Senator Gallivan's Votes for the Week of May 27, 2025

The following bills were approved in the NYS Senate.  Senator Gallivan's vote is noted.

S2364 Designates the "Honor and Remember Flag" as the official state flag for recognizing armed service members who have died as a result of serving the United States in any war or conflict the nation has been involved in since its inception.  AYE

S1183 Establishes a real property tax exemption for the primary residence of veterans with a 100 percent service connected disability. AYE

S2068A Amends the real property tax law by adding a new section 458-d, which provides the authority for municipalities to enact a tax exemption up to twenty-five percent of the assessed value owned by members of the United States Armed Forces deployed in an active combat zone. Armed Forces shall mean the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard or Army or Air National Guard or New York Naval Milita.The property tax exemption would be at local option and would not apply to school property taxes. AYE

S7121A Authorizes the city of New York to discontinue the use as parkland and alienate certain land within Flushing Meadows Corona Park. AYE

S4152A Establishes September twenty-second of each year as a day of commemoration known as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day. AYE

S4358 This bill would allow a veteran that qualifies to receive a tuition award from the Veterans Tuition Award Program (VTAP), but has not used such tuition award, to elect to transfer all or a portion of the tuition award such veteran would have received to eligible immediate family members. AYE

S7760 Dedicates a portion of the state highway system in the county of Oneida to "Officer Michael E. Jensen". AYE

May 28

S1525 This bill would amend section 153 of the Executive Law to require the Department of State and Department of Economic Development and Department of Education to provide technical assistance upon the request of a municipality experiencing a college closure to address issues.  AYE

S1723 Adds Doodletown Brook to the definition of inland waterways eligible for the local waterfront revitalization program. AYE

S120A Prohibits termination of electricity or heat service during forecasts of more than ninety degrees or less than thirty-two degrees. AYE

S119 Requires that any limited liability company who files a rent registration statement shall include a list of all members of such limited liability company and each member's ownership interest. NAY (Unnecessary regulation that limits privacy.)

S699 Lowers the number of board of elections commissioners at the NYC BOE from ten to two - one republican and one democrat commissioner. Each commissioner would recommend at least three individuals for the position of executive director (one republican director / one democrat director). NAY (The current structure of ten commissioners, two from each borough (1 R / 1 D), ensures all of the city's interests are heard at the Board.)

S4423 COSPONSOR Provides for the types of damages that may be awarded to the persons for whose benefit an action for wrongful death is brought. AYE

S707 Changes the requirement of the Department of Health to report on the administration of Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plans to legislative leaders and health committee chairs from “biannually” to “annually”.  NAY (Unnecessary. Government intrusion in private business.)

S3261 This bill would authorize the distributors of cannabis products to elect to file returns annually instead of quarterly. AYE

S2470 Adds a tax abatement for electric energy storage equipment for certain properties in a city of one million or more persons to state that on or after January 1, 2027 and before January 1, 2029, the amount of the tax abatement would be the lesser of either (i) 10 percent of eligible electric energy storage equipment expenditures in each year of the compliance period, (ii) the amount of taxes payable in such tax year, or (iii) $62,500. AYE

S2444 Makes certain terms gender neutral in provisions regarding the right to breast feed. NAY (Not necessary.)

S360 This bill would require the Commissioner of the Department of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Addiction Services and Supports to review any policy in facilities operated by the Department of Correction and Community Supervision and in all local correctional facilities.  NAY (This bill would require significant investment and would be a massive undertaking by the DOH. Currently, DOH is required to review HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C and COVID-19 policies instituted by DOCCS and local jails.)

