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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 January 13, 2026
11 11:01 a.m.
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14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 SENATOR ROXANNE J. PERSAUD, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: 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 PERSAUD: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
14 reading of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 January 12, 2024 {sic}, the Senate met pursuant
17 to adjournment. The Journal of Sunday,
18 January 11, 2025 {sic}, was read and approved.
19 On motion, the Senate adjourned.
20 Excuse me. 2026.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: '26.
22 Without objection, the Journal
23 stands approved as read.
24 Presentation of petitions.
25 Messages from the Assembly.
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1 Messages from the Governor.
2 Reports of standing committees.
3 Reports of select committees.
4 Communications and reports from
5 state officers.
6 Motions and resolutions.
7 Senator Gianaris.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
9 Madam President.
10 I move to adopt the
11 Resolution Calendar at this time.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: All
13 those in favor of adopting the
14 Resolution Calendar please signify by saying aye.
15 (Response of "Aye.")
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Opposed,
17 nay.
18 (No response.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
20 Resolution Calendar is adapted.
21 Senator Gianaris.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
23 the reading of the calendar.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
25 Secretary will read.
130
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 10,
2 Senate Print 8754, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to
3 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 10, voting in the negative:
15 Senator Walczyk.
16 Ayes, 44. Nays, 1.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 13,
20 Senate Print 8757, by Senator Fernandez, an act
21 to amend the Public Health Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
131
1 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 48.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 15,
11 Senate Print 8762, by Senator Hinchey, an act to
12 amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
17 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 48.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
25 is passed.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 22,
2 Senate Print 8781, by Senator Weber, an act to
3 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
8 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 22, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Fahy and O'Mara.
17 Ayes, 46. Nays, 2.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 23,
21 Senate Print 8782, by Senator Martinez, an act to
22 amend the Real Property Tax Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
133
1 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
2 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 24,
12 Senate Print 8783, by Senator Harckham, an act to
13 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
18 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 24, voting in the negative:
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1 Senator Skoufis.
2 Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Also Senator
6 O'Mara.
7 Ayes, 51. Nays, 2.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 28,
11 Senate Print 8798, by Senator Krueger, an act to
12 amend the Domestic Relations Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
17 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar Number 28, voting in the negative:
25 Senator Walczyk.
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1 Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 31,
5 Senate Print 8803, by Senator Addabbo, an act to
6 amend the Real Property Tax Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 35,
20 Senate Print 8810, by Senator Comrie, an act to
21 amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
25 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
136
1 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 54.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 40,
11 Senate Print 8821, by Senator Sutton, an act to
12 amend the Administrative Code of the City of
13 New York.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
18 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
137
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 42,
3 Senate Print 8823, by Senator Harckham, an act to
4 amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
13 Rhoads to explain his vote.
14 SENATOR RHOADS: Thank you,
15 Madam President.
16 While I certainly have no problem
17 with regulating horseshoe crabs, and we've had
18 extensive debates on the floor with regard to
19 this, I do believe that there should have been
20 some exception carved out for biomedical
21 research.
22 I think you're inhibiting New York
23 State being an innovator with respect to
24 biomedical research by restricting horseshoe
25 crabs from being used for that purpose.
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1 I certainly agree with the
2 restrictions for other purposes, but for that
3 reason I have to cast my vote in opposition.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
6 Rhoads to be recorded in the negative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 42, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
11 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo,
12 Rhoads, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco and Walczyk.
13 Ayes, 44. Nays, 14.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 43,
17 Senate Print 8824, by Senator Fahy, an act to
18 amend the General Business Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
5 is passed.
6 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
7 reading of the calendar.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
9 further business at the desk?
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There is
11 no further business at the desk.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
13 adjourn until Tuesday, January 20th, at
14 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being
15 legislative days.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: On
17 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
18 Tuesday, January 20th, at 3:00 p.m., with
19 intervening days being legislative days.
20 (Whereupon, at 11:09 a.m., the
21 Senate adjourned.)
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