Bill to update school bus reimbursement metrics gets ‘pocket veto’ from governor

February 19, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

State Sen. Julia Salazar. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

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ALBANY — A bill that would have updated the reimbursement formula for later school bus schedules to accommodate longer academic days was inconspicuously vetoed, City & State reported. Governor Kathy Hochul issued a “pocket veto” of the bill, which had remained from the 2024 legislation session. The bill’s sponsors, in the State Senate and Assembly, were state Sen. Julia Salazar (D-18/northern Brooklyn) and Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein (D-48/Midwood and Borough Park).

They sought to increase funding, which has paced behind costs, for bus service after 4 p.m., which serves primarily students at yeshivas and other Jewish private schools who have longer daily class schedules than do their counterparts at other schools. However, some outside the Orthodox Jewish community criticized the funding as being a handout.

The rarely-used pocket veto differs from an active veto. The bill in question was leftover from a previous legislation session, and after 30 days into a new session, inaction on a bill signifies a veto that the legislature cannot override. Had Governor Hochul chosen not to sign or veto within the 2024 legislation session, the bill would have become law by default, explains City & State.

Speculating that Gov. Hochul may not have wanted to veto the bill but needs to revisit the funding later, Sen. Salazar said she will revive a push for the bus reimbursement to be included in the next budget.

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