ACF/AL LeadingAge NY Advocacy Efforts and What Members Can Do
(March 31, 2026) As we approach the deadline for the NYS budget, which is now shifting with a one-week extender, it is a good time to reach out and remind representatives of your priorities. Below is a summary of our adult care facility (ACF) and assisted living (AL) advocacy efforts and what you can do now in these last days of budget.
LeadingAge NY has been meeting with legislators regarding our member priorities weekly throughout the legislative session. After the one-house budget bills came out, LeadingAge NY convened the other AL associations to identify our common interests. We developed this brief, which was distributed to the full Legislature, which highlights the key issues that remain “alive” in the budget discussions because they are in at least one of the budget bills. This brief sends a strong message to policymakers that the associations are on the same page with critical asks for ACF/AL providers and their residents. LeadingAge NY also coordinated with the AL associations and the Alzheimer’s Association earlier in the month for a dementia-focused Advocacy Day on March 4th. LeadingAge NY also participated in a brief piece on Spectrum News' "Capital Tonight" along with the Empire State Association of Assisted Living regarding the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) Voucher program, to educate the public regarding this important program.
LeadingAge NY has also updated our resources for your advocacy, including an updated ACF/AL digital letter that reflects the key issues that are still at play in budget discussions. It takes only a few minutes to send, and you can personalize the message to focus on the areas of greatest interest to you, or bring a local focus. You may share the digital letter with anyone in the state, so please encourage your board members, staff, families, residents, and other friends to help ensure that there is funding in the budget for ACF/AL services.
Thank you to all who attended one of our advocacy events or otherwise met with your legislators, sent letters, and made calls. Even if you have already contacted your representative, now is a good time to remind them of your requests. You can still weigh in by sending a digital letter or placing a phone call; click here to obtain your legislator contact information. You can also request a brief virtual meeting to remind them of key issues. LeadingAge NY is happy to join you in any of these efforts.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828