Gov. Hochul Unveils Plan to Slash Government Red Tape

Monday, June 15, 2026

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan introducing 50 measures to reduce fees and simplify administrative processes for around 1.5 million New Yorkers, including streamlined license renewals and eliminated outdated regulations. The initiative aims to save residents approximately one million hours in processing time and cut tens of millions in costs, positioning government as more efficient ahead of Hochul's re-election campaign.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing administrative barriers and cutting unnecessary fees for state residents. The initiative, announced on June 15, 2026, introduces 50 streamlined actions designed to simplify interactions with government agencies and ease the regulatory burden on individuals and businesses.

Central to the proposal is the simplification of license renewal processes for various professions regulated by the Department of State. Barbers, cosmetologists, real estate professionals, notaries, security guards, and others—approximately 800,000 New Yorkers in total—will benefit from expedited applications and reduced paperwork requirements.

Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of a government that serves the public efficiently, noting that bureaucratic obstacles waste both time and financial resources. She framed the initiative as an effort to make state government more accessible and less costly for residents.

Several notable measures within the plan include easing the financial obligations for nursing home construction projects by lowering the equity contribution from 25%, eliminating permitting requirements for on-premises advertising through the Thruway Authority, and removing a $25,000 bonding requirement for transporting manufactured homes between 14 and 16 feet wide. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will repeal the $100 application fee for commercial weighing and measuring devices, while Medicaid providers will no longer need to submit duplicate paperwork.

The plan also calls for the repeal of outdated regulations, including COVID-19 vaccination mandates for mental health staff, reflecting a broader effort to update rules that are no longer relevant.

According to Hochul, the initiative—part of the EXPRESS NY program first introduced in her recent State of the State address—is expected to benefit over 1.5 million New Yorkers. She projects that the reforms will save the public approximately one million hours in administrative processing time and reduce tens of millions of dollars in fees and compliance costs.

Governor Hochul, who is campaigning for re-election this fall against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, has positioned this plan as a key component of her platform to improve government efficiency and service delivery.

Separately, the state is preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, with historical reflections including highlights on the 1883 opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.