Senator Rachel May Advances More Than Two Dozen Bills Through Both Houses

(Albany) Senator Rachel May successfully passed 27 of her sponsored bills through both the Senate and the Assembly during the 2025 legislative session. These bills cover a broad range, from protecting the state’s freshwater resources to safeguarding the rights of all New Yorkers to read. Senator May also passed more than 50 bills through the Senate, making her one of the most productive Senators in the state. 

“Although the late budget shortened our runway for passing bills, we ended the 2025 session with a flurry of activity. I’m proud that my office was once again one of the most effective in Albany at getting our bills passed through both houses of the legislature. We stood up for workers, introducing bills to improve safety for cell tower technicians and to ban an increasingly common practice that forces employees to pay to quit their jobs. We supported our freshwater resources with a bill to make water data more accessible and another to promote native plants, whose roots are key to stopping erosion and flooding. We came through for rural communities, making it easier for them to fund emergency medical services, allowing dental hygienists to do some of the preventive care that is hard to find in many communities, and supporting our craft beverage producers. And we stood on the side of librarians and young, inquisitive minds by rejecting book banning and passing the Freedom to Read Act. During these turbulent times, I’m grateful that we were able to address many of our priorities and for the good work of my staff and colleagues on behalf of the many communities, cultures, and landscapes that make this state special,” said Senator Rachel May. 

Notable Legislation that Passed Both Houses 

S1099 The Freedom to Read Act 

Requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to establish policies that empower school libraries and their staff to curate and develop collections. This ensures that students have access to a wide range of developmentally appropriate materials. 

S1211 New York Open Water Data Act 

This legislation brings together water-related agencies to establish a water data platform, which will improve data sharing and collaboration among agencies and make key parts of New York’s water data accessible to the public. 

S1525 Helping Municipalities when Colleges Close 

Although rare, college closures can have a devastating impact on communities, affecting faculty, students, staff, and the local economy. This legislation will help local governments plan and respond effectively to such closures.

S2709 Protecting Tower Climbers 

Tower climbers’ jobs are vital for cell service and emergency 911 services in New York. This legislation better protects these workers by requiring certified safety training and provides transparency about private contractors’ labor law violations, among other relevant details.  

S3157 Expanding Access to Dental Care 

To ensure New Yorkers receive the dental care they need, regardless of financial resources, this legislation expands access to dental services. This bill empowers dental hygienists by broadening the range of services they can perform, providing New Yorkers with more affordable options, and allowing dentists to focus on more complex services. 

S4070 Trapped at Work Act 

Some employers require employees to sign promissory notes or training reimbursement agreements as a condition of employment, often without legal advice. Workers risk legal action and may have to repay thousands if they leave due to poor conditions or unrelated reasons, benefiting the employer. This legislation would ban this practice except in specific cases. 

S7358 Low Impact Landscaping Rights Act 

This legislation allows homeowners to install beneficial, low-impact landscaping, such as flower mixtures, clover, thyme, and rain gardens, on their property without interference from homeowner associations. These methods support pollinator health, reduce pesticide use, and decrease rainwater runoff, helping to fight climate change in New York. 

S7359 New York Native Plant Designation 

This legislation promotes native plants through the New York Grown and Certified program, helping growers, vendors, and consumers identify ecologically appropriate, locally grown plants. A certification will boost visibility and demand for native plants, while giving consumers the confidence that what they are buying truly supports local ecosystems. 

S7423 Spotlighting New York’s Craft Beverage Industry 

This legislation promotes New York State-labelled liquor, beer, cider, and mead by establishing annual retailer awards, similar to those for wine. It recognizes the growth of New York’s craft beverage industry, emphasizing beverages made from locally grown agricultural products and celebrating the success of local producers. 

Notable Legislation that Passed the Senate 

S1833 Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Act 

This bill would require the DEC to develop a coordinated system for monitoring, evaluating, preventing, and mitigating HABs, helping New York State predict and prevent Harmful Algal Blooms in our water bodies. It would not add new monitoring duties for DEC staff. 

S3492 Sustainable Affordable Housing and Sprawl Prevention Act 

This legislation aligns our housing permitting process with our environmental and affordability goals. This bill will help build affordable housing, reduce harmful emissions, and build walkable, transit-friendly communities. 

S4574 PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act 

The legislation establishes a testing and reporting protocol for the discharge of PEAS (a class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals) into our waters. This is crucial for the state’s understanding of their sources and will guide future policymaking regarding these “forever chemicals.” 

S6318 Adding Arts and Music to Public Schools’ Curriculum 

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into the curriculum for all public school students This legislation recognizes the importance of arts and music programs in public schools and ensures that all New York school-aged children have equal access to these critical learning opportunities. 

S1211 New York Open Water Data Act 

To coordinate the state’s water agencies to work together in making critical water data accessible to the public, ensuring better water resource management and providing water users with the data they need to make informed decisions.