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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 3, 2026
11 3:43 p.m.
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13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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16
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18 SENATOR SHELLEY B. MAYER, 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 MAYER: The Senate
3 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 MAYER: 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 MAYER: Reading of
14 the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 February 2, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, February 1,
18 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: 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 Webb moves
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1 to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
2 Assembly Bill Number 9514 and substitute it for
3 the identical Senate Bill 8792, Third Reading
4 Calendar 79.
5 Senator Cleare moves to discharge,
6 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
7 Number 9484 and substitute it for the identical
8 Senate Bill 8759, Third Reading Calendar 150.
9 Senator Skoufis moves to discharge,
10 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
11 Number 9443 and substitute it for the identical
12 Senate Bill 8780, Third Reading Calendar 152.
13 Senator Cooney moves to discharge,
14 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
15 Number 9456 and substitute it for the identical
16 Senate Bill 8793, Third Reading Calendar 153.
17 Senator Cooney moves to discharge,
18 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
19 Number 9510 and substitute it for the identical
20 Senate Bill 8817, Third Reading Calendar 154.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: So
22 ordered.
23 Messages from the Governor.
24 Reports of standing committees.
25 Reports of select committees.
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1 Communications and reports from
2 state officers.
3 Motions and resolutions.
4 Senator Gianaris.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
6 Madam President.
7 Let's begin by recognizing
8 Senator Bailey for an introduction, please.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Bailey for an introduction.
11 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
12 Madam President.
13 Good afternoon, everybody, but good
14 afternoon, world.
15 You may be looking at me; I look a
16 little different today. I have a suit and tie
17 and a jacket, but I have a quarter zip on,
18 Madam President.
19 Now, what is a quarter zip? It's
20 something that people have been having in their
21 closets for quite some time, but nobody brought
22 it to the forefront like Jason Gyamfi, a
23 22-year-old graduate of Allegheny College from
24 the Bronx, when on a whim he decided to make a
25 video saying: We're not wearing Nike Techs and
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1 drinking coffee anymore, we're drinking matchas
2 and wearing quarter zips.
3 Now, however humorous of a quip that
4 was, it inspired people worldwide to think about
5 the manner in which they were dressing, and
6 elevating beyond.
7 And see now, for many young men,
8 specifically Black and brown men in urban
9 communities, they saw this as a clarion call, a
10 call to action to -- no, we're not saying we
11 can't wear a sweat suit, but you can dress up.
12 And when you dress up, you bring your best self
13 and you present your best foot forward.
14 And Jason has been doing that. He's
15 been on TV, he's been in publications, he's been
16 in blogs, and he's been the same humble young man
17 from the Bronx all the time.
18 He wants you to know that he
19 believes in family, faith and relatability. And
20 he is someone who -- you know, sometimes people
21 look up to different young people. And I don't
22 really subscribe to all of that. This is a young
23 man that our generation, the young generation,
24 can look up to. He's about positivity, he's
25 about making sure that the quarter zip continues.
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1 And he's got me, he's got
2 Senator Myrie, and he's got Senator Palumbo in a
3 quarter zip. If that doesn't tell you that this
4 spirit is catching on worldwide, I don't know
5 what will.
6 Madam President, if you could please
7 extend all of the privileges and cordialities of
8 this -- of the house to an incredible young man
9 who is making sure that we're not wearing
10 Nike Techs no more, it's quarter zip and matchas.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
12 Senator Bailey.
13 To our guest, Jason -- Gifami?
14 MR. GYAMFI: Gyamfi.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Say it
16 again.
17 MR. GYAMFI: Gyamfi.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Gyamfi. I
19 got it.
20 -- the innovator of the
21 quarter zip, thank you for joining us on the
22 Senate floor. We welcome you and grant you all
23 the cordialities of the house.
24 Please rise and be recognized.
25 (Standing ovation.)
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
2 Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
4 there's a privileged resolution at the desk.
