State lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul approved a fifth temporary stopgap budget measure on Monday, funding New York's government through Friday with a spending plan now more than three weeks through the original April 1 deadline.

Still, the top Democrat in the state Assembly the same day signaled lawmakers had made progress toward a final budget agreement.

"I think we're getting closer," Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. "There are still a few things that have to be worked out. But hopefully the end is near."

Measures to address the environment and climate change as well as potentially expand charter schools in New York City are yet to be decided. A plan to address illegal sales of cannabis is also under discussion.

But legislators and Hochul have largely moved on from issues like the governor's plan to expand housing in New York. Heastie on Monday said those measures will likely be addressed after the budget is finalized.

Lawmakers and Hochul are also yet to settle on more fiscal-related issues in the budget. A proposal from legislative Democrats to raise tax rates on people who earn more than $5 million a year remains undecided.

While the budget remains up in the air, lawmakers have approved temporary extension provisions to keep the government funded and state workers paid.

Heastie blamed the range of non-fiscal policy issues from housing to bail law changes as the primary reason for the plan remaining unfinished nearly a month after the due date.

"It was a lot. It was a lot of policy. This is why you don't do policy in the budget," Heastie said. "I get it, governors have more leverage in the budget, but this is where we are."

Republicans, meanwhile, criticized the process for taking so long and the governor for seemingly falling short of what she wanted in the negotiations.

"If I was back in the private sector, the last person I would hire to negotiate deals would be Gov. Hochul," said Assemblyman Chris Tague.