Pacific American Task Force to make this funding a reality and continue our push for additional resources in the years to come.”

“CACF and our member organizations thank our state leaders for including the $30 million AAPI Equity Budget in the final New York State Budget. As co-leaders of the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition, we see daily how the needs of our community — New York State’s fastest-growing population — are intensifying,” said Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF). “This state-level investment is a vital lifeline as federal shifts impact our community’s ability to access critical linguistically accessible services and cultural programming. The Empire State’s community-based organizations are a trusted resource for AAPI New Yorkers of all backgrounds and by prioritizing this funding within the broader state budget, our leaders have sent a clear message: AAPI New Yorkers deserve to be seen and supported.”

"AAF and our member organizations are grateful to our legislative champions Assemblymember Grace Lee, State Senator John Liu, State Senator Jeremy Cooney, and other members of the Asian Pacific American Taskforce, for their steadfast leadership and advocacy on behalf of AAPI New Yorkers," said Catherine Chen, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian American Federation. "As a co-lead of the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition, the Asian American Federation is proud to have helped secure $30 million to expand access to the essential resources 2.1 million Asian Americans need to move forward with dignity, stability, and hope. Asian New Yorkers are navigating federal cuts to social services, escalating threats to our rights, and the real fear of mass deportations.This continued investment in our communities is not only meaningful - but also necessary. We thank Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and we look forward to continuing this work to ensure future budgets meet the full scale and complexity of our community's needs.”

“As a member of the Asian American Pacific Task Force, I am proud to announce funding that will support the needs of this growing community,” Assemblyman Steve Stern said.“From education, housing and economic development programs, including workforce training, and not for profit organizations that serve those in need, this funding will help ensure that everyone in our community has the support they need to prosper, feel welcome and provide a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

“This historic funding for AAPI initiatives is critical to assist the AAPI community in New York State,” said Assemblyman William Colton. “With the bulk of it going to programs directly impacting members of the AAPI community – via programs administered by community-based groups that address a wide range of needs from housing and health care to economic development and job training – the funding will help members of the AAPI community across New York State achieve what all immigrants to this country desire, their own piece of the American Dream.”

Assemblywoman Sarah Clark said, "There are many things about the Finger Lakes region that make it an exceptional place to live, and that especially includes the rich diversity of cultures and communities that call our region home. As the AAPI community continues to grow across New York State, including here in the 136th Assembly District, it is critical that we continue investing in the organizations that provide culturally competent, language-accessible services and create opportunities for individuals and working families to thrive. I was proud to advocate for this historic funding, which for the fourth consecutive year delivers meaningful support to AAPI communities across our state. This investment will strengthen community based programs, expand access to vital services, and help ensure that AAPI New Yorkers have the resources they need to succeed. I am proud to stand with community leaders, advocates, my colleagues on the APA Task Force, and our partners across New York in celebrating this continued commitment to equity, opportunity, and inclusion."

"Our AAPI communities are an essential part of New York, and this funding will make a real difference for families and organizations across the state.From language access and education to workforce programs and healthcare services, these investments help ensure communities have the support they need.I am proud to support this funding and to stand with the organizations doing this important work every day," said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

“I was proud to join my Task Force colleagues in advocating for the AAPI Equity Budget, which provides critical state funding to support the community-based organizations that serve Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Edward Braunstein. “These organizations work throughout New York State to provide culturally-competent social services, crisis intervention, educational resources, and more. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Senator Liu and Assemblywoman Lee for once again prioritizing the AAPI Equity Budget.”

“The 31st Assembly District in Southeast Queens is home to a growing AAPI community, as is the rest of our state, and we would be remiss not to fight for the funding, recognition and respect that our neighbors rightfully deserve," said Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson. "I would like to thank Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for including this much needed funding in the state budget, and wish to give special thanks to Senator John Liu and Assembly Member Grace Lee for leading this fight with the APA Task Force and AAPI Equity Budget Coalition."