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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 5, 2026
11 11:30 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JEREMY COONEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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21
22
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25
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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: I'll ask
9 Imam Tahir, of the Albanian Islamic Cultural
10 Center on Staten Island, to deliver today's
11 invocation.
12 IMAM TAHIR KUKAJ: Good morning.
13 In the name of God, most gracious,
14 most merciful, we thank God Almighty for
15 His countless blessings, blessings of this day
16 and this chamber, blessings of leadership of the
17 New York State Senate.
18 We gather today in this blessed
19 chamber in gratitude, with gratitude in our
20 hearts for the privilege of living in a state
21 that honors freedom, the conscious dignity of
22 difference, and the sacred right of every
23 community to be seen, heard and respected.
24 We give thanks to the New York State
25 shaped by immigrants, strengthened by diversity,
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1 a state where faith and civic duty walk hand in
2 hand and where the ideals of justice, liberty and
3 opportunity are not merely spoken but pursued.
4 On behalf of Albanian Americans, we
5 would like to offer special appreciation to our
6 honorable Senators, and particularly
7 Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and also our
8 Honorable Assemblyman Charles Fall, for their
9 leadership, their openness, and their continued
10 support in commemorating Kosovo's
11 Independence Day -- a country that has been
12 created, supported and continued to be supported
13 by the United States of America.
14 As Albanians, we are in debt to this
15 great nation of ours forever for liberating,
16 supporting and helping Kosovo and the
17 Albanian nation to survive and thrive.
18 God Almighty, bless this chamber
19 with wisdom beyond politics, with unity beyond
20 division, and with courage beyond convenience.
21 Guide our leaders to serve with integrity, to
22 protect the vulnerable, to honor truth, and to
23 legislate with compassion for all who call this
24 state home.
25 Bless the people of New York of
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1 every faith, background and heritage, and always
2 bless the United States of America. God bless
3 the Albanian nation, and always God bless the
4 United States of America.
5 God Almighty, in Your name we make
6 this prayer. Amen.
7 (Response of "Amen.")
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Reading
9 of the Journal.
10 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
11 Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the Senate met
12 pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday,
13 February 3, 2026, was read and approved. On
14 motion, the Senate adjourned.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Without
16 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
17 Presentation of petitions.
18 Messages from the Assembly.
19 Messages from the Governor.
20 Reports of standing committees.
21 Reports of select committees.
22 Communications and reports from
23 state officers.
24 Motions and resolutions.
25 Senator Gianaris.
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1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
2 Mr. President.
3 On behalf of Senator Hinchey, on
4 page 21 I offer the following amendments to
5 Calendar 215, Senate Print 7618, and ask that
6 said bill retain its place on the Third Reading
7 Calendar.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
9 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
10 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
13 previously adopted Resolution 1516, by
14 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, read its title, and
15 recognize Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
17 Secretary will read.
18 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1516, by
19 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, commemorating the
20 18th Anniversary of Kosovo's Independence.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
22 Scarcella-Spanton on the resolution.
23 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
24 you, Mr. President.
25 Today we will be welcoming friends
526
1 and constituents who traveled all the way to the
2 Capitol today to join us in celebrating Kosovo's
3 Independence Day here in the New York State
4 Senate, including Imam Tahir, who you just heard
5 from, and of course my former Staten Island
6 director, Vanesa Limani, who's actually from
7 Kosovo.
8 Today we once again honor Kosovo's
9 remarkable journey to independence here in
10 New York -- an independence that was hard-fought
11 and deeply impactful for its people. The Kosovar
12 people, throughout all the trials and
13 tribulations that led them to independence, have
14 showed extraordinary strength and determination.
15 Kosovo's declaration of independence
16 in 2008 was a monumental moment in modern
17 history, signaling the end of years of struggle
18 and the beginning of a new chapter. As we
19 reflect on this journey, we honor the sacrifices
20 made by the people of Kosovo in their tireless
21 pursuit of freedom.
22 It continues to be my honor to
23 sponsor this resolution year after year in
24 recognition of Kosovo's Independence Day.
25 Today we celebrate the triumphs of
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1 the Kosovar people and look ahead to a bright
2 future both here in New York and back in their
3 home in Kosovo. I am continuously proud of the
4 Kosovar people I represent in Senate District 23,
5 and their dedication to honoring their heritage
6 and culture no matter where they are in the
7 world.
8 I will continue to work alongside
9 all of the people from Kosovo and its people here
10 in New York for years to come -- especially
11 Vanesa (laughing).
12 Thank you to all my colleagues for
13 your support, and everyone who has joined us in
14 honoring this Independence Day.
15 I proudly vote aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
17 you, Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
18 Senator Mayer on the resolution.
19 SENATOR MAYER: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 And I too rise to thank my colleague
22 Senator Scarcella-Spanton for this resolution,
23 and to speak on behalf of over 15,000 people from
24 Albania, most of whom are from Kosovo, in
25 Westchester County.
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1 Our county is full of a very vibrant
2 group of both younger and older Kosovans who have
3 contributed enormously to the business life,
4 certainly to the real estate world, and to the
5 education space of our county. In my hometown of
6 Yonkers there are over 2,000, and in
7 White Plains, which I proudly represent, over
8 1,000. And they have joined together with young
9 leadership that formed the Albanian American Club
10 of Westchester to -- really to be forces for
11 positive change, both culturally, educationally,
12 and in the business world.
13 We so admire their contributions to
14 our community. And we also today, of course,
15 honor their remarkable story of independence.
16 And we're so proud that we have the
17 opportunity here in the Senate chamber to
18 celebrate them, to acknowledge them, and to look
19 forward to many more years of celebrating their
20 anniversary of their independence.
21 I vote aye.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator Mayer.
24 Senator Fernandez on the resolution.
25 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you so
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1 much, Mr. Speaker.
2 And thank you to my colleague for
3 this resolution.
4 I too speak proudly on behalf of my
5 constituents in the East Bronx, a population full
6 of {in Albanian} -- my friends.
7 But it is a great resolution, and
8 this year is special, 18 years old --
9 technically, Kosovo is an adult now.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: But it is a
12 beautiful country, beautiful people.
13 I've had the pleasure and honor of
14 visiting a few years ago to attend a wedding, and
15 I highly recommend seeing what is over in the
16 Balkan region.
17 Kosovo is a historic nation. It is
18 full of beautiful mountain ranges. I had the
19 honor of going to Pristina, the new capital,
20 seeing everything that has been done since the
21 war and since it got established, visiting
22 Prizren, the oldest city in the Balkans, which is
23 also the birthplace of Mother Teresa.
24 But it is a nation that is full of
25 its own honor, its own beautiful history.
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1 And here in New York the people of
2 Albania and Kosovo have done so much to
3 contribute to continue to make New York the
4 beautiful blanket that it is.
5 And I thank my colleague for
6 allowing this resolution and giving us this time
7 to say "Happy Birthday, Kosovo!" and thank you
8 for all your contributions to the state.
9 Thank you. I vote aye.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Fernandez.
12 Senator Harckham on the resolution.
13 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 I want to thank Senator
16 Scarcella-Spanton for bringing this resolution
17 forward every year. Thank you very much.
18 I want to follow up on
19 Senator Mayer's comments on the rich Albanian
20 population in the Lower Hudson Valley. And I
21 just want to put in a plug and mention of the
22 chair of the Westchester County Board of
23 Legislators, Vedat Gashi, who earlier in his
24 career actually helped draft the Kosovo
25 Constitution during their process of
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1 independence -- something he is very proud of and
2 we as Westchester neighbors and colleagues of
3 Vedat are also very proud.
4 So kudos on this very special day.
5 Congratulations as we mark another anniversary of
6 independence, another strong democracy in
7 Eastern Europe.
8 And I proudly vote aye. Thank you.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Harckham.
11 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
12 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 Very briefly, thank you,
15 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, for this incredible
16 resolution.
17 And to the Albanian community in the
18 Bronx, they have made leaps and bounds in terms
19 of their civic engagement.
20 It's always been significant, but
21 recently we made the first -- well, the first
22 Albanian woman to be a judge in the Bronx,
23 Edit Shkreli. I want to make sure that we lift
24 her up, and all of the incredible residents of
25 Kosovo and Albania who do positive things.
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1 And to Senator Harckham's point
2 about Vedat Gashi, the chair of the board of
3 legislators, a lot is said about the sneakers
4 that I wear on this floor. I want it to be
5 known, and for the record, that Vedat Gashi is a
6 sneakerhead of sneakerheads. You should see his
7 sneaker collection: It is real, it is
8 significant.
9 I don't know if Vedat is here, but
10 I've got to make sure I send him this clip to
11 make sure that I know I put on the record that
12 don't look at me, don't look at Z, look at Vedat
13 when it comes to sneakers.
14 Happy Independence Day to Kosovo, in
15 all seriousness, Mr. President.
16 I vote aye on the resolution.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
18 you, Senator Bailey.
19 The resolution was adopted on
20 February 4th.
21 Senator Gianaris.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's move
23 on to previously adopted Resolution 1317, by
24 Senator Tedisco -- there he is. I just want to
25 make sure he was here -- read that resolution's
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1 title, and recognize Senator Tedisco.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1317, by
5 Senator Tedisco, congratulating the Stillwater
6 Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach
7 Christine Ihnatolya upon the occasion of winning
8 the New York State Public High School Athletic
9 Association Class C State Championship title on
10 November 16, 2025.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
12 Tedisco on the resolution.
13 SENATOR TEDISCO: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 Mr. President and my colleagues, as
16 you see up above me in the balcony, I am pleased
17 to present to you and to be welcome the 2025
18 New York State C Girls Soccer champions to the
19 chamber today from Stillwater High School, in the
20 place where all good things emanate from, the
21 444th Senatorial District in New York.
22 The Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer
23 Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya won their
24 final game at a 1-0 shutout to secure the
25 New York State Class C Girls Soccer Championship
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1 on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Homer High
2 School in Homer, New York, finishing the season
3 unbelievably with an impressive 22-to-1 overall
4 record.
5 The Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer
6 Team since 2018 has won four sectional titles,
7 four consecutive Wasaren League titles,
8 six New York State Final Four appearances and,
9 now, three New York State Class C Championship
10 titles.
11 It doesn't get much better. But
12 proudly, it will.
13 These scholar-athletes are also a
14 New York State Public High School Athletic
15 Association Scholar-Athlete Team, as they
16 garnered an overall team grade point average of
17 92.6.
18 Please welcome this team. And the
19 members are: Alexandria Liamero, Bridget Coon,
20 Alianna Lyon, Lucy Rubinstein, Kamryn VanPelt,
21 Peyton Perretta, Kennedie VanPelt,
22 Brooke Hodgson, Brooke Coon, Finley Bornt,
23 Mayzie Gibeault, Addison Callahan, Sadie Hazen,
24 Callen Baisley, Madelyn Callanan, and
25 Emersyn Patenaude.
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1 Now, you don't get this far just by
2 being great athletes and working hard and having
3 great ethics and hard work. You get there by the
4 coaches also. And they had some great coaches,
5 one I already introduced, but I will do it again:
6 Christine Ihnatolya, the head coach, and
7 Assistant Coach Cassidy Chapko.
8 As a program, the Stillwater Girls
9 Varsity Soccer Team has enjoyed great success and
10 set a high standard for seasons to follow.
11 Mr. President and my colleagues,
12 please welcome them, congratulate them, and offer
13 them all the cordialities of this august body.
14 We're so proud of them here in the
15 44th Senatorial District, Stillwater, and in the
16 great State of New York.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank you
18 very much, Senator Tedisco.
19 And to our guests, I welcome you on
20 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
21 privileges and courtesies of this house.
22 Please rise and be recognized.
23 (Standing ovation.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 resolution was adopted on January 13th.
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1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
3 the sponsors would like the two resolutions we
4 took up today open for cosponsorship.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: These
6 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
7 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
8 the desk.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
11 the calendar.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
13 Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 36,
15 Senate Print 8812, by Senator Krueger, an act to
16 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2025.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
25 the results.
537
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar Number 36, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Baskin, Borrello, Bynoe,
4 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
5 Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Murray,
6 Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Ryan,
7 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
8 Ayes, 34. Nays, 24.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 100, Senate Print 1919, by Senator Skoufis, an
13 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
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: Ayes, 58.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
25 is passed.
538
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 127, Senate Print 620C, by Senator Stavisky, an
3 act to amend the Education Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 138, Senate Print 1329, by Senator Parker, an act
19 to amend the Public Service Law.
20 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
22 will be laid aside.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: For the day.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: For the
25 day.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 141, Senate Print 1847, by Senator Comrie, an act
3 to amend the Public Service Law.
4 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
6 will be laid aside.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 161, Senate Print 2534, by Senator Sanders, an
9 act to amend the Administrative Code of the City
10 of New York.
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: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 167, Senate Print 1468, by Senator Serrano, an
25 act to amend the Public Health Law.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
4 act shall take effect on the first of January.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 167, voting in the negative:
12 Senator Walczyk.
13 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 168, Senate Print 1619, by Senator Rivera, an act
18 to amend the Education Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar Number 168, voting in the negative:
5 Senator Walczyk.
6 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 171, Senate Print 2505A, by Senator Brisport, an
11 act to establish a task force on education
12 diversity in New York State.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. 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 171, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Borrello, Lanza, Oberacker and Ortt.
25 Also Senator Stec. Also Senator Weik.
542
1 Ayes, 52. Nays, 6.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 174, Senate Print 190, by Senator Martinez, an
6 act to amend the Volunteer Firefighters Benefit
7 Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
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: Ayes, 58.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 178, Senate Print 4075A, by Senator
22 Scarcella-Spanton, an act in relation to
23 authorizing the Silver Lake Foundation, Inc., to
24 receive retroactive real property tax-exempt
25 status.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 187, Senate Print 2040, by Senator Gianaris, an
15 act to amend the Banking Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect on the 180th 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.
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1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 187, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
4 Helming, Martins, Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo, Stec,
5 Tedisco and Walczyk.
6 Ayes, 46. Nays, 12.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 192, Senate Print 1514, by Senator Harckham, an
11 act to amend the Labor Law.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
13 the day.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
15 will be laid aside for the day.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 195, Senate Print 1540, by Senator Jackson, an
18 act to amend the Civil Service Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
545
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 196, Senate Print 2264, by Senator Cooney, an act
8 to amend the Civil Service Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
19 Calendar 196, voting in the negative:
20 Senator Walczyk.
21 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 203, Senate Print 866, by Senator Bailey, an act
546
1 to amend the Penal Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 208, Senate Print 489, by Senator Fernandez, an
16 act to amend the Public Health Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect on the first of January.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
25 the results.
547
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 209, Senate Print 1731, by Senator Fahy, an act
6 to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
16 Fahy to explain her vote.
17 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you. Thank
18 you, Mr. President.
19 I rise to just talk about this is a
20 renaming of an OASAS scholarship in honor of
21 Father Peter Young, who was a Roman Catholic
22 priest here in Capital Region for more than
23 60 years, known for his work in helping people
24 struggling with addiction, incarceration and
25 homelessness.
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1 This program would be renamed in his
2 honor. Again, it's an OASAS scholarship. And
3 it's one to train those who are in -- treating
4 those with addictions. It supports those in
5 treatment, prevention, recovery.
6 He first trained as a chaplain at
7 Mount McGregor Corrections facility in the 1960s.
8 That's where he learned that addiction and
9 poverty often ends up with folks in prison.
10 And he was the one who became a
11 trailblazer among trailblazers in criminal
12 justice reform, particularly in treating
13 addiction, and really began to educate all of us
14 on how addiction is a disease, not a character
15 flaw.
16 He ended up serving individuals --
17 the Father Peter Young Industries ended up
18 serving people in 60 New York counties. So it
19 was quite widespread.
20 Renaming of this scholarship would
21 connect students with his extraordinary legacy of
22 courage and hope, qualities that are often needed
23 with those fighting addiction and in recovery.
24 And with that, Mr. Speaker, I --
25 sorry, Mr. President -- I vote in the
549
1 affirmative, thank you.
2 Old habits die hard.
3 (Laughter.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: That's
5 okay. Senator Fahy to be recorded in the
6 affirmative.
7 The Secretary will announce the
8 results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 213, Senate Print 1239E, by Senator Kavanagh, an
14 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
15 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
17 will be laid aside.
18 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
19 reading of today's calendar.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's go to the
21 controversial calendar, please.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
23 Secretary will ring the bell.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
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1 141, Senate Print 1847, by Senator Comrie, an act
2 to amend the Public Service Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
4 Lanza, why do you rise?
5 SENATOR LANZA: Mr. President, I
6 believe there's an amendment at the desk. I
7 waive the reading of that amendment and ask that
8 you recognize Senator Walczyk.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Lanza.
11 Upon review of the amendment, in
12 accordance with Rule 6, Section 4B, I rule it
13 nongermane and out of order.
14 SENATOR LANZA: Accordingly,
15 Mr. President, I appeal the ruling of the chair
16 and ask that Senator Walczyk be heard on that
17 appeal.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
19 appeal has been made and recognized. Senator
20 Walczyk may be heard.
21 SENATOR WALCZYK: Oh,
22 Mr. President, maybe I can convince my colleagues
23 on the germaneness. I'm disappointed in your
24 ruling.
25 This bill is indeed germane to the
551
1 bill-in-chief because the bill-in-chief requires
2 the Public Service Commission to consider the
3 economic impact of utility rates and charges, and
4 this amendment allows uncommitted funds and the
5 New York State Climate Investment Account within
6 NYSERDA to be returned directly to the ratepayers
7 as a bill credit.
8 According to NYSERDA's financial
9 plan for fiscal year 2025, the agency's
10 anticipated net position will exceed $2 billion.
11 And that's at the close of last year. This year
12 it will grow to approximately $2.2 billion.
13 At a time when New Yorkers are
14 struggling to pay skyrocketing utility bills,
15 your offices, our offices, the Governor's office,
16 everyone is receiving phone calls about these
17 bills. These funds should be returned to the
18 ratepayers rather than sitting idle in NYSERDA's
19 coffers. Providing bill credits would deliver
20 immediate, tangible relief to families and
21 businesses facing escalating energy coasts.
22 There's no compelling rationale for
23 allowing these off-budget surplus funds to remain
24 unused from the previous year when they could be
25 applied directly to lessening the burden of
552
1 ratepayers today.
2 This amendment is particularly
3 timely given the increased supply costs resulting
4 from the current frigid weather. You may have
5 noticed that utility prices are skyrocketing now.
6 And that additional strain is going right to the
7 ratepayers.
8 And let me just read, because
9 Senator Tom O'Mara, who is doing his job as
10 Finance ranker right now in a budget hearing,
11 wrote in his sponsor's memo -- and I want to make
12 it clear what this amendment is so that when
13 you're considering the germaneness and your vote,
14 you can know what we're bringing forward here.
15 I know the president has already
16 reviewed this and made a ruling that it was
17 nongermane, but I would like all of you to listen
18 to the sponsor's justification in this amendment.
19 This bill ensures that any
20 uncommitted funds remaining in the Climate
21 Investment Account at the close of each fiscal
22 year, specifically those collected from a utility
23 ratepayers on a bill-as-you-go basis, under the
24 Public Service Commission's Clean Energy Fund
25 framework, are returned to those who paid into
553
1 the system.
2 The Clean Energy Fund was designed
3 to support the state's clean energy transition
4 through targeted investments in innovation,
5 market developments, and energy efficiency.
6 However, often funds collected for this purpose
7 remain unused or uncommitted at the end of the
8 fiscal cycle, thus allowing them to sit idle or
9 be redirected without oversight, which undermines
10 the principles of transparency, fiscal
11 responsibility, and fairness to ratepayers.
12 By crediting these uncommitted funds
13 back to the ratepayers -- not into the
14 General Fund, not sitting idly with NYSERDA, but
15 crediting them back to the ratepayers -- this
16 measure reinforces public trust, prevents
17 overcollection and creates a built-in
18 accountability mechanism for those funds.
19 It aligns with the broader goals of
20 equitable energy policy by ensuring that
21 New Yorkers are not unduly burdened by clean
22 energy surcharges, and that funds collected in
23 their name are actively invested in the state --
24 that's what they were designed for, that's what
25 you passed them for -- or, if they're not
554
1 invested, returned directly to the ratepayers.
2 We can do something about energy
3 prices in New York State right now, today. You
4 can support this amendment, take the $2 billion
5 that is sitting unspent, and send it directly
6 back to ratepayers.
7 So please vote to overrule the
8 ruling of the chair. Let's pass this, let's
9 lower people's energy bills today. Yesterday you
10 passed a number of bills; none of them will lower
11 people's energy bills today. This amendment that
12 I offer up in the great language that Senator
13 O'Mara has put together will lower people's
14 energy bills today.
15 Thank you for your consideration in
16 overruling the ruling of the president.
17 Thank you, Mr. President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
19 you, Senator.
20 I want to remind the house that the
21 vote is on the procedures of the house and the
22 ruling of the chair.
23 Those in favor of overruling the
24 chair signify by saying aye.
25 (Response of "Aye.")
555
1 SENATOR LANZA: Show of hands.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: A show of
3 hands has been requested and so ordered.
4 Announce the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 21.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
7 ruling of the chair stands, and the bill-in-chief
8 is before the house.
9 Read the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar Number 141, voting in the negative are
22 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
23 Palumbo, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
24 Ayes, 52. Nays, 6.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
556
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 213, Senate Print 1239E, by Senator Kavanagh, an
4 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
6 Borrello, why do you rise?
7 SENATOR BORRELLO: Good afternoon,
8 Mr. President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Good
10 afternoon.
11 SENATOR BORRELLO: Would the
12 sponsor yield for a question?
13 SENATOR KAVANAUGH: Avidly,
14 Mr. President.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
16 sponsor yields.
17 SENATOR BORRELLO: All right. I'm
18 going to start off by giving you what I think
19 might be some late-breaking news from the FDA.
20 I don't know if you saw this
21 announcement this morning, but the Food and Drug
22 Administration has taken additional steps to make
23 it easier for people to remove these
24 petroleum-based dyes.
25 With regard to the industry,
557
1 according to Health and Human Services Secretary
2 RFK Jr., they're now going to allow them to
3 use -- they have now approved beetroot red and
4 spirulina extract as natural additives, and make
5 it easier for them to determine if something is
6 actually not artificial but is actually natural.
7 So with all that said -- I'm glad
8 that you agree with the Trump administration and
9 what they're doing to make America healthier
10 again -- do we really need this bill specifically
11 for New York State?
12 SENATOR KAVANAGH: Thank you.
13 Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, my
14 colleague, for the question.
15 The answer is yes. What this bill
16 does is ban three specific substances and, in
17 addition, requires that ingredients that are
18 added to food, mostly by large national producers
19 of food, when they are not disclosed to the FDA
20 in the presence of the food or the use of -- the
21 presence of the ingredient or the use of the
22 ingredient to the FDA, and therefore not publicly
23 available, that if you want to sell food in
24 New York, you must disclose to our Agriculture
25 and Markets Department any ingredients that you
558
1 are otherwise keeping secret.
2 So this bill is mostly -- although
3 this bill does ban three specific chemicals --
4 and we can talk more about that aspect of the
5 bill, I'd be happy to. But the Food and Drug
6 Administration's actions are welcome, but very
7 late.
8 It took the federal Food and
9 Drug Administration a decade -- a decade ago they
10 said you can't use Red Dye No. 3, you can't put
11 it on your skin, but they've permitted us to eat
12 it for another decade. They are now banning
13 that. And they're not banning it until next
14 January, even though it's widely known to be very
15 problematic from a health perspective.
16 We've got states taking action all
17 over the country. Texas now requires that if you
18 use any of 44 ingredients, most of which are
19 permitted by the FDA, that you print a warning on
20 the food that says the following: "Warning.
21 This product contains an ingredient that is not
22 recommended for human consumption by the
23 appropriate authorities in Australia, Canada, the
24 European Union, or the United Kingdom."
25 That is a Texas-wide restriction
559
1 that has been passed by the Texas Legislature and
2 signed by Governor Abbott.
3 So I'm happy to agree -- if the
4 Trump administration's going to ban three
5 ingredients, I hope my colleague will agree with
6 the Republican governor of Texas that we should
7 continue to take action on this.
8 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
9 will the sponsor continue to yield?
10 SENATOR KAVANAUGH: Happily,
11 Mr. President.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
13 sponsor yields.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: Well, it's a red
15 day and a red state -- a red dye day and a red
16 state day, it appears. You've agreed now with
17 Governor Abbott, President Trump, RFK Jr. It all
18 sounds good.
19 Do you have an Assembly sponsor for
20 this bill?
21 SENATOR KAVANAUGH: We do have an
22 Assembly sponsor, Anna Kelles, who has a
23 doctorate in nutritional epidemiology.
24 The only -- the bills are not
25 currently same-as because in our bill -- because
560
1 a G has turned to an H in one -- the bill amends
2 Section 199G of a law, and there is now another
3 199G, so the Assembly decided to switch that to
4 199H. But the bills are otherwise identical.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
6 will the sponsor continue to yield?
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Will the
8 sponsor yield?
9 SENATOR KAVANAUGH: Yes,
10 Mr. President.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
12 sponsor yields.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: So we don't have
14 matching legislation in either house. This bill
15 gives up to three years for these products to
16 still be sold in New York State, and yet they're
17 going to be banned federally in January, as you
18 just mentioned.
19 So why -- why do we need this bill?
20 SENATOR KAVANAGH: Mr. President,
21 with great effect, the products in this bill are
22 not going to be banned federally. The -- my
23 colleague mentioned a couple of ingredients that
24 are not mentioned in this bill.
25 This bill bans three specific
561
1 chemicals. We can talk -- I'm happy to talk
2 about those chemicals if we want. But the core
3 of this bill is the principle that we should not
4 permit people to sell food for consumption by
5 New Yorkers without disclosing the chemicals that
6 they are adding to these foods under a
7 longstanding loophole in federal law that the
8 federal government has not proposed to close, the
9 FDA or anybody else has proposed to close.
10 The principle here is if you want to
11 sell food to New Yorkers, you should not have
12 secret ingredients made by chemical companies
13 because they supposedly have various benefits in
14 food. This is not a bill that bans those
15 chemicals. It simply requires that chemical
16 companies and food producers disclose the
17 presence of those chemicals and disclose the
18 science behind why they believe those chemicals
19 to be safe.
20 Which, under federal law, they're
21 already required to do. They are required to do
22 the scientific analysis. They are just not
23 required to disclose that analysis to anybody
24 unless that analysis proves to them that the
25 substance is carcinogenic.
562
1 This is a huge loophole in our laws.
2 Most other jurisdictions in the world have no
3 such loophole. In most places in the world
4 you've got to disclose what's in people's food,
5 and people can determine whether it's safe. We
6 have an enormous loophole.
7 I and I'm sure my colleague and many
8 others of us have been lobbied by the food
9 industry. They are not -- they're asserting some
10 changes are happening at the FDA, some more
11 changes they're expecting in July. They are not
12 asserting that there is a current plan to chose
13 this particular loophole in federal law.
14 And so under federal law you can
15 continue to sell food in New York and everywhere
16 else in America with ingredients -- and the
17 presen -- it's not just a question of whether
18 they're banned or not, the presence of the
19 ingredients and their safety profile is not
20 disclosed either at the federal level or the
21 state level, currently, and we can fix that here
22 in New York.
23 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you.
24 On the bill.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
563
1 Borrello on the bill.
2 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
3 Senator Kavanagh.
4 You'd said some interesting things
5 that -- my colleagues said some interesting
6 things, Mr. President, that this has been known
7 for 10 years to be a loophole here in New York
8 State.
9 Last I knew, this bill hasn't really
10 gone anywhere until recently, until the Trump
11 administration and the MAHA movement came forward
12 saying, We're going to do something about this.
13 Because we had lots of years to do
14 it, right? Even at the federal level. We could
15 have done it under the Biden administration. We
16 could have done it right here in Albany for the
17 last 10 years, with the knowledge that this is a
18 problem.
19 I don't disagree that these things
20 should be taken out of our food and there should
21 be disclosure. I agree with that. I think
22 having the industry already moving that way,
23 having a national initiative that's going to make
24 it universal is the responsible way to do it.
25 And we're seeing that today. We're
564
1 seeing -- making it much easier for these
2 companies to use alternative ingredients that are
3 better for us, and healthier. That's a good way
4 to do this.
5 So to say now all of a sudden that
6 here in New York State, after knowing for a
7 decade that this is a problem, we're now going to
8 do it. We're going to rush it through. But
9 we're really not. We don't have matching bills.
10 We're giving them three years. People can still
11 buy the stuff, right, they just can't get it
12 here.
13 You know, where I live the State of
14 Pennsylvania is literally, you know, on the
15 border of my district. You can -- people go
16 shopping in Erie, Pennsylvania, all the time in
17 my district, so it's not going to stop them from
18 buying those foods.
19 Because people make choices, right?
20 Now, you might say, well, they need to know
21 what's in it. There's lots of things that that
22 should apply to. Unfortunately, not everything
23 can be done as easily and simply as we sometimes
24 describe it to be.
25 So I believe that this is going to
565
1 be burdensome. It's quite frankly just a
2 political move, in my opinion, in a lot of ways.
3 And I realize that I'm one of the few no votes
4 here. I get that. But the reality is this is
5 already happening. It is a movement that is
6 supported by grassroots people across the
7 United States, people who suffer from issues and
8 sometimes chronic diseases because of what they
9 think is in their food that impacts them.
10 So I get that. That's a good thing.
11 The Trump administration, RFK Jr., and the
12 organization that represents these manufacturers
13 themselves are all moving in that direction.
14 But we're going to get up and say,
15 Oh, no, we did it first. Nah, that doesn't pass
16 muster with me. Okay?
17 We need a national standard so this
18 can be done effectively, more quickly, honestly,
19 because it's going to take three years for this
20 to be implemented here, essentially. And really
21 not in a way that's going to make it easy, I
22 think, for this to actually be implemented.
23 So I will continue to be a no vote
24 on this bill. I understand my colleague's
25 intentions and yes vote. But in the end, I don't
566
1 know that this is really the best way to go about
2 it.
3 So thank you, Mr. President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
5 you, Senator Borrello.
6 Are there any other Senators wishing
7 to be heard?
8 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
9 now closed.
10 Senator Serrano.
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Upon consent,
12 we've agreed to restore Calendar 213 to the
13 noncontroversial calendar.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: It will
15 be returned to the noncontroversial calendar.
16 Read the last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
18 act shall take effect one year after it shall
19 have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
24 Oberacker to explain his vote.
25 SENATOR OBERACKER: