State, Department of

Agency Web Site: https://www.dos.ny.gov/

Mission

Established in 1788, the Department of State (DOS) is the State’s oldest agency. Historically serving as the State’s general recording officer and custodian of the State’s “Great Seal”, the Department’s mission encompasses a broad range of activities that coordinate programs with and provide services to local governments, individuals, and businesses. The Department supports public safety through the administration of building and energy code programs, administers programs for community development and local government service activities, supports businesses through various licensing and registration activities, and assists new Americans through community-based support centers.

Organization and Staffing

The Department is based in Albany and headed by the Secretary of State, who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Major Programs

Manages New York’s building and energy codes; offers planning and management services to local governments; supports land use planning activities in the New York City/Catskill watershed; coordinates New York’s coastal resources and waterfront revitalization activities; administers the Department’s Federal grant programs, including the Appalachian Regional Commission; supports new Americans through community-based support centers; and provides a means for achieving economic self-sufficiency through programs designed to improve opportunities for low-income participants.

Business and Licensing Services Program

Maintains all certificates on file for businesses and corporations; administers qualifying examinations and licensing for various occupations; and prepares the State Register and other publications.

Administration

Provides the basic Executive direction, fiscal, personnel, legal and electronic data processing activities that support the Department’s operations.

Additionally, the Department’s appropriations contain funds for the Tug Hill Commission, the Commission on Uniform State Laws, the State Athletic Commission, and the Authorities Budget Office.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $ 691.5 million for the Department, a decrease of $74 million from prior year funding levels.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 700 FTEs for the Department, an increase of 40 from the FY 2025 published targets. This reflects an increase to support Business and Licensing and Codes activities.

Major budget actions include:

$200 million in capital funding for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and a another round of NY Forward.
Continued funding of $5 million for the Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services: $1.5 million to staff and equip the office and $3.5 million for local assistance grants.
$48.3 million to support activities of the Office for New Americans
Legislation to enhance consumer protections for all New Yorkers.
Continued funding of $1 million to support the operations of the African American History Commission.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	208,536,000	220,575,000	12,039,000	158,248,800
Aid To Localities	345,267,000	268,900,000	(76,367,000)	599,593,751
Capital Projects	212,000,000	202,000,000	(10,000,000)	1,014,840,000
Total	765,803,000	691,475,000	(74,328,000)	1,772,682,551

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	138	138	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	58	58	0
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other	20	20	0
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other	12	32	20
Consumer Protection Program
General Fund	5	5	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	30	30	0
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other	144	164	20
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	133	133	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11	11	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	81	81	0
Office for New Americans
General Fund	10	10	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	3	3	0
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund	15	15	0
Total	660	700	40

