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The New York State Senate today passed legislation to legalize and regulate mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions in New York State.

The New York State Senate today passed four bills that would keep communities safer from sexual predators. The package of legislation requires more stringent verification requirements for sex offender residency, and strengthens penalties for individuals who help sex offenders evade registration requirements.

The New York State Senate today passed legislation to protect children by preventing people who have been convicted of crimes involving children, sexual-based offenses, and drug offenses from being a school bus monitor. The bill (S883), sponsored by Senator John Bonacic (R,C,I-Mount Hope), also updates existing laws to include Leandra’s Law convictions in disqualifying a person from being a school bus driver for five years after conviction.

Senate Republican Leader Dean G. Skelos and Senate Independent Conference Leader Jeff Klein today released a revenue forecast by the Senate Finance Committee that estimates additional General Fund revenues, above the Executive’s projection, of $126 million in 2013-14, and  $116 million more than the Executive’s estimate for state fiscal year 2012-13.  The revenue projection, based on an economic forecast by the Senate’s nationally recognized fiscal consultants, IHS Global Insight, shows that the total two-year General Fund revenue surplus is $242 million. 

Two years ago, Democrats and Republicans laid aside their differences and enacted a property tax cap that finally put the brakes on rising property taxes in New York. 

Passage of the property tax cap, a long-held Senate GOP priority, sent an unmistakable message to New Yorkers who were drowning in property taxes and finding it difficult to pay their bills.  And, it served notice to the old voices of the Albany status quo, whose answer to everything was always to spend more and tax more.

While it’s clear that this lawsuit has no merit, Senate Republicans are determined to protect the property tax cap for New Yorkers and their families.

The New York State Senate today passed two bills that would enhance the safety of bus passengers by preventing registered sex offenders from becoming bus drivers and increasing penalties for passing a stopped school bus.Legislation (

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and members of the Senate Republican Conference were joined today by leaders of statewide business organizations to urge Governor Cuomo to remove the proposed extension of the utility tax surcharge from his Executive Budget. The 18-a surcharge, which has increased utility bills for every ratepayer in the state,  is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2014.  The Governor’s proposed five-year extension would cost businesses and consumers a total of almost $3 billion.

The New York State Senate’s Bipartisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy Recovery today visited hard-hit communities in Brooklyn and Staten Island to tour storm damage and speak with local officials, business leaders, and individuals about the progress and challenges of the ongoing recovery efforts.  Tours of Staten Island, Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, and Gerritsen Beach provided Task Force members with the ability to witness the extensive storm damage and recovery efforts in those parts of New York City. This was the fourth meeting of the Bipartisan Senate Task Force on Hurricane Sandy Recovery, which first met on December 10, 2012, in the Rockaways in Queens. Tours and meetings also took place in Nassau County and Rockland County. 

While the Senate’s Finance Committee will review the entire Executive Budget over the next few weeks, I am encouraged by the plan Governor Cuomo has submitted today.  It restrains spending, eliminates a manageable deficit without new taxes or fees, and invests in job-creation initiatives.  This budget is a blueprint for building on the progress we’ve made over the last two years in getting New York back on track. We should take this opportunity to look at reducing taxes to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking families, allowing the 18-a energy assessment to expire as scheduled, and renewing our commitment to businessmen and women looking to start or grow a business in New York.