S946 Authorizes the removal of police officer candidates from an eligible list when such candidate does not meet psychological fitness requirements or lacks good moral character standards. AYE

S433 Extends certain provisions relating to bonds and notes of the city of Yonkers until June 30, 2026. AYE

S5403 Extends the authorization for the private sale of bonds and notes of the City of Buffalo from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026. AYE

S1305A Requires that general hospitals that provide mastectomy surgery, lymph node dissection or lumpectomy provide information to such patients concerning options for breast reconstruction. AYE

S2224A This bill increases the threshold for which 501(c)3 nonprofit entities must file and register as a lobbyist from $5,000 to $10,000. AYE

S354 This bill amends the section of the Public Health law governing the reimbursement of health care services by means of telehealth, originally codified in 2015 (see Chapter 6 of the laws of 2015), for persons being provided care under the following State agencies: Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). AYE

S17 Allows industrial development agencies to make grants to municipalities for open space preservation, parkland improvements and conservation easements where the municipal governing body finds that the grant encourages tourism or otherwise improves quality of life.  AYE

S2084 Requires municipalities to determine whether it is in the public interest to create a comprehensive plan adapted to the special requirements of the municipality and to determine whether it is in the public interest to update such comprehensive plan at least once every ten years to ensure that such plan addresses housing needs. AYE

S2499 This bill would amend section 120 of the Workers' Compensation Law relating to discrimination against employees who have taken paid family leave.  NAY (Private right of action)

S664 This bill would allow municipalities to levy property taxes on possessory interests of private individuals and corporations who operate on tax-exempt real property for business purposes. NAY (Increased Taxes.)

S201 Provides that in the event child protective services receives a duplicate report on an open case that has not been founded, indicated or referred to services, such duplicate report shall merge with the open case and remain open an additional thirty days for further investigation. AYE

S1462 This bill creates a home subsidy for Battery Park City residents in an effort to combat the rise in cost of living in Battery Park City. NAY (Unnecessary. Middleclass subsidy.)

S3211 Relates to the appointment of members of the Battery Park city authority; increases the number of members to nine; requires five of the nine members be primary residents of Battery Park city.  AYE

S825 Establishes protections for minors who are featured in influencer-generated content that generate earnings from being shared on social media or other video-sharing websites.  AYE

S598B Establishes a state frontotemporal degeneration registry; defines terms; requires every physician, nurse practitioner, nurse physician assistant and general hospital that diagnoses or is treating a patient diagnosed with an FTD disorder to give notice to the department; requires certain information to be confidential; sets forth the duties of the commissioner of health; requires the department of health to create and maintain a webpage.  AYE

S1111 Creates a single, streamlined process whereby a facility or program operating both a pre-kindergarten program and a daycare program may apply for and receive any certification, licensing, or other requirement otherwise necessary to operate a pre-kindergarten program or daycare program under the laws of the state.  AYE

S1418A This bill would amend the public officers law to the award of reasonable attorney's fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and/or in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body. AYE

S1464 Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan. NAY

S1578B Establishes the "Sickle Cell Treatment Act" which designates sickle cell centers for excellence and outpatient treatment centers. AYE

S1961 This bill would establish the "secure our data act" which would require the Director of State Information Technology Services, in consultation with stakeholders and other interested parties to promulgate regulations for the development and design standards for malware and ransomware protection, data backup, information system recovery, and annual workforce training regarding protection from ransomware and other malware. AYE

S329A Requires the court to review a denial of a motion to suppress evidence on appeal, even if the defendant pleaded guilty - in many instances defendants waive their right to an appeal as part of the plea agreement and in exchange for a lighter sentence. NAY (Allowing defendants to appeal even if they have waived that right as part of a plea deal, usually in exchange for a lighter sentence, would get rid of an incentive for DAs to come to agreements on plea deals.)

May 29

S518A Requires the inclusion of diversity and inclusion training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.  NAY (Standards should be set by MPTC.)

S51 This bill would amend the vehicle and traffic law section 311 to authorize insurance coverage by a risk retention group (RRG) to include coverage to commuter vans, pre-arranged for-hire vehicles and accessible vehicles. AYE

S2000A Requires that health insurance policies shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer, and that no patient cost sharing shall be imposed for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer.  AYE

S4153A Prohibits food-service establishments and retail establishments throughout New York State from refusing to accept payment in cash from consumers. Establishes a civil penalty of not more than $250 for the 1st violation and not more than $500 for subsequent violations. NAY (Anti-business.)

