Gov. Kathy Hochul is already laying out parts of her agenda for the new year, and one of her first announced priorities of the year is a push to exempt up to $25,000 in tipped wages from state income tax. According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, it’s a move she says stays in line with her “Affordability Agenda,” the slate of moves Hochul has made over the last year to try to make life more affordable in New York. Affordability was a key word in New York politics in 2025, and the governor is renewing that focus.