5 Please take that up, read its title, and
6 recognize Senator Cooney on that resolution.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
8 privileged resolution at the desk.
9 The Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1515, by
11 Senator Cooney, memorializing Governor Kathy
12 Hochul to proclaim July 1, 2026, as Canada Day in
13 the State of New York.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
15 Cooney on the resolution.
16 SENATOR COONEY: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 And thank you to Majority Leader
19 Andrea Stewart-Cousins for bringing this
20 resolution to the floor.
21 We are here today to make one thing
22 very clear: New York has been and will remain a
23 steadfast neighbor, ally and friend to Canada.
24 As we are faced with blatant
25 hostility at the federal level, you can rest
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1 assured that this friendship will never waver.
2 With nearly 450 miles of shared border between
3 us, our economic and cultural bonds are so
4 closely intertwined.
5 Canada is New York's primary export
6 market, with over $17 billion in exports and over
7 $37 billion in annual bilateral trade. Thousands
8 of companies employ workers on both sides of our
9 border, and the connection represents a key cog
10 in several supply chains.
11 But this just scratches the surface,
12 whether it's collaborating on public health
13 responses, the security of our people, or the
14 infrastructure projects we both share -- or now,
15 even collaborating on media. One recent Canadian
16 import, Heated Rivalry, has caused a lot of buzz
17 here in the U.S.
18 But here in New York we know how
19 fortunate we are to have such a strong ally. And
20 that's why we're here today, to honor the bonds
21 that tie our people together.
22 And we are asking that New York
23 recognize July 1st to be memorialized as
24 Canada Day here in the State of New York.
25 It's an honor to again introduce
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1 this resolution, joined by so many Canadian
2 dignitaries joining me on the floor today.
3 I want to thank Consul General
4 Tom Clark not only for joining us here today, but
5 for all the work you and your team do every day
6 to strengthen that relationship between New York
7 and Canada.
8 And I want to thank everyone here
9 joining us on the floor: Representatives from
10 the Consulate, the Canada Border Services Agency,
11 Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Immigration,
12 Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
13 I also want to especially thank our
14 Sergeant Major, who is here, for joining us on
15 the floor.
16 Welcome to Albany. Welcome to our
17 New York State Capitol. We are so grateful for
18 your partnership, and we are grateful that you
19 are allies to the north.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
21 Senator Cooney.
22 To our guests who are here on behalf
23 of Canada Day, the Consul General and all the
24 distinguished dignitaries representing the great
25 nation of Canada, we're so distinguished and
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1 lucky to have you joining us again in the
2 Senate chamber.
3 Please rise and be recognized.
4 (Standing ovation.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now we're going
8 to move on to previously adopted Resolution 1475,
9 by Senator Hinchey. Please read that
10 resolution's title and recognize Senator Hinchey.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 Secretary will read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1475, by
14 Senator Hinchey, memorializing Governor Kathy
15 Hochul to proclaim February 21-28, 2026, as
16 National FFA Organization Week in the State of
17 New York.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Hinchey on the resolution.
20 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
21 Madam President.
22 I rise today in support of my
23 resolution proclaiming February 21-28 as National
24 FFA Organization Week in the State of New York.
25 Chairing the Agriculture Committee
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1 comes with many privileges, but the greatest
2 privilege is seeing our young people step up as
3 stewards of our natural resources and
4 agricultural heritage, carrying forward
5 New York's tradition of ensuring a strong local
6 food supply.
7 Our pride in that history is matched
8 only by our optimism for what we can achieve
9 together. And today I want to recognize a beacon
10 of our future, our FFA students.
11 FFA has been the bedrock of
12 outstanding student leadership in New York. It
13 helps students discover their strengths, find
14 ways to serve their communities, and become
15 leaders across every sector of the agricultural
16 industry and far beyond it.
17 One part of the FFA motto is "Living
18 to serve." That value runs through everything
19 these students do: Service to their communities,
20 service to the land, service to the future
21 generations that they may never meet. That
22 commitment is incredibly inspiring, and it drives
23 all of us in this chamber to be and to do better.
24 I want to welcome all of the FFA
25 members from across the state who have been here
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1 today. You've probably seen them in the halls,
2 roving with their blue jackets that we all wish
3 we could wear. It's one of our favorite days at
4 the Capitol.
5 And I want to give a special shout
6 out to four chapters from my district:
7 Coxsackie-Athens, Taconic Hills, Pine Plains, and
8 Greenville.
9 In just the last two years, FFA
10 chapters in New York have grown by more than
11 20 percent, and over 12 percent in membership.
12 Today we have nearly 200 chapters and almost
13 14,000 members statewide. In my district alone
14 we now have 11 chapters, including three new ones
15 added in recent years.
16 And one of -- for a bit, the
17 largest, may still be -- but one of the strongest
18 chapters is located in Queens. And I encourage
19 all of our colleagues from the city who want to
20 check out an FFA chapter, go check out Queens.
21 They're doing great stuff.
22 That growth signals something
23 important. Young people understand what's at
24 stake and why their leadership is needed now more
25 than ever. FFA is a tradition worth protecting,
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1 and one we must continue to support here in
2 New York. Because as the climate crisis
3 intensifies and food systems grow more fragile,
4 our future depends on informed, innovative and
5 responsible leadership and those who will defend
6 it.
7 I want to recognize the teachers,
8 too, who dedicate their time to agricultural
9 education and to supporting our students across
10 the state.
11 And to our FFA student leaders,
12 thank you for your hard work, your commitment,
13 and your dedication to service above all else.
14 The future of New York looks exceptionally bright
15 with such dedicated young people at the
16 forefront. And I'm incredibly honored to be able
17 to welcome you to the Senate and to the
18 Legislature today, but to the Senate chamber this
19 afternoon.
20 Madam President, please welcome them
21 and give them all the courtesies of this chamber.
22 Thank you very much.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
24 Senator Hinchey.
25 Senator Helming on the resolution.
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1 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
2 Madam President.
3 I rise today to recognize the
4 outstanding students and advisors of Future
5 Farmers of America.
6 I'd like to thank our FFA members
7 for the important role they play in my district
8 in Livingston, Ontario, Monroe and Wayne counties
9 and in communities all across our entire state.
10 It's no secret that I've been a
11 long-time huge fan and supporter of FFA and the
12 hands-on learning opportunities it provides,
13 really helping our young people develop
14 leadership skills, to build their confidence and
15 prepare for their futures.
16 I'm really inspired by the way FFA
17 students engage with their communities, how they
18 educate others about the importance of
19 agriculture, and how they share their
20 perspectives with elected officials, all while
21 learning the importance of civil, respectful
22 communication.
23 Earlier today I had the opportunity
24 to meet with several FFA representatives visiting
25 from the Marion, Marcus Whitman, and Midlakes
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1 Central School Districts, including Emma Mae
2 White of Midlakes, Jenna Kuhn and Emery Sirkin of
3 Marion, and Elaine Vaughn and Ava Gage of
4 Marcus Whitman. They were here along with their
5 advisor and teacher Brennan Dailey.
6 And I want to say a special thank
7 you to Brennan. He was here in 2019, which seems
8 not that long ago, as a former FFA member who
9 visited us as a student. And seeing him return
10 now as an educator is especially meaningful, and
11 a powerful reminder of the positive, lasting
12 impact of this program.
13 So to all of our FFA students and
14 advisors, I'd like to thank you for your
15 leadership, for your dedication and commitment to
16 agriculture and public service. You represent
17 the absolute very best of our rural communities,
18 and your work is strengthening the future of our
19 state.
20 Thank you all.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
22 Senator Helming.
23 To our guests from FFA and your
24 advisors and other teachers that are here with
25 them, thank you for joining us in the
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1 Senate chamber. We welcome you, extend the
2 cordialities of the house, and are so pleased you
3 could join us here today.
4 Please rise and be recognized.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Gianaris.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
9 can we return to Privileged Resolution 1515 just
10 to call that vote, please.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 question is on the resolution. All those in
13 favor please signify by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye.")
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
16 nay.
17 (No response.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
19 resolution is adopted.
20 Senator Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 At the request of the sponsors, the
24 resolutions we took up today are open for
25 cosponsorship.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
2 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
3 you choose not to be a cosponsor on the
4 resolutions, please notify the desk.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
7 the calendar, please.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 50,
11 Senate Print 8750, by Senator Persaud, an act
12 establishing a fiscal cliff task force.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 52,
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1 Senate Print 270, by Senator Harckham, an act to
2 amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar 52, voting in the negative are
14 Senators Borrello, Griffo, Lanza, Walczyk and
15 Weik.
16 Ayes, 55. Nays, 5.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 58,
20 Senate Print 1187, by Senator Addabbo, an act to
21 amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 58, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Lanza and Ortt.
9 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 79,
13 Assembly Bill 9514, by Assemblymember Cunningham,
14 an act to amend a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
19 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Webb to explain her vote.
25 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
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1 Madam President.
2 I rise to speak on this very
3 important legislation that addresses a very
4 simple but most certainly very powerful truth:
5 That no college student in our great state should
6 ever have to choose between going to class and
7 going hungry.
8 More than 40 percent of New York
9 State college students are experiencing food
10 insecurity, and we are seeing this happen in both
11 our SUNY and CUNY systems.
12 What this bill does is that it makes
13 a very small but very meaningful change. It
14 excludes food sold to students using approved
15 donation programs -- such as donated meal points
16 or designated food funds -- from being subjected
17 to sales tax.
18 Now, this may seem very technical,
19 but the goal is very clear: To remove any
20 financial barrier that should have never existed
21 in the first place.
22 Madam President, as I mentioned
23 earlier, across our SUNY and CUNY campuses far
24 too many students are experiencing food
25 insecurity. This means that our students are
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1 having challenges in paying attention during
2 class, or having other challenges as well. Most
3 certainly these hardworking students are skipping
4 meals, relying on food pantries, or choosing
5 between basic necessities in order to stay
6 enrolled and succeed.
7 Organizations that we have supported
8 here in our chamber and beyond, like Swipe Out
9 Hunger, which has over 750 partnerships
10 throughout the country, and over 60 institutions
11 right here in our state participate with them --
12 and other campus-led meal-share programs have
13 stepped up to fill this gap. They collect and
14 redistribute unused meal swipes or meal dollars
15 to students in need. These solutions are
16 student-led, campus-driven, and rooted in
17 compassion.
18 This legislation is a part of a much
19 broader commitment to treat food insecurity on
20 college campuses as a very serious public policy
21 issue, and I would daresay public health issue --
22 a commitment to make higher education more
23 equitable -- not just in tuition, as we have
24 consistently worked on in this chamber, but in
25 the basic dignity of being able to learn without
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1 being hungry.
2 I vote aye, and want to also thank
3 my Assembly sponsor, Assemblymember Cunningham,
4 for this legislation. I encourage my colleagues
5 to vote aye as well.
6 Thank you, Madam President.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
8 Senator Webb to be recorded in the
9 affirmative.
10 Announce the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 106, Senate Print 4574B, by Senator May, an act
16 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
18 the day.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is laid aside for the day.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 109, Senate Print 7551, by Senator Bynoe, an act
23 to establish a bottle redemption fraud
24 task force.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
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1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 109, voting in the negative are
11 Senators Lanza, Mattera, Murray, O'Mara, Ortt and
12 Weik.
13 Ayes, 54. Nays, 6.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 111, Senate Print 518C, by Senator Persaud, an
18 act to amend the Executive Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 111, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
6 Helming, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
7 Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
8 Ayes, 47. Nays, 13.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 123, Senate Print 4071A, by Senator May, an act
13 to amend the Public Authorities Law.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
15 the day.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is laid aside for the day.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 125, Senate Print 5551, by Senator Cleare, an act
20 to amend the New York State Urban Development
21 Corporation Act.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
388
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 126, Senate Print 607B, by Senator Stavisky, an
11 act to amend the Education Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 15. This
15 act shall take effect 18 months after it shall
16 have become a law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
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1 129, Senate Print 4548, by Senator Stavisky, an
2 act to amend the Education Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
7 shall have become a law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 129, voting in the negative are
15 Senators Martinez, Murray, Walczyk and Weik.
16 Ayes, 56. Nays, 4.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 132, Senate Print 4518, by Senator Ramos, an act
21 to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
390
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 132, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
9 Walczyk and Weik.
10 Ayes, 56. Nays, 4.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 133, Senate Print 4816, by Senator Ryan, an act
15 to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
19 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
20 shall have become a law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
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1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 133, voting in the negative:
3 Senator Walczyk.
4 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 150, Assembly Bill Number 9484, by
9 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
10 Elder Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
15 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 151, Senate Print 8760, by Senator Sanders, an
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1 act to amend the Real Property Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
6 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Sanders to explain his vote.
12 SENATOR SANDERS: Thank you,
13 Madam President.
14 Years ago in this state we had
15 covenants that were saying things like "No
16 blacks, Irish or dogs allowed." We felt that
17 that was wrong, and we struck that down.
18 We want to continue that process,
19 and I am encouraging everybody to look that at
20 this anew and realize what we're voting on. And
21 let's get rid of that old ancient hatred --
22 hateful language, and let's go on.
23 Thank you very much,
24 Madam President. I vote aye.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
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1 Sanders to be recorded in the affirmative.
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 151, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
6 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Oberacker,
7 O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik.
8 Ayes, 46. Nays, 14.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 152, Assembly Bill 9443, by Assemblymember Steck,
13 an act to amend the General Business Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: 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 MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Palumbo to explain his vote.
24 SENATOR PALUMBO: Thank you,
25 Madam President.
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1 This is a good bill. I'm going to
2 vote for this bill requiring labeling of kratom.
3 But there's a lot more that needs to be addressed
4 with this particular plant.
5 There's a highly addictive opioid, a
6 synthetic opioid that's derived from the kratom
7 plant. The reason why, of course, we're putting
8 labels on it today is because of that concern.
9 And it's 7-OH is the short version for what this
10 drug is.
11 And it has caused numerous deaths.
12 It's extremely dangerous. There's a -- people
13 get quick tolerances to it so they need larger
14 and larger doses of it, and it's not on
15 Schedule II. In fact, I could sell it in the
16 lobby if I chose to.
17 So this needs to be the year that we
18 ban 7-OH, that it's a controlled substance. It's
19 killing our residents. We need to make it a
20 controlled substance because we are not keeping
21 up with the radical aspects of the synthetic
22 drugs where they're just making the recipe ever
23 so slightly different and it's no longer
24 considered a crime.
25 But I certainly vote for this bill.
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1 And I thank you, Madam President, for your
2 indulgence.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4 Palumbo to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 153, Assembly Bill 9456, by Assemblymember
11 Rajkumar, an act to amend the State Finance Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 154, Assembly Bill 9510, by Assemblymember Bores,
396
1 an act to amend the Insurance Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 160, Senate Print 240, by Senator Krueger, an act
16 to amend the Emergency Tenant Protection Act.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
20 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
397
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 160, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Martinez and Walczyk.
5 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 164, Senate Print 11, by Senator Skoufis, an act
10 to amend the Public Health Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
25 reading of today's calendar.
398
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
2 further business at the desk?
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is
4 no further business at the desk.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to adjourn
6 until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4th, at
7 3:00 p.m.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: On motion,
9 the Senate stands adjourned until Wednesday,
10 February 4th, at 3:00 p.m.
11 (Whereupon, at 4:10 p.m., the Senate
12 adjourned.)
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