S4046 Prohibits fuel oil, grade number four in any building or facility in the state after July 1, 2030. NAY (Does not apply to NYC. Excessive cost of conversion.)

S3660 Provides that the family court act provisions governing a parents duty to support their child do not apply when a child is placed in foster care pursuant to a court order, except when child was subjected to severe and repeated child abuse. AYE

S4722A Requires the empire state plaza art commission to examine the historical significance of major rivers in the state of New York in connection with renaming the agency buildings located at the empire state plaza; requires the governor to choose the new agency building names within 60 days after the commission's recommendation. NAY (Potential to be too political/partisan)

S3759 This bill amends Section 215 of the elder law to establish and regulate social model adult day services programs. AYE

S1946 Provides for expungement of a conviction for an offense related to criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument. NAY

S1763A Provides that for a substance use disorder outpatient treatment episode of care by a provider licensed, certified or otherwise authorized by the office of addiction services and supports, an insured shall only be responsible for a cost sharing fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars.  NAY (Financial impact.)

S4039A  Amends the Public Officers Law to prohibit statewide elected official, state officer or employee, member of the legislature, legislative employee or political party chairman who owns or controls a certain percentage of a corporation or limited liability company from receiving compensation for consulting or legal services from a state or local authority. NAY (Public bidding should be open to all.)

S2598 Expands the training time for local municipalities in relation to the open meetings law; requires at least one hour of such training be provided by the committee on open government or an appropriate entity in relation to compliance with the open meetings law and if not provided, a justification shall be given. AYE (Appropriate amendments made.)

S4478 Requires the department of labor to provide a document on workplace rights to any minor seeking working papers and to make such document available in other languages and to school officials who issue working papers. AYE

S4519 This bill relates to awards to employees who prevail in actions on kick-back claims. It requires the payment of compensation owed, liquidated damages in the amount of 100 percent of the "compensation received", reasonable attorney's fees and interest as provided in the civil practice law and rules (pre judgment interest).  AYE

S5159 Requires the community gardens task force to conduct an assessment of all community gardens located on publicly owned land in the state to facilitate each garden's designation as a critical environmental area.  AYE

S4075 Authorizes the assessor of Richmond county to grant the Silver Lake Foundation Inc. retroactive real property tax exempt status upon an application therefor. AYE

S4464 This bill would amend the General Municipal Law to mandate that local IDAs shall contain a board seat for a local government representative or superintendent and one local labor organization representative. This bill would authorize the size of the IDA to increase above the seven member limit to allow for the addition of the two mandatory members. NAY (Should be local decision.)

S6009 Relates to youth programs sponsored by fire departments; provides that participants may respond to an emergency or hazardous activity, but shall remain in an appropriate and safe designated area that has been established by the chief or officer in charge; provides such participants cannot respond to an emergency on a vehicle using lights and/or sirens; provides such participants may not enter a burning structure; protects volunteer fire departments and fire companies from certain criminal and civil liability potentially arising from the operation of a youth program. AYE

S6759 Authorizes the application of topical fluoride varnish to a child's teeth by a parent or legal guardian provided that such application is done under the direction and supervision of a licensed practitioner.  AYE

S6750 This bill would allow a retired member to change his or her option election or designate a new beneficiary where the beneficiary has been convicted of a family offense. Such change of beneficiary shall take place within 180 day of the conviction. AYE

S4672A Requires signage on state highways designating where there is a zero-emission charging and refueling station that is open and available to the public within three miles of an exit or off-ramp. AYE

S611A  Amends criminal procedure law to enact Emma's law. Permits the court to allow victims of misdemeanor crimes to request and be granted an opportunity to speak at sentencing. Creates a right for victims to make a statement in misdemeanor cases where a pre-sentence report has been ordered and where the defendant was initially charged with a felony offense under the vehicle and traffic law by indictment or superior court information and where the underlying conduct resulted in serious physical injury. AYE

S2398 Requires genetic testing results only be received by patients and health care providers providing direct care while health insurance companies only receive a record that the genetic testing was performed; provides insurers cannot require access to genetic testing results and cannot take adverse action against someone for not providing genetic testing results. AYE