Regular Session - May 5, 2026
4048
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 5, 2026
11 3:43 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JEREMY COONEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
4049
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone to please rise and
5 recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads for a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Reading
14 of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 May 4, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Friday, May 1, 2026,
18 was read and approved. On motion, the Senate
19 adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator Fernandez
4050
1 moves to discharge, from the Committee on
2 Environmental Conservation, Assembly Bill
3 Number 5850 and substitute it for the identical
4 Senate Bill 3629A, Third Reading Calendar 379.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: So
6 ordered.
7 Messages from the Governor.
8 Reports of standing committees.
9 Reports of select committees.
10 Communications and reports from
11 state officers.
12 Motions and resolutions.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
15 Mr. President. Good afternoon.
16 Amendments are offered to the
17 following Third Reading Calendar bills:
18 By Senator May, page 7,
19 Calendar Number 123, Senate Print 4071A;
20 By Senator Mayer, page 35,
21 Calendar Number 827, Senate Print 9557A;
22 By Senator Comrie, page 39,
23 Calendar Number 867, Senate Print 9321.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 amendments are received, and the bills will
4051
1 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to adopt
4 the Resolution Calendar, with the exceptions of
5 Resolutions 1983, 1992, 2043, and 2044.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: All those
7 in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar,
8 with the exceptions of 1983, 1992, 2043, and
9 2044, please signify by saying aye.
10 (Response of "Aye.")
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
12 nay.
13 (No response.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
15 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
16 Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's begin,
18 Mr. President, by taking up Resolution 2044, by
19 Senator Gianaris, read its title and call on me,
20 please.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2044, by
24 Senator Gianaris, honoring Carlos Beltran upon
25 the occasion of his induction into the
4052
1 National Baseball Hall of Fame, and in
2 recognition of his extraordinary career and
3 philanthropic contributions.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
5 Gianaris on the resolution.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 El está aquí, my colleagues. For
9 those who speak Spanish, you know that means "he
10 is here." And for those who are Mets fans of a
11 certain age, you know that that was walk-up music
12 to one Carlos Beltran when he was on the Mets.
13 We are privileged to have him join
14 us in the chamber today on an auspicious
15 occasion. You may have read that he is being
16 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in
17 Cooperstown this year, and he has chosen -- sorry
18 for all the Yankee fans, but he has chosen to go
19 in wearing a Mets cap into the Baseball Hall of
20 Fame.
21 (Applause.)
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Of course he
23 played with the Mets twice as long as he played
24 with the Yankees, so it makes sense -- some of
25 those great Mets teams from the mid-2000s that so
4053
1 many of us enjoyed.
2 And what a career it has been. If
3 you look at him statistically, he is most
4 deserving of this honor. He is an all-around
5 great in baseball, both batting, fielding,
6 running the bases -- he did it all.
7 And he was a pleasure to watch as a
8 fan when -- I would like to say when I was
9 growing up, but I was already old enough to be in
10 these chambers back then, in the Assembly at the
11 time.
12 It's not just his sports prowess, of
13 course, that we're here to honor. He is a great
14 philanthropist. He has opened a school in
15 Puerto Rico, he has provided hurricane relief, he
16 is focused on educating children, with a lot of
17 the work being done in his native Puerto Rico.
18 And as everybody here knows,
19 New York has great interest in what happens on
20 that island. There are so many Puerto Ricans
21 that live here who care about their homeland and
22 so much of what happens in Puerto Rico affects
23 what we do here in New York.
24 And so it is -- I know there are
25 other members who want to speak and offer their
4054
1 words of thanks to Carlos Beltran, but for this
2 Mets fan, we appreciate all the years you spent
3 here, appreciate your love of the Mets because,
4 you know, we do appreciate that.
5 We also have, Carlos, people from
6 Queens all throughout the chamber today who are
7 also appreciative of what you've done for our
8 borough specifically.
9 And congratulations to you. Thank
10 you for all you have done. And welcome to the
11 New York State Senate.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
13 you, Senator Gianaris.
14 (Applause from the galleries.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
16 Skoufis on the resolution.
17 SENATOR SKOUFIS: Thank you very
18 much, Mr. President.
19 I want to express my gratitude to
20 the dean of the Mets fandom, Senator Gianaris,
21 here in the chamber. And certainly I'm
22 privileged and thankful to be in Carlos Beltran's
23 presence here.
24 There are 281 player baseball Hall
25 of Famers -- 281. Only three are Mets, or former
4055
1 Mets. We have Tom Seaver, we have Mike Piazza,
2 and now we have Carlos Beltran.
3 I was born in 1987. I missed the
4 championship by a year. I'm still waiting,
5 38 years later.
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR SKOUFIS: In the meantime,
8 however, I've been rewarded with so many
9 incredible memories of both good teams and
10 bad teams, and many of those memories of many of
11 those good teams involve Carlos Beltran.
12 Prior to him coming to the Mets in
13 2005 -- and the Met fans here certainly know
14 this -- we suffered through a series of several
15 not just mediocre seasons, but really, really
16 tragic seasons. In 2005, that began to turn
17 around. We had an above-500 team for the
18 first time in many years that year, made the
19 playoffs the next year.
20 The subsequent couple of years we
21 won't talk about why we missed the playoffs, but
22 we had competitive teams and above-500 teams in
23 2007 and 2008. And so much of that success is
24 attributable to Carlos Beltran.
25 For 13 years he held the Mets
4056
1 home-run record until it was only very recently
2 rebroken. And memorable home runs, back-to-back
3 games with grand slams. We had a bottom of the
4 16th inning walk-off home run against the
5 Phillies in one memorable game. Three-time
6 Gold Glover, including one of the most incredible
7 catches in Mets history.
8 For those of you who follow
9 baseball, you may remember Minute Maid Park,
10 where the Astros played, there was a hill -- only
11 place in baseball, in dead center there was a
12 hill at a 30 degree incline straight towards the
13 back of center field. And Carlos Beltran made
14 one of the most incredible, memorable
15 over-the-shoulder catches while running up the
16 hill to save the game for the Mets.
17 And so I'm thrilled to meet you in
18 person. It's really such a privilege and a
19 joy -- and to grab your autograph on the active
20 list -- and just really, really thankful for your
21 contributions certainly to me, my family, our
22 memories personally, but more importantly the
23 indelible mark you've left on millions of
24 Met fans throughout the state.
25 Thank you so much.
4057
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
2 you, Senator Skoufis.
3 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
4 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
5 Mr. President.
6 I'm a Met fan from the Bronx, so it
7 is -- I was born in '82, so in '86 I got to see
8 one.
9 But as Senator Skoufis mentioned,
10 sometimes it's been hard being a Mets fan, but it
11 was always easy to root for {in announcer voice}
12 "Now batting for the New York Mets, No. 15,
13 Carrrlos Bellltran." Like that's in -- like
14 you'd hear that every time he came up.
15 And he made magic happen. Forty-one
16 home runs -- as a switch hitter, right? Again,
17 that tied Todd Hundley for the record, but as a
18 switch hitter.
19 And playing excellent defense, as a
20 five-tool player, to go out there and do things
21 like that in the field, and then to come back and
22 hit above .300, stealing bases -- the highest
23 stolen base percentage, I'm forgetting about it.
24 But for anybody in the history of
25 baseball, it's like 83 percent or something like
4058
1 that, I recall. I'm not just basketball, guys, I
2 love baseball too. Eighty-three percent, the
3 highest of anybody with over 300 attempted stolen
4 bases in the history of Major League Baseball.
5 He is what they call a five-tool
6 player. You can hit -- hit for power, hit for
7 average -- throw, field, catch. But the
8 sixth tool is the advocacy that you do for
9 Puerto Rico, Mr. Beltran. Like the -- making
10 sure that you never forgot where you've come
11 from.
12 That means more than any
13 accomplishment you could ever make on the field,
14 because you are creating fields of play for
15 young Puerto Ricans and young Latinos and
16 young African-Americans and everybody under the
17 sun, because of the work that you've done.
18 Congratulations on your Hall of Fame
19 career -- but even more, you're a Hall of Fame
20 guy.
21 I vote aye, Mr. President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator Bailey.
24 Senator Oberacker on the resolution.
25 SENATOR OBERACKER: Thank you,
4059
1 Mr. President.
2 As some in this body know, I have
3 the absolute pleasure of representing, in the
4 51st Senate District, Cooperstown, of course
5 where baseball is enshrined, and soon to be --
6 Mr. Beltran will be there as well.
7 And also maybe another little
8 factoid that not most everybody knows, but I have
9 something in common with Carlos. I too am in the
10 Baseball Hall of Fame. My first piece of
11 legislation passed in this house was to make
12 baseball the official sport of New York. And so
13 my pen certificate hangs in the Hall of Fame.
14 Now, that would make one heck of a
15 Jeopardy question, folks, if any of you are out
16 there.
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR OBERACKER: But as one Hall
19 of Famer to another --
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR OBERACKER: -- welcome, and
22 I look forward to meeting you in Cooperstown.
23 Mr. President, I proudly vote aye.
24 Thank you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
4060
1 Sepúlveda on the resolution.
2 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you,
3 Mr. President, for allowing me to speak on this
4 resolution of a fellow Puerto Rican from Manatí,
5 Puerto Rico.
6 And I encourage all of you to go see
7 that city, it's a beautiful city in Puerto Rico.
8 Carlos Beltran had a remarkable
9 20-year career in Major League Baseball, and he's
10 one of the most respected players to ever play
11 the game. He was a nine-time All Star,
12 three-time Gold Glove winner, two time
13 Silver Slugger, and he had incredible defensive
14 skill. And one of the few players in the history
15 of baseball, very few with 400 home runs and
16 300 stolen bases.
17 He's done a lot of philanthropy,
18 especially in Puerto Rico, with education and
19 disaster relief.
20 And as a fellow Puerto Rican from
21 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and Guánica, Puerto Rico,
22 on the island we are extremely proud of
23 Carlos Beltran, and that he's been elected to the
24 Hall of Fame.
25 {Repeating in Spanish.}
4061
1 And I just said the only flaw in his
2 history is that he didn't play more years for the
3 New York Yankees.
4 Muchas gracias. I vote aye.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
6 you, Senator.
7 The question is on the resolution.
8 All those in favor please signify by saying aye.
9 (Response of "Aye.")
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
11 nay.
12 (No response.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
14 resolution is adopted.
15 Senator Gianaris.
16 But before we move on, we will
17 extend to our guest a welcome on behalf of the
18 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
19 courtesies of this house.
20 Please rise and be recognized.
21 (Enthusiastic standing ovation.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
23 Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
4062
1 Thanks again to Carlos for joining
2 us today.
3 Let's move on to previously adopted
4 Resolution 1724, by Leader Stewart-Cousins, read
5 that resolution's title, and call on Senator Webb
6 to speak on the resolution.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1724,
10 by Senator Stewart-Cousins, congratulating the
11 2026 New York State Senate Women of Distinction.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
13 Webb on the resolution.
14 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 What a great day it is in the
17 chamber today. We have Hall of Famers and now we
18 also have Women of Distinction.
19 And it is always an honor to
20 recognize our Women of Distinction because it is
21 both a celebration and reminder of how far we
22 have come.
23 Just over a century ago, women were
24 still fighting for the right to vote and for a
25 seat at the tables where decisions about our
4063
1 communities were made. Not that long ago, women
2 were not even allowed to be on this chamber's
3 floor. The 19th Amendment was something that
4 took too long to secure and was an amazing
5 glass-breaking event that shook the country.
6 But I also think we have lost sight
7 of the connection to the Civil Rights Act that
8 came into law decades later and secured so many
9 rights and outlawed discrimination in so many
10 areas. These rights opened so many doors for so
11 many communities, including women.
12 Today, women are not only
13 participating in leadership, we are leading. We
14 have women serving at the highest levels of state
15 government, including a woman Governor, a
16 Black woman serving as the state's
17 Attorney General, and a Black woman as our
18 Senate Majority Leader.
19 And in this chamber, 22 women now
20 serve in the New York State Senate, the most in
21 our history.
22 That progress did not happen by
23 chance. It is the result of generations of women
24 who organized, persisted, and created a space
25 where none existed.
4064
1 Now we carry that progress forward,
2 but we know the work is not done. We have a
3 hostile federal government that is trying to
4 erase the contributions of so many communities,
5 including women. We have seen a continued
6 assault on the progress women have made and the
7 rights they have secured. I'm terrified that we
8 have a group of people looking to roll back this
9 progress.
10 But because of days like today, and
11 the women being honored today, I do have hope.
12 And I'm so glad to celebrate an extraordinary
13 group of women whose leadership and impact have
14 strengthened our communities and shaped our state
15 in lasting ways.
16 This year's class reflects the true
17 breadth of what leadership looks like in our
18 state. These are women from different
19 backgrounds, professions and experiences, each
20 making a profound difference in their own way.
21 Among this year's honorees, five are
22 being recognized posthumously: Justice Dorothy
23 Chin Brandt, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Tonya Gonnella
24 Frichner, Dr. Marylu Maria Galván, and
25 Congresswoman Nita Lowey.
4065
1 These are women whose legacies are
2 deeply woven into the fabric of our state, and
3 whose impact continues to be felt in the
4 communities they shaped.