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
General Fund	24,300,000	25,851,000	1,551,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	94,452,000	94,452,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	89,784,000	100,272,000	10,488,000
Total	208,536,000	220,575,000	12,039,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Administration
General Fund	8,251,000	9,340,000	1,089,000
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other	3,657,000	3,830,000	173,000
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other	75,998,000	87,666,000	11,668,000
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other	4,009,000	4,052,000	43,000
Consumer Protection Program
General Fund	1,751,000	1,804,000	53,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	51,000	51,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	4,298,000	4,320,000	22,000
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	7,552,000	6,317,000	(1,235,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	94,401,000	94,401,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	1,572,000	154,000	(1,418,000)
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION
General Fund	0	1,433,000	1,433,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
General Fund	1,046,000	1,062,000	16,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
General Fund	1,500,000	1,530,000	30,000
Office for New Americans
General Fund	2,545,000	2,592,000	47,000
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws
General Fund	155,000	155,000	0
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund	1,200,000	1,310,000	110,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	150,000	150,000	0
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM
General Fund	300,000	308,000	8,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	100,000	100,000	0
Total	208,536,000	220,575,000	12,039,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	4,140,000	1,089,000	4,040,000	1,089,000
Consumer Protection Program	1,804,000	53,000	1,804,000	53,000
Local Government and Community Services	6,317,000	(292,000)	6,283,000	(292,000)
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	490,000	490,000	490,000	490,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	542,000	16,000	542,000	16,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	1,030,000	30,000	1,030,000	30,000
Office for New Americans	1,592,000	47,000	1,592,000	47,000
Tug Hill Commission	1,202,000	110,000	1,202,000	110,000
Total	17,117,000	1,543,000	16,983,000	1,543,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	90,000	0	10,000	0
Local Government and Community Services	30,000	0	4,000	0
Total	120,000	0	14,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	5,200,000	0	0	0
Local Government and Community Services	0	(943,000)	0	(53,000)
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	943,000	943,000	53,000	53,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	520,000	0	50,000	0
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	500,000	0	100,000	0
Office for New Americans	1,000,000	0	0	0
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws	155,000	0	0	0
Tug Hill Commission	108,000	0	13,000	0
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM	308,000	8,000	20,000	0
Total	8,734,000	8,000	236,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	0	0	5,200,000	0
Local Government and Community Services	0	(40,000)	0	(350,000)
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	40,000	40,000	350,000	350,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	20,000	0	350,000	0
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	50,000	0	250,000	0
Office for New Americans	0	0	1,000,000	0
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws	0	0	135,000	0
Tug Hill Commission	8,000	0	85,000	0
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM	20,000	0	10,000	0
Total	138,000	0	7,380,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Local Government and Community Services	0	(500,000)
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	500,000	500,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	100,000	0
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	100,000	0
Tug Hill Commission	2,000	0
Total	702,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Maintenance Undistributed
Program	Amount	Change
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws	20,000	0
Total	20,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Maintenance Undistributed
Program	Amount	Change
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM	258,000	8,000
Total	258,000	8,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Authorities Budget Office	3,830,000	173,000	1,812,000	173,000
Business and Licensing Services	87,666,000	11,668,000	29,462,000	1,668,000
Code Enforcement	4,052,000	43,000	1,466,000	43,000
Consumer Protection Program	4,371,000	22,000	1,818,000	22,000
Local Government and Community Services	94,555,000	(1,418,000)	18,509,000	0
Tug Hill Commission	150,000	0	0	0
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM	100,000	0	0	0
Total	194,724,000	10,488,000	53,067,000	1,906,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service		Maintenance Undistributed
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Authorities Budget Office	2,018,000	0	0	0
Business and Licensing Services	58,204,000	10,000,000	0	0
Code Enforcement	2,586,000	0	0	0
Consumer Protection Program	2,553,000	0	0	0
Local Government and Community Services	76,046,000	0	0	(1,418,000)
Tug Hill Commission	150,000	0	0	0
VILLAGE INCORPORATION PROGRAM	100,000	0	0	0
Total	141,657,000	10,000,000	0	(1,418,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
General Fund	124,067,000	47,700,000	(76,367,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	219,700,000	219,700,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	1,500,000	1,500,000	0
Total	345,267,000	268,900,000	(76,367,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	26,367,000	0	(26,367,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	219,700,000	219,700,000	0
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
General Fund	3,500,000	3,500,000	0
Office for New Americans
General Fund	94,200,000	44,200,000	(50,000,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	1,500,000	1,500,000	0
Total	345,267,000	268,900,000	(76,367,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change	Reappropriations FY 2026
Downtown Revitalization
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	200,000,000	200,000,000	0	935,591,000
Infrastructure Investment – Settlement Funds	0	0	0	64,611,000
Maintenance and Repair
Capital Projects Fund	2,000,000	2,000,000	0	4,308,000
NYS Commission on African American History
Capital Projects Fund	10,000,000	0	(10,000,000)	10,000,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund	0	0	0	330,000
Total	212,000,000	202,000,000	(10,000,000)	1,014,840,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

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