NY lobbyists raked in a record $384.8 million last year

A record $384.8 million was spent trying to influence state and city governments last year, according to the 2025 annual report by the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government released last week, the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking spending. To no one’s surprise, gaming was a lucrative issue, with the companies representing the downstate casino proposals for Resorts World and Metropolitan Park both landing in the top three biggest spenders. But the year’s top spender is the Partnership for New York City’s revived Coalition for New York’s Future, which shelled out $3.6 million. 

The state’s top lobbyist was again Brown & Weinraub Advisors, which was paid $24.3 million last year. Kasirer moved ahead of Bolton-St. Johns, coming in second with $17.4 million.

Read on for the companies and organizations spent the most on lobbying in 2025.

1. Coalition for New York’s Future

Relaunched in September 2024 by the Partnership for New York City, the big business advocacy group, Coalition for New York’s Future was the year’s biggest spender at $3.6 million. They lobbied hard for the Northeast Supply Enhancement project to expand the natural gas pipeline into the New York City metro area. The organization’s biggest cost was more than $1 million to marketing technology company Project Applecart LLC for design services and social media advertising.

The coalition also pushed advertising encouraging a “yes” vote for New York City’s four housing-related ballot initiatives. And while the Partnership changed leadership this year, as Steven Fulop replaced Kathy Wylde as CEO, it hasn’t slowed down on trying to influence the city and state governments. So far this year, they’ve spent $800,000 on ads pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul to drop plans to tax the rich and asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to veto a controversial buffer zone bill.

2. Genting New York  

The company approved to proceed with the expansion of Resorts World in Queens spent $3.5 million on contracts with seven companies, including the $1.1 million they spent lobbying for the plan in New York City. Their efforts paid off, as the Queens casino officially began live table games in April.

3. Queens Future

Mets owner Steve Cohen spent 2025 trying to convince everyone in government to let him build a casino next to Citi Field, with the LLC he formed for the bid shelling out $3.2 million  lobbying for the endeavor. Queens Future spent $1.4 million in New York City last year, hiring 14 different lobbying firms including Tusk Strategies and the MirRam Group. The New York State Gaming commission approved their casino license in December, and the $8 billion project is already running over five months behind schedule. To make matters worse for Cohen, the Mets can’t stop losing.

4. Greater New York Hospital Association

The healthcare trade association lobbied on behalf of 280 hospitals and health systems in the tristate area – including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai Health System and NewYork-Presbyterian – spending $3.1 million and retaining contracts with Bolton-St. Johns, Tonio Burgos & Associates, Empire Strategic Planning and the MirRam Group. GNYHA also partnered with Assemble for multiplatform media buys and mailers, as they looked to influence lawmakers regarding a wide array of hot-topic health issues, including navigating conflicting state and federal guidance regarding gender-affirming care and Medicaid cuts.

5. American Beverage Association

The powerhouse representing nonalcoholic beverage companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo spent $3 million in 2025 and retained contracts with the Ickes & Enright Group, Brown & Weinraub Advisors and Breezeway Consulting. They focused on stopping several pieces of waste reduction legislation, most of which did not move forward this year after the state budget passed nearly two months late.

6. Hotel Trades Council, AFL-CIO and Hotel Association of New York City, Labor Management Cooperation Trust Fund

This entity, made up of the hotel and gaming workers union and the hotel industry’s professional trade association, retained a contract with Connective Strategies Associates and spent $2.6 million in 2025. They pushed back against Airbnb’s efforts to loosen Local Law 18 restrictions, lobbying lawmakers to oppose bills that would amend requirements to the short-term rental law. 

7. United University Professions

UUP, the higher education union representing SUNY educators across the state, spent $2.3 million and retained a contract with Hinman Straub Advisors. They advocated for additional funding to the SUNY system, including $1 billion in capital funding for SUNY Downstate University Hospital and a call to stop budget cuts to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. They also lobbied throughout the year to support the union’s contract negotiations with the state.

8. Homeowners For Financial Empowerment

Backed by Airbnb, Homeowners for Financial Empowerment paid $2.3 million to Manhattan Strategies for social media advertising, printing and consulting services. The group is most concerned with Local Law 18, New York City’s short-term rental policy they describe as the most restrictive in the world. Much of their spending documented in the COELIG report was on advertising. They lobbied on the city level for Intro. 948, which would have amended the law to increase lodger limits and allow owners to host without being present and lock doors to private rooms, but did not move forward in the City Council.

9. Instacart

Instacart spent $2 million and worked with CMW Strategies, Albany Strategic Advisors and Tusk Strategies. The delivery app lobbied state and city lawmakers regarding legislation around additional delivery fees, algorithmic pricing bans and minimum pay rate requirements for delivery app workers. Instacart sued New York City in December over several laws impacting delivery driver pay, including a $22.13 minimum wage for drivers.

10. Maddd Equities

Of the $1.8 million the real estate developer spent in 2025, Maddd spent $1.4 million on their contract with the law firm Akerman, which acts as their land use counsel. Focus went toward lobbying on municipal land use matters for projects that Maddd has pushed through the City Council – including redevelopments of the Kingsbridge Armory and the Bronx General Post Office – and permits and licensing for the e-bike startup JOCO as part of a collaboration to install the company’s docking stations at upcoming properties.