URGENT NEWS
Include the full spending authority needed of the IOLA fund to protect access to justice for New Yorkers
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/fully-fund-iola-to-protect-access-to-justice-for-new-yorkers/
2026
Statement from the New York Legal Services Coalition on IOLA Funding in the Governor’s 30-Day Budget Amendments
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Governor’s 30-day budget amendments, which did not restore full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund:
NYC Bar Urges Governor to Fully Fund IOLA in Budget Amendments
February 11, 2026
The New York City Bar Association and its Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee, which represents numerous leading legal services providers as well as major pro bono partner law firms and corporations, respectfully urges Governor Hochul to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in her forthcoming 30-day amendments to the 2027 Executive Budget.
City Bar Justice Center Urges Governor to Fully Fund IOLA to Support New Yorkers at Risk
New York, February 13, 2026 – The City Bar Justice Center applauds and echoes the New York City Bar Association’s respectful urging of New York Governor Kathy Hochul to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in her forthcoming 30-day amendments to the 2027 Executive Budget.
RE: Request for Full Spending Authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in the 30-Day Budget Amendments
Dear Governor Hochul,
We, the 132 undersigned organizations and individuals, write to ask you to include full spending authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund in your forthcoming 30-day amendments to the SFY 2027 Executive Budget. This action is essential to maintaining stability in New York’s civil legal services delivery system and ensuring that low-income New Yorkers continue to receive the assistance they need during a period of unprecedented demand
Queens Daily Eagle: Legal advocates call for $25 million in civil legal services funding
Statement from the New York Legal Services Coalition on the Governor’s Executive Budget and IOLA Funding
ALBANY, NY – The New York Legal Services Coalition, a statewide organization representing civil legal service providers throughout New York State, released the following statement from President Kristin Brown in response to the Governor’s Executive Budget, which did not include full appropriation authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund, a critical, non-taxpayer funding source for civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers:
IOLA FAQs
Full Spending Authority for the Interest on Lawyer Account Fund
2024
Last-minute ‘sweep’ undermines low-income New Yorker’s Access to Justice, according to the New York Legal Services Coalition
Governor, Legislature assure legal community it is a one-time occurrence
In a last-minute move during budget negotiations, lawmakers have agreed to a one-time, $55 million “sweep” from the Interest on Lawyer Accounts (IOLA) Fund to cover the cost of the state’s foreclosure prevention program (HOPP) at $40m and eviction prevention services at $15m. The proposal was put forth by the Governor in the final hours of negotiations. While legislators pushed back -- given that IOLA funds are not tax levy dollars, and the sweep would reduce the net amount of funds available to provide civil legal aid to low-income New Yorkers -- the move was ultimately agreed to so that critical programs were fully funded.
RENEWED NYS BUDGET ‘SWEEP’ OF IOLA FUNDS WOULD BE DISASTROUS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 17, 2024. A late breaking proposal from Governor Kathy Hochul would ‘sweep’ $55 million from the Interest on Lawyers Account Fund (IOLA). The initial executive budget proposed a sweep of $100M from IOLA to the general fund, which was rescinded in the 30-day amendments on February 15. This diversion of non-taxpayer dollars has been resurrected.
Civil Legal Service Community Thanks Governor For Rescinding Proposed ‘sweep’ Of Funds Earmarked To Help Low-income New Yorkers Access Justice
February 16, 2024
The civil legal services community applauded Governor Hochul for rescinding the proposed ‘sweep’ of $100 million earmarked to support low-income New Yorkers’ civil legal needs into New York’s the General Fund. The sweep of the Interest on Lawyers Account (IOLA) was originally proposed in the executive budget and was rescinded in the 30-day amendments released late in the day on February 15.
Community Letter Opposing Transfer of IOLA Funds
Dear Governor Hochul:
The undersigned urge you to issue a 30-day amendment to the FY25 Executive Budget, rescinding the proposed transfer of $100 million from the IOLA Fund to the State General Fund.
Wage gap between state-funded attorneys, government peers is driving an employment crisis in New York’s Civil Legal Services":
Proposed “sweep” in the Executive Budget would put Civil Legal Services further at risk