Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a significant new initiative aimed at modernizing state government and reducing regulatory burdens across New York. The initiative, known as EXPRESS NY, represents a state government-wide effort to identify and address outdated, duplicative, or unnecessarily burdensome regulations, policies, and practices that impede economic growth, slow critical development, and create obstacles for families seeking access to state services.
This alert provides an overview of the EXPRESS NY initiative, explains how businesses, organizations, and individuals can participate, and highlights the potential benefits of engagement.
Background and purpose
The EXPRESS NY initiative builds upon an initial state effort that identified nearly 100 outdated and excessive regulations targeted for reform or elimination. Recognizing that those closest to regulatory challenges often have the most valuable insights, Governor Hochul is now soliciting ideas directly from New Yorkers to help cut red tape and improve government operations.
The State has launched a new online portal where any New Yorker—whether a business owner, developer, healthcare provider, nonprofit organization, or individual resident—can identify specific regulations, policies, and practices that add unnecessary process, impose undue burdens, or are simply out of date. This open call for submissions reflects a commitment to making government more responsive and efficient through direct stakeholder input.
Priority areas for recommendations
While the State welcomes suggestions across all areas of regulatory concern, Governor Hochul has identified three priority areas where recommendations are particularly sought.
SPEEDING UP HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The State aims to remove barriers that delay affordable housing and critical infrastructure projects, including transportation, child care facilities, water systems, parks, and community centers. Stakeholders in development, construction, and municipal planning can help identify permitting delays, duplicative approvals, and regulatory inconsistencies that slow project timelines.
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES
The initiative seeks to reduce burdensome requirements and fees that hinder business formation and growth. Small business owners and industry groups are encouraged to highlight licensing, compliance, or administrative barriers that create unnecessary obstacles.
STREAMLINING ACCESS TO SERVICES
The State is working to simplify processes that limit access to public benefits and essential services, including healthcare, child care, nutrition, and mental health programs. Providers and advocates can help identify administrative inefficiencies that delay or discourage access to these critical services.
How to participate
The State has established an online portal through which interested parties can submit their recommendations. The portal is designed to collect specific ideas about regulations, policies, or practices that warrant review and potential reform.
The call for ideas will remain open until April 3, 2026. Interested parties should plan to submit their recommendations before this deadline to ensure their input is considered as part of the State's review process.
Effective submissions should clearly identify the specific regulation, policy, or practice at issue; explain how it creates unnecessary burden or delay; and, where possible, suggest potential solutions or modifications. Concrete examples and data demonstrating the impact of the regulatory issue can strengthen a submission’s persuasiveness.
Potential benefits of participation
Participating in the EXPRESS NY initiative offers meaningful advantages for businesses, organizations, and individuals affected by state regulations. It provides a formal channel to raise regulatory concerns directly with state decision-makers, with submissions reviewed as part of the administration’s broader reform effort. Given the administration’s demonstrated commitment to reform—including the identification of nearly 100 regulations for revision or elimination—well-crafted proposals have a genuine opportunity to influence policy. Participation also signals constructive engagement with state government and can enhance an organization’s credibility in future policy discussions. Because the initiative spans all state agencies and regulatory areas, it creates an opportunity to elevate issues that might not otherwise receive focused attention.
How Nixon Peabody can help
Nixon Peabody is prepared to assist clients in taking advantage of this opportunity for regulatory input. We can help identify regulations, policies, and practices that affect your business or organization and assess whether they may be appropriate subjects for submission to the EXPRESS NY portal. For clients who wish to participate but prefer professional drafting assistance, we can offer drafting services to prepare clear, persuasive, and strategically framed submissions on your behalf.
If you are interested in submitting recommendations through the EXPRESS NY initiative, or if you would like to discuss how this regulatory reform effort may affect your operations, please contact us. We would be pleased to assist you in preparing and submitting comments that effectively communicate your regulatory concerns to state decision-makers.