5 I would like to share, on behalf of
6 our Senate Majority Leader, that she has a very
7 personal relationship with two of our honorees
8 that are being recognized posthumously.
9 Dr. Hazel Dukes and Congresswoman
10 Nita Lowey are especially meaningful to her.
11 They are among the first individuals that she
12 inducted posthumously, and both have had a
13 profound impact on not only her life and her
14 leadership, but as well as our state.
15 We are grateful that Dr. Duke's
16 niece, Ms. Kimberly Erwin, is with us today to
17 accept this honor.
18 And I'm also grateful to my
19 colleague Senator Shelley Mayer for accepting
20 this honor on behalf of Congresswoman Lowey's
21 family.
22 At the same time, we are also
23 honored to celebrate the women who are here with
24 us today, continuing to lead by example, serve,
25 and inspire others.
4066
1 To all of today's honorees, those
2 with us, those who are a part of the historical
3 Women of Distinction, those we honor in memory,
4 you represent the very best of New York. You
5 have broken barriers, taken institutions to new
6 heights, and opened doors to future generations.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Webb.
10 Senator Mayer on the resolution.
11 SENATOR MAYER: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 And it truly is my honor -- I've
14 been asked by the Majority Leader to speak about
15 the life of Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and asked
16 by her husband, Stephen Lowey, to accept this
17 posthumous recognition on her behalf.
18 For anyone in this chamber who knew
19 Congresswoman Nita Lowey, she was probably the
20 best example of an elected official one could
21 ever imagine -- empathetic, able to relate to
22 anyone, incredibly hard-working, dedicated to the
23 job she had, and determined to make a difference
24 in a meaningful way.
25 I know for the Majority Leader and
4067
1 myself, both who were her constituents and her
2 friend and, frankly, her mentee for many years,
3 Congresswoman Nita Lowey in our districts was
4 able to talk to everyone, regardless of party,
5 philosophy, status. She was the most -- the most
6 available emotionally, and it made her such an
7 effective congresswoman and a leader in our
8 communities.
9 A little bit about her. She was
10 born in the Bronx in 1937. She went to the Bronx
11 High School of Science, where she was
12 valedictorian, on to Mount Holyoke College.
13 She worked for Mario Cuomo's
14 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, and that's when
15 I got to know her, taking the train from Croton
16 to Albany, where she served as Assistant
17 Secretary of State.
18 And even from those years, she was
19 always there with advice, counsel, but also good
20 humor.
21 She ran for Congress in 1988, and
22 she defeated an incumbent Congressmember. And
23 she went on to serve until 2021, becoming the
24 first woman to chair the House Appropriations
25 Committee.
4068
1 Some of you may remember her very
2 public support of PBS. She brought out the
3 puppets at the hearing that we all knew from
4 Sesame Street.
5 But beyond that, on very serious
6 matters, she was a passionate advocate for women,
7 she was a passionate advocate for civil rights.
8 She spoke openly about being a Jewish elected
9 official.
10 And she was an extraordinary -- had
11 an extraordinary ability to work with people who
12 disagreed and actually get things done.
13 Over the years that I was honored to
14 know her -- and, I know, the Majority Leader as
15 well -- we saw her as a friend, but we were just
16 in awe of her ability to translate this very
17 human element that we rarely see in politics into
18 power and capacity to make change.
19 She was truly an enormous force in
20 Congress and in our communities. We were just so
21 fortunate to have had her. She died of breast
22 cancer about a year ago at the age of 89.
23 I'm so pleased that the
24 Majority Leader has appointed her posthumously to
25 be a Woman of Distinction. And I know on behalf
4069
1 of Steve Lowey, I was with him last week, this is
2 a meaningful tribute to her that he will not
3 forget. And he and his three daughters and their
4 grandchildren will remember that the New York
5 State Senate recognized how extraordinary she was
6 and bestowed upon her this important honor.
7 I vote aye.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Mayer.
10 To our guests here in chamber and
11 watching at home, I welcome you on behalf of the
12 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
13 courtesies of this house.
14 Please rise and be recognized.
15 (Standing ovation.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
17 replied was adopted on March 10th.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now,
20 Mr. President, let's move on to Resolution 2043,
21 by Leader Stewart-Cousins, read that resolution's
22 title, and once again call on Senator Webb,
23 please.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 Secretary will read.
4070
1 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2043, by
2 Senator Stewart-Cousins, congratulating the
3 2026 New York State Senate Women of Distinction.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
5 Webb on the resolution.
6 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you again,
7 Mr. President.
8 I rise today proudly, as the chair
9 of Women's Issues in the Senate, with the
10 distinct honor of recognizing the remarkable
11 women being celebrated as part of our
12 2026 New York State Senate Women of Distinction.
13 I also want to thank our Senate
14 Majority Leader for her continued leadership in
15 creating space for this important recognition.
16 Each year this program reminds us of
17 what's possible when we uplift and call attention
18 to extraordinary women whose leadership, service
19 and accomplishments have elevated our communities
20 and have enriched the fabric of life across our
21 great state.
22 For the last 28 years, the Women of
23 Distinction program has been a beacon, a shining
24 light on women whose work may go unrecognized,
25 but whose impact is deeply felt by all who have
4071
1 had the privilege of knowing them.
2 This year's honorees come from every
3 region of our state, every walk of life, and
4 bring diverse stories of dedication, compassion
5 and excellence. They are educators, advocates,
6 entrepreneurs, caregivers, artists, public
7 servants and more.
8 Some are quiet forces for change;
9 others are bold trailblazers. But all of them
10 share several essential truths: They have made a
11 difference; in lifting up others, they lift us
12 all; and they represent the very best of us.
13 At a time when our state and our
14 nation continues to reckon with issues of equity
15 and inclusion, these women show us what
16 resilience, leadership, and true public service
17 looks like. They have broken barriers, redefined
18 what's possible, and created new pathways so that
19 their communities and our state may thrive.
20 What distinguishes this year's
21 Women of Distinction is not only their individual
22 accomplishments, but also their unwavering
23 commitment to the common good. Whether they're
24 leading grassroots organizations, mentoring the
25 next generation, or advocating for those without
4072
1 a voice, they remind us that leadership is about
2 so much more than a title -- it is about real
3 community impact.
4 And so today let us celebrate these
5 Women of Distinction and learn from them. Let us
6 carry their stories and lessons into the work we
7 do here in this chamber. And let us ensure that
8 their example continues to inspire future
9 generations of women and girls across the
10 Empire State.
11 I proudly vote aye.
12 And now, Mr. President, it is both a
13 privilege and a personal honor to recognize an
14 extraordinary woman and public servant from my
15 own district, Linda Smith, as the 2026 Women of
16 Distinction for Senate District 52.
17 Linda's childhood in upstate
18 New York shaped her strong sense of community and
19 commitment to working families. Her father was a
20 dedicated union member who taught her the
21 importance of using your voice in the workplace
22 to advocate for workers.
23 When she began working at
24 Pall Trinity in Cortland, she quickly became
25 active in their union. And during her 13 years
4073
1 at Pall Trinity, and with UAW Local 1326, she
2 served in many leadership roles, including union
3 president, and was a strong advocate for
4 educating workers about workplace hazards and for
5 improving safety conditions.
6 In addition to being a lifelong
7 champion of workers' rights, Linda served for
8 more than a decade as the chief of staff for
9 former Assemblymember Barbara Lifton, who is also
10 here today.
11 Today, Linda continues to serve her
12 community as a substitute teacher at Marathon
13 Central High School.
14 Mr. President, Linda Smith, just
15 like all of our honorees that we are celebrating
16 this year, embodies the extraordinary nature of
17 the women that we not only honor each year as
18 part of our Women of Distinction ceremony, but
19 the work we do every day.
20 Mr. President, I want to thank our
21 Senate Majority Leader for her continued support
22 of this very important program and of course this
23 resolution.
24 Please join me in applauding
25 Linda Smith and all of our 2026 Women of
4074
1 Distinction for their inspiration and their
2 leadership. It is because of all of you
3 honorees that young girls who are watching this
4 today will see what leadership looks like. They
5 will hear your stories, learn from your example
6 and begin to imagine something greater for
7 themselves. And of course we will be the proud
8 beneficiaries of that.
9 So let us continue to open doors
10 wider, build longer tables, and tear down
11 barriers whenever necessary.
12 Thank you, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
14 you, Senator Webb.
15 (Applause from the galleries.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
17 Helming on the resolution.
18 (Applause from the galleries.)
19 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I am so honored to rise to recognize
22 and celebrate our 2026 New York State Senate
23 Women of Distinction.
24 I look forward to this annual
25 tradition that truly brings this chamber together
4075
1 to celebrate the extraordinary women from every
2 corner of our state.
3 As you heard a little bit earlier,
4 our state has a proud and powerful legacy of
5 courageous women. From the earliest days of the
6 Women's Rights Movement, we have seen what
7 happens when women step forward and lead.
8 Women like Susan B. Anthony,
9 Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Harriet Tubman, they
10 didn't wait for change, they made it happen. And
11 pioneers like Elizabeth Blackwell and
12 Clara Barton opened doors in medicine and
13 service.
14 I'm so proud because so many of
15 these trailblazers lived, worked and, in the case
16 of one of them, was put on trial right in my
17 area. The Finger Lakes region is the foundation
18 of the Women's Rights Movement.
19 The women we honor today are
20 building on that legacy, and it is because of
21 them, when I think about future opportunities for
22 our future generations, including my own
23 7-year-old granddaughter Bristol, and my new
24 granddaughter, who's expected in June, that I'm
25 very excited and appreciative of everything that
4076
1 our Women of Distinction are doing.
2 Mr. President, I'm especially proud
3 to recognize my nominee, Megan Freida, executive
4 director of Embrace Your Sisters. Like so many
5 women who successfully balance career, family and
6 service, Megan balances a full-time professional
7 career as a vice president and district manager
8 for Wegmans with her volunteer leadership and
9 responsibilities at home.
10 At Embrace Your Sisters, Megan has
11 turned compassion into action and action into
12 impact. Through this all-volunteer organization,
13 she leads efforts to provide direct, immediate
14 financial assistance to women who are facing
15 breast cancer.
16 Since 2006, Embrace Your Sisters has
17 provided nearly $1 million in financial
18 assistance to hundreds of women going through
19 breast cancer treatments. They have helped
20 people cover rent, pay their mortgages, make
21 their car payments, pay for auto insurance and
22 home insurance -- hint, hint, my fellow members
23 here, people need help with auto insurance.
24 This assistance has proved to be a
25 lifeline, keeping a roof overhead, a car on the
4077
1 road, and providing stability during some of
2 life's hardest moments.
3 At Embrace Your Sisters, Megan
4 follows in the footsteps of founders
5 Alisha Creager, Chrisann Philipson, Lisa Cessna,
6 Daisie Nichols, and Judy Philipson-Green.
7 To Megan and to all of our Women of
8 Distinction, I want to thank you. Thank you for
9 showing us what leadership looks like in action,
10 for stepping up when it matters most, and for
11 reminding us that one person can make a
12 difference.
13 And, Mr. President, I want to wrap
14 up -- Mother's Day is just a few days away, and I
15 want to take a moment to recognize all the moms
16 who are here today, whether you're a first-time
17 mother, a grandmother, a single mom, a working
18 mom, or a stay-at-home mom, thank you, and
19 Happy Mother's Day.
20 Mr. President, I proudly vote yes on
21 this resolution.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator Helming.
24 To our guests and the extraordinary
25 women in our chambers, I welcome you on behalf of
4078
1 the Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
2 courtesies of this house.
3 Please rise and be recognized.
4 (Standing ovation.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
6 question is on the resolution. All those in
7 favor please signify by saying aye.
8 (Response of "Aye.")
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
10 nay.
11 (No response.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
13 resolution is adopted.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now move
16 on to previously adopted Resolution 1798, by
17 Senator Stavisky, read that resolution's title
18 and call on Senator Stavisky, please.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1798, by
22 Senator Stavisky, memorializing Governor Kathy
23 Hochul to proclaim May 5, 2026, as Queens Day in
24 the State of New York.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
4079
1 Stavisky on the resolution.
2 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 And to our friends from the
5 Queens Chamber of Commerce the sponsor of today,
6 we welcome you, particularly Tom Grech, the
7 executive director; Joanne Persad, from the
8 chamber; Julia del Palacio, from the Queens
9 Theatre in the Park, known as QTIP, which is
10 going to be offering some great programs; and to
11 Peter Rose, from Hydro Quebec.
12 We welcome you all, particularly the
13 mothers -- as Senator Helming said, Mother's Day
14 is coming.
15 And Queens is the home of so many
16 mothers and fathers, et cetera. In fact, it is
17 home to 2.3 million people.
18 As I've said in the past, Queens is
19 unique in that it's a borough of neighborhoods.
20 You don't say, "Oh, I'm from Queens," you say,
21 I'm from Astoria, if your name is Senator
22 Gianaris, and the other members obviously will
23 talk about their communities.
24 It's also the home of so many small
25 businesses. And the Queens Chamber of Commerce
4080
1 represents many of these businesses. In fact,
2 most of the money that's generated economically
3 is done by small business owners. But it's also
4 the home of some large, large establishments.
5 The airports -- people come from all
6 over the world, and the first place in America
7 where they set foot is usually JFK. And we hope
8 that they stay in the county, because we welcome
9 people from other parts of the world, and we want
10 to keep them safe, to become citizens, et cetera.
