ALBANY, N.Y. — Lawmakers in Albany have issued a fifth extension to the New York State Budget deadline, which is now over two weeks late.

The State Legislature failed to reach an agreement on Thursday. Now, lawmakers will return home for Easter weekend and convene again next week. The budget has been extended through Wednesday.

The budget was originally due on April 1 and the extenders have ensured that state workers will continue to get paid.

One of the holdups in passing the budget is the debate over the proposed changes to the state’s pre-trial discovery laws. That law requires prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense attorneys in a timely manner. As News10NBC has covered, the law can lead to cases being dismissed if prosecutors find additional evidence after filing a certificate of compliance. Gov. Kathy Hochul said that has led to domestic violence cases being thrown out due to technicalities.

The state budget includes funding for local transit, universal free school meals, and free tuition for some adult learners pursuing associate’s degrees. There are also proposals to restrict where people can wear masks to minimize crime and lower the bar to involuntarily hospitalize people with mental illness.

Another proposal in the budget aims to lock away students’ smartphones during the school day for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade.