AMHERST, N.Y. -- Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out her 2025 priorities last month during her State of the State and budget presentations, but members of her administration say the work is far from done.

On Wednesday at the University at Buffalo, cabinet members Kelli Nicholas Owens and Bea Hanson hosted their first of 10 meetings across the state with stakeholders, focusing largely on proposals for crime victims and specifically victims of gender-based crimes.

"I think it's really important for people to understand what's being proposed and get out into the community and talk to real people about how it's going to impact them," Owens said.

"We're getting lots of support from victim assistance providers and district attorneys' offices across the state. This is probably the most comprehensive kind of proposals that the governor's put together around victim services," Hanson said.

Owens, the executive director of the Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence, said after years of underfunding, Hochul and the state Legislature made a serious commitment last year approving $5 million in flexible funding for service providers. She said this year the administration is turning its attention to sexual assault with proposals to double funding for rape crisis centers and requiring hospitals provide victims access to trained forensic examiners.

"I think the highlights are in sexual assault services and making sure all sexual assault victims get the same services no matter where they live and also the reproductive health pieces," she said.

Meanwhile, Hanson heads the Office of Victims Services, where she said the governor wants to eliminate barriers and increase caps for crime victim compensation. She said the administration last year also committed $100 million per year for the next three years to the office, ensuring its efficacy amid concerns federal funding may be inconsistent.

"It's a real commitment on the part of the state and I think it helps with people, them healing, their family members heal and to be productive members of society," Hanson said.