11 It is also the home to so many
12 sports venues, particularly Citi Field. And we
13 welcomed Carlos Beltran and his service as a Met.
14 And it is home also to more than a
15 thousand languages that are spoken in
16 Queens County. I'm not going to wax poetic about
17 it, but this evening many of the restaurants in
18 Queens are coming to the Hart Lounge, and they
19 will be bringing food from their native
20 countries.
21 And lastly, Queens is an interesting
22 place because most of the people -- many of the
23 people who live in Queens were not born in this
24 country. They came here as immigrants, and they
25 brought with them their rich cultural traditions.
4081
1 And many of them opened restaurants and provided
2 all kinds of cultural events, et cetera.
3 And we are home to the living
4 example of what some folks have a problem with.
5 We are diversity, we are equality, and we are
6 inclusiveness, and I hope this continues.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Stavisky.
10 Senator Comrie on the resolution.
11 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 I rise today to celebrate Queens in
14 Albany again today. As I've said many times from
15 this podium, I represent the best district in the
16 state, and the 14th Senate District, which is in
17 Queens.
18 We all are proud of our home
19 districts, but I'm especially proud to continue
20 to support Queens Day in Albany today, as we have
21 such a diverse borough. As Senator Stavisky
22 said, we are home to the airports, so all of you
23 have come through Queens at one time or the other
24 in your travels, and I would hope that the next
25 time you all come to Queens you stop by the
4082
1 14th Senate District and say hello so that we can
2 show you the beauty and diversity of Queens.
3 I just want to react to one thing
4 that happened in Queens yesterday.
5 Unfortunately, there was another act of
6 antisemitism which affected three different
7 mosques -- three different temples in our area.
8 And I just want to decry that.
9 We have to fight back on
10 antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.
11 There's actually a press conference happening in
12 my part of Queens right now, where it's
13 happening.
14 But that is not what Queens is all
15 about. Queens is a family area, Queens is an
16 area that people come to to rest and relax. And
17 Brooklyn people come to Queens because they can't
18 stand the density in Brooklyn --
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR COMRIE: -- the Bronx
21 people come to Queens because they like the food.
22 Long Island people come to Queens on their way to
23 the airport because they like to be able to stop
24 and visit their family members that lived here.
25 So many Long Islanders have told me their parents
4083
1 were originally from Queens.
2 Unfortunately, Queens is the place
3 where the Orange Menace lives -- lived and grew
4 up, but that's another story.
5 (Reaction from audience.)
6 SENATOR COMRIE: But Queens is also
7 a happy place for many people.
8 And I want to thank all of the
9 people that came up on the buses today. I want
10 to ask you to continue to help us as we try to
11 close down our budget, to make sure that we fight
12 for the things that Queens needs, that we
13 continue to work together as a borough to make
14 sure that we are well-represented.
15 And I want thank my colleagues in
16 government also for making sure that this day
17 happens. Unfortunately, it's happening against
18 our Women of Distinction Day. I don't know how
19 that happened, Tom, but we'll talk about that
20 later.
21 But tonight at the Egg there will be
22 over 30 vendors that will have delicacies and
23 treats for people to come. So please, if you can
24 come and indulge, feel free.
25 Thank you, Mr. President.
4084
1 (Applause from the galleries.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
3 you, Senator Comrie.
4 Senator Sanders on the resolution.
5 SENATOR SANDERS: I'm sure that
6 those claps were for me in advance of my
7 statement --
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR SANDERS: -- so I
10 appreciate it.
11 Mr. President, I am a southerner
12 from the most southern east part of
13 Southeast Queens, and I too am speaking for
14 Queens. I think it is a great place.
15 I represent the Talented Tenth
16 Senatorial District. And here is a secret that
17 I'll share with all of those who are not from
18 Queens. In the summer, there is no better place
19 to be than in the Rockaways, Queens.
20 As a matter of fact, everyone has a
21 Rockaway story that they can tell. Wherever you
22 go, any place in the world, speak of the
23 Rockaways and you'll make friends immediately.
24 And some of the stories they can tell in public.
25 I am very glad that all of my
4085
1 friends from Queens have traveled here. I will
2 see you -- first we have to, of course, honor
3 these great women that deserve honor every day of
4 the week. And after that, we will -- in fact,
5 all of the women, let me invite you all to come
6 to the Egg and celebrate with us in Queens,
7 because Queens is open and we want everyone
8 there.
9 Having said those things, I
10 understand that I'm slowing down progress in
11 getting there, so I will slow us no longer.
12 Go, Queens! I vote aye.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
14 you, Senator Sanders.
15 Senator Addabbo on the resolution.
16 SENATOR ADDABBO: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 I too want to echo the sentiments of
19 my colleagues in welcoming our guests from
20 Queens, as a lifelong proud resident of the great
21 borough of Queens. I want to thank Senator
22 Stavisky for introducing this resolution.
23 Queens will be home to two casinos,
24 and so we have them both here, Hard Rock as well
25 as Resorts World, in my hometown of Ozone Park.
4086
1 We have obviously many generational
2 restaurants here with us today. Many restaurants
3 in Queens are certainly generational, they've
4 been around for 40 years or more, and they have
5 served so many. And then we have some new
6 start-ups. So tonight you will get to taste
7 about 40 different restaurants in, again, the
8 Taste of Queens.
9 But I wanted to highlight the Queens
10 Chamber of Commerce. During Queens's darkest
11 times, that of Hurricane Sandy, that of the
12 COVID pandemic, the Queens Chamber of Commerce
13 really did step forward to help many of our
14 small businesses, who were struggling, hit both
15 with the storm, both in terms of business, but
16 many their homes as well. So they got hit twice.
17 And certainly during, again, the
18 COVID pandemic.
19 But the Queens Chamber of Commerce,
20 Tom Grech, have been really the portal that we
21 use to get help for others, for our small
22 businesses.
23 And since May is National Small
24 Business Month, I truly want to thank the
25 Queens Chamber of Commerce for what they have
4087
1 done for our small businesses throughout the
2 years and really through the darkest times of
3 Queens at times.
4 With two major airports in the
5 borough, I do say that when you step off the
6 plane into Queens, you step into the world.
7 Queens is certainly diverse. It has great
8 resiliency. It has great opportunity for
9 entrepreneurship and endless opportunities for
10 others. It is truly a great borough that
11 celebrates 340 years more -- as we celebrate the
12 250th anniversary of our country, we see Queens
13 is actually older than that.
14 So again, it is a great borough. I
15 am proud to be there. To all our Queens guests,
16 thank you for your efforts. And I again welcome
17 you to the great area of Albany.
18 Mr. President, I vote aye on the
19 resolution.
20 Thank you.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Addabbo.
23 (Applause from the galleries.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
25 Ramos on the resolution.
4088
1 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 I want to start by shouting out the
4 Queens Chamber of Commerce for always doing an
5 extraordinary job of making us feel seen here in
6 our state's Capitol.
7 And I also want to shout out
8 Alina Moran, the CEO of Elmhurst Hospital in my
9 district, and so many of the other Queens MVPs
10 who are here today.
11 I want to start talking about a
12 mural that's in my district. It says "Queens is
13 the Future."
14 It's a mural in the handball courts
15 of I.S. 145 on Northern Boulevard and
16 80th Street. And every time I pass it, I think
17 about just how bold that statement really is. I
18 mean, Queens isn't perfect; it's busy, it's loud,
19 it's complicated. But it works. And that's what
20 makes it the future.
21 In my district, Jackson Heights was
22 actually once a planned community that was
23 marketed as 100 percent American. It was a dog
24 whistle in order to keep anyone who was not
25 white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant out of Jackson
4089
1 Heights. It was a place designed to exclude.
2 And yet today that very same
3 community, my hometown, sits in what is now the
4 most diverse place in the world. And it didn't
5 happen by accident, it happened because people
6 pushed past those barriers. They fought, they
7 sued, they built new lives, and they reshaped
8 what belonging looks like.
9 That's what Queens is to me -- not
10 just what we are, but what we've become to get
11 where we want to go.
12 And diversity alone is not our
13 story. The story is how people live together.
14 Queens is where people from everywhere come and
15 figure it out -- different languages, different
16 traditions, different beliefs. And yet still the
17 same train and the same sidewalks and the same
18 neighborhoods.
19 That doesn't happen by accident. It
20 happens because people chose for that to work.
21 They wake up early, they open their businesses,
22 they raise their families, they build something
23 not just for themselves, but alongside each
24 other.
25 There's a kind of discipline to
4090
1 Queens, a quiet understanding that everyone's
2 trying to get somewhere. And the respect for
3 that hustle, that co-existence, that shared
4 effort, is what holds it all together.
5 So when I see that mural, "Queens is
6 the Future," I don't hear it as a slogan, I hear
7 it as a challenge. Because if Queens is the
8 future, then the question is whether everyone
9 else is willing to learn from it.
10 In a time when people are being told
11 to fear anyone who looks different than them,
12 Queens shows us something else, that it's
13 possible to come from everywhere, anywhere, and
14 still build something together -- not by erasing
15 who we are, but by doing the work of living side
16 by side.
17 That's what we celebrate today: Not
18 just a borough, but a blueprint.
19 So to all my peoples throughout
20 Queens, God bless your life.
21 (Applause from the galleries.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator Ramos.
24 Senator Persaud on the resolution.
25 SENATOR PERSAUD: Thank you,
4091
1 Mr. President.
2 So as the person who I think is
3 representing the smallest part of Queens, and the
4 person who moved from Queens to Brooklyn --
5 Senator Comrie, so you know that --
6 (Inaudible reaction.)
7 SENATOR PERSAUD: Did you really
8 just say that?
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR PERSAUD: So again, I do
11 want to say this. As a person who moved from
12 Queens to Brooklyn, and the person who represents
13 the smallest part of Queens, I just wanted to say
14 thank you to the chamber and thank you to
15 everyone from Queens who's here today to
16 celebrate the great history of Queens.
17 Queens -- as you know, I'm Guyanese,
18 and everywhere you go in Queens, there's a very
19 large Guyanese population. After all, there's
20 Little Guyana in Queens. There's Little Guyana.
21 Anything you need, just go to Little Guyana.
22 So Happy Queens Day, and thank you
23 for being here in Albany.
24 I vote aye.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
4092
1 you, Senator Persaud.
2 Senator Gonzalez on the resolution.
3 SENATOR GONZALEZ: Thank you so
4 much, Mr. President.
5 I want to thank Senator Stavisky for
6 bringing this forward and thank all of my
7 colleagues for the things that they have said
8 that truly represents how deeply Queens is loved.
9 I represent three boroughs, and
10 while I don't necessarily pick sides and think
11 every borough is great, I have to say Queens is
12 where I've lived my entire life. It's where I've
13 had my best moments, organized, run campaigns,
14 and some of my hardest -- seeing, as someone who
15 grew up in Jackson Heights, born in Elmhurst
16 Hospital -- my neighbors struggle in the
17 pandemic.
18 What I've seen throughout all of
19 this is the capacity for everyday New Yorkers
20 from Queens to change the world, to show that we
21 can build community in a different way that shows
22 our power and acceptance and celebrates our
23 diversity. And my district, which is Astoria and
24 Long Island City in Western Queens, also sets a
25 standard for things like the arts.
4093
1 I have the privilege of representing
2 institutions like MoMA PS1 that just celebrated
3 their 50th-year anniversary. The Museum of the
4 Moving Image, The Noguchi Museum. We're home to
5 hundreds of artists who have been there for
6 decades.
7 And in addition, I get to represent
8 Queensbridge, which has clearly left a mark on
9 hip-hop and I would argue -- and I see my
10 colleagues looking at me now -- is the home of
11 hip-hop, a strong claim, but certainly a
12 representation of our mark on the arts.
13 I represent also, along the
14 waterfront, a state park, Gantry Park, that is a
15 model for sustainability and development.
16 And through all of this, an
17 environmental justice community that is home to
18 the largest power plant in the city, a peaker
19 plant, and Asthma Alley, but in the face of that
20 as well has built incredible coalitions and
21 models for renewable energy like, now,
22 Hydro Quebec, that show what we can do when we
23 really work across levels of government to bring
24 new projects to New York City that benefit all of
25 us.
4094
1 So with all of that, I vote of
2 course -- or I voice my support again for this
3 resolution. I hope everyone comes and enjoys
4 Queens Night, and I certainly thank the chamber
5 and all of the Queens members who have come here
6 today for bringing the Queens love and
7 representation that has made me, and so many of
8 us, who we are.
9 Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Gonzalez.
12 Senator Gianaris on the resolution.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 Thank you to all my colleagues from
16 Queens who are expressing their pride today. And
17 thank you to all those who have come from Queens
18 to spend this day with us once again.
19 You've heard the reasons why those
20 of us who call Queens home are so proud and
21 privileged to have that opportunity. And we
22 don't shy away from talking about it, as you may
23 have noticed.
24 In fact, my colleague across the
25 aisle, Senator Lanza, when this came up, said,
4095
1 "Weren't we just talking about Queens on the
2 floor last week?" And I said, "Yes, and we'll
3 probably talk about it next week too."
4 But today we have our Queens Chamber
5 here with so many of our friends from back home
6 who have joined us, and you really get a sense of
7 how important and diverse and special Queens is.
8 I mean, you have, from the Peoples's
9 Republic of Western Queens, Kristen Gonzalez, to
10 the most successful Black community in the
11 country in Southeast Queens, to the Jewish
12 enclaves of Kew Gardens and Forest Hills, to one
13 of the great Asian communities in the country, in
14 Flushing, to the South American and Latino
15 populations of Corona and Jackson Heights, to the
16 beaches of the Rockaways, to the suburban
17 enclaves of the Whitestone area, and so many
18 other communities -- we represent it all.
19 You see it reflected in the people
20 who are chosen to represent these communities.
21 And it is not lost on us the experiences of those
22 who we represent, the people who have come from
23 all over the world to come here, who have a
24 desire to seek opportunity in this land, and
25 Queens opens its doors and gives it to them every
4096
1 single day.
2 That's the story of my parents and
3 the story of so many others who have had this
4 opportunity to take in all that New York offers
5 and take advantage of the promise of Lady Liberty
6 in our harbor.
7 So thank you again to everyone who's
8 here. We'll see you over at the reception in
9 just a few minutes.
10 Mr. President, I proudly vote aye,
11 and thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
13 you, Senator Gianaris.
14 Senator Liu to close.
15 SENATOR LIU: Mr. President,
16 Senator Stavisky, the dean of our Queens
17 delegation, spoke about the collection of
18 neighborhoods that make up Queens. And
19 Deputy Leader Gianaris literally just took us
20 through all of Queens. So I've got to hand it to
21 them for that.
22 But, Mr. President, as a guy whose
23 both first and last name are slang for potty,
24 I'll have to tell you that clearly the best
25 neighborhood is the neighborhood I represent,
4097
1 Flushing.
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR LIU: So I can't get away
4 from any of this.
5 Other than that, amen to everything
6 that everybody has said already.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 (Laughter, scattered applause.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Liu.
11 To our guests, I welcome you on
12 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
13 privileges and courtesies of this house.
14 Please rise and be recognized.
15 (Standing ovation.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
17 resolution was adopted on March 24th.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's move
20 on to Resolution 1983, by Senator Ramos, read
21 that resolution's title and call on
22 Senator Ramos.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1983, by
4098
1 Senator Ramos, memorializing Governor Kathy
2 Hochul to proclaim May 1, 2026, as May Day in the
3 State of New York.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
5 Ramos on the resolution.
6 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
7 Señor Presidente.
8 And Happy Cinco de Mayo to everyone.
9 But today's resolution is actually
10 about May Day. And May Day asks us a simple
11 question: What do we owe the people whose work
12 makes our lives possible?
13 Because every right that working
14 people have today was fought for, organized for,
15 and won. From the Haymarket Movement to the
16 8-hour workday, progress has never been handed
17 down. It has been demanded by workers who refuse
18 to accept anything less than dignity.
19 And at its core this has never just
20 been about wages or hours or vacation time. It
21 has always been about dignity and equity, about
22 whether the people who do the work are treated as
23 expendable or as essential.
24 And here in New York, we carry that
25 legacy forward. We are a labor state, built by
4099
1 union and non-union workers alike. In our
2 fields, on our construction sites, in our
3 schools, our hospitals, and across every part of
4 our economy, working people make this state run.
5 But May Day is not just about the
6 past, it's about responsibility in the present.
7 Because too many workers are still being asked to
8 do more with less. Too many are still fighting
9 for fair pay, safe conditions, and basic respect.
10 Because when people work hard and still can't get
11 ahead, that is not just an economic problem, it's
12 a moral one.
13 So the question is not whether we
14 say the right things about workers, the question
15 is whether we are willing to do right by them.
16 And that means doing the work of governing:
17 Strengthening wage protections, expanding access
18 to benefits, holding bad actors accountable,
19 making sure workers know their rights and can
20 enforce them. Not in theory, in practice.
21 Because rights without enforcement are just
22 promises on paper.
23 May Day reminds us that progress is
24 not automatic. It happens when workers organize
25 and when government does its job.
4100
1 So today we honor the workers who
2 came before us, we stand with the workers of
3 today, and we recommit ourselves -- not just with
4 words, but with action -- to a New York where
5 dignity is not a privilege, but a guarantee.
6 I respectfully, Mr. President, ask
7 for the adoption of this resolution, and I vote
8 aye.
9 Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Ramos.
12 The question is on the resolution.
13 All those in favor please signify by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye.")
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
16 nay.
17 (No response.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
19 resolution is adopted.
20 Senator Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: And now,
22 Mr. President, Resolution 1992, by Senator Myrie.
23 Please call that resolution up, read its title,
24 and call on Senator Myrie.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
4101
1 Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1992, by
3 Senator Myrie, commemorating the Month of May
4 2026 as the celebration of Fiesta de la Etnia
5 Negra (Black Heritage Month) in Panama, and
6 May 31, 2026, as Dia de la Etnia Negra Nacional
7 (National Black Heritage Day), and honoring
8 Afro-Panamanian contributions to culture and
9 society.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
11 Myrie on the resolution.
12 SENATOR MYRIE: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 I rise simply to express the pride
15 that I have in representing an essential,
16 beautiful, and vibrant Panamanian community in my
17 district.
18 This is something that's very
19 personal to me. I am a proud son of two
20 Costa Ricans who share a real history with
21 Panamanians, because we live right across the
22 river.
23 In fact, one of my earliest memories
24 as a child is being with my dad in Costa Rica,
25 being in a boat that left Limón to go visit
4102
1 relatives in Panama.
2 And we share such a close history
3 that people often confuse Panamanians with
4 Costa Ricans. And I seldom if ever correct them
5 because we are, in fact, one people.
6 We come from a rich history of
7 former slaves in the Caribbean, in Jamaica, and
8 in Barbados who, after abolition, were looking
9 for work. And they sought to build a canal, they
10 sought to build a railroad, they found work on
11 banana plantations. And they went to work and
12 never left.
13 And so we are commemorating Black
14 Heritage Month as celebrated in Panama, and
15 hopefully will be here in this state.
16 But I also hope that we formalize
17 Little Panama in my district. If you've ever
18 been on Franklin Avenue, if you've ever been
19 there around October, you cannot turn left or
20 right without running into a Panamanian. The
21 people that looked after me when I was young, my
22 upstairs neighbor, my next-door neighbor, both of
23 them, Panamanian.
24 And earlier today we were joined by
25 the Ambassador of Panama to New York, the
4103
1 Consul General, the Vice Consul General, the
2 507 Roundtable Group, Comadre Communications, and
3 the Day of Independence Committee of Panamanians
4 in New York, along with many members of that
5 community, to commemorate this day and to push
6 for New York City to designate Little Panama in
7 my district.
8 So I proudly vote aye, I proudly
9 represent this community and urge my colleagues
10 to do the same.
11 Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
13 you, Senator Myrie.
14 The question is on the resolution.
15 All those in favor signify by saying aye.
16 (Response of "Aye.")
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
18 nay.
19 (No response.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
21 resolution is adopted.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
24 have a motion here.
25 I wish to call up the following
4104
1 bills, which were recalled from the Assembly and
2 are now at the desk: Senate Bill 1714 and
3 Senate Bill 7618A.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
5 Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 169, Senate Print 1714, by Senator Brouk, an act
8 to amend the Public Health Law.
9 Calendar Number 215, Senate Print
10 7618A, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
11 Agriculture and Markets Law.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
13 reconsider the votes by which these bills were
14 passed.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
16 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bills
20 are restored to their place on the Third Reading
21 Calendar.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
23 following amendments.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 amendments are received.
4105
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
2 the resolutions we took up today are all open for
3 cosponsorship.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
5 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
6 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
7 the desk.
8 Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
10 the calendar, please.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
12 Secretary will read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 273, Senate Print 3158, by Senator Skoufis, an
15 act to amend the Penal Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
20 shall have become a law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
25 the results.
4106
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 273, voting in the negative:
3 Senator Brisport.
4 Ayes, 61. Nays, 1.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 377, Senate Print 2646, by Senator Stec, an act
9 to amend the Executive Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 379, Assembly Bill Number 5850, by
24 Assemblymember Glick, an act to amend the
25 Environmental Conservation Law.
4107
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect December 31, 2026.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
9 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to explain her vote.
10 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
11 Thank you, Mr. President.
12 I rise today in support of this
13 important legislation. It's a crucial step in
14 making New York State free of animal cruelty.
15 This bill is an effort to rein in
16 the exploitation and inhumane treatment of wild
17 animals that simply are not well-suited to thrive
18 in the environment of a traveling circus.
19 I've spoken before about how
20 important it is that we protect our pets, as they
21 are family members to most of us. But our
22 protections here in New York must extend beyond
23 that to ensure we're protecting wildlife as well.
24 While there is a safe, responsible
25 and, more importantly, an educational way to help
4108
1 bring certain animals to the public in a way that
2 benefits not only the attendees, but raise
3 awareness for the well-being of animals
4 themselves, there are bad actors who exploit
5 animals, and we need to do more to make sure that
6 we stop those people from failing to provide
7 medical care, food, and proper shelter for these
8 animals.
9 Some of these animals spend the
10 majority of their lives on the road, in cramped
11 cages, without the room to move, and causing
12 physical and psychological damage to them.
13 I'm proud to support this
14 legislation. I commend the sponsor for bringing
15 it to the floor.
16 Mr. President, I proudly vote aye.
17 Thank you.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
19 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to be recorded in the
20 affirmative.
21 Announce the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 379, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza, Ortt,
25 Stec and Walczyk. Also Senator Oberacker.
4109
1 Ayes, 54. Nays, 8.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 380, Senate Print 5014, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
6 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
10 act shall take effect one year after it shall
11 have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 380, voting in the negative are
19 Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Oberacker,
20 Ortt, Stec and Walczyk.
21 Ayes, 55. Nays, 7.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 511, Senate Print 197, by Senator Martinez, an
4110
1 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
5 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
6 shall have become a law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar 511, voting in the negative are
14 Senators Brisport and Salazar.
15 Ayes, 60. Nays, 2.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 513, Senate Print 1741, by Senator Martinez, an
20 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
4111
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 514, Senate Print 1784, by Senator Hinchey, an
10 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
19 Hinchey to explain her vote.
20 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 It may seem unimaginable, but too
23 often when someone may vacate a house or an
24 apartment, an animal is left behind. According
25 to one of our Humane Societies in my district,
4112
1 across two counties about a hundred dogs are left
2 behind each year. That's tragic.
3 So this bill would require a
4 landlord to be able to go and, once a property is
5 vacated, to make sure that no animal, no dog, no
6 cat, no bird, any other animal is left behind.
7 It's incredibly important to make
8 sure that we can then bring these animals, if
9 they are left, to be able to find a new home and
10 to find love and to be able to have a stable
11 future.
12 One of the biggest challenges for
13 families with animals when they have to move is
14 that maybe their next home does not allow them to
15 take that animal, that dog or their cat, with
16 them. That's a crisis that we have to solve, and
17 there's a lot of work happening in this chamber
18 to do so.
19 But in the meantime, making sure
20 that these animals have a place to go, and
21 they're found and not left, is incredibly
22 important.
23 So I'm proud to vote aye. I'm glad
24 we're passing this bill again through this
25 chamber.
4113
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Hinchey to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Announce the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 515, Senate Print 3026, by Senator Gianaris, an
10 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
14 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 537, Senate Print 1636, by Senator Borrello, an
4114
1 act to authorize the board of education of the
2 Salamanca City School District to establish a
3 federal impact aid reserve fund.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 591, Senate Print 1048, by Senator Salazar, an
18 act to amend the Correction Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4115
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 591, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
6 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera,
7 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec,
8 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
9 Ayes, 44. Nays, 18.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 609, Senate Print 1664, by Senator Harckham,
14 an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
4116
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 642, Senate Print 9076, by Senator Gonzalez, an
5 act to amend the Public Health Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
10 shall have become a law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 655, Senate Print 2596, by Senator Mayer, an act
21 to amend the Labor Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
25 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
4117
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 705, Senate Print 9207, by Senator Gianaris, an
12 act to amend the Insurance Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 705, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Ortt, Rhoads and Walczyk.
4118
1 Ayes, 59. Nays, 3.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 717, Senate Print 8733, by Senator Fahy, an act
6 to amend the Public Officers Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 786, Senate Print 3073A, by Senator Gianaris, an
21 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
4119
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 787, Senate Print 5488, by Senator Comrie, an act
12 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 787, voting in the negative:
24 Senator Walczyk.
25 Ayes, 61. Nays, 1.
4120
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 828, Senate Print 7204A, by Senator Ryan, an act
5 to amend the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 828, voting in the negative:
17 Senator Skoufis.
18 Ayes, 61. Nays, 1.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 840, Senate Print 428A, by Senator Rivera, an act
23 to amend the Public Health Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
25 last section.
4121
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 840, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
11 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
12 Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo,
13 Rhoads, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and
14 Weber.
15 Ayes, 42. Nays, 20.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
19 reading of today's calendar.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
21 further business at the desk?
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There is
23 no further business at the desk.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
25 adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6th, at
4122
1 3:00 p.m.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: On
3 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
4 Wednesday, May 6th, at 3:00 p.m.
5 (Whereupon, at 4:54 p.m., the Senate
6 adjourned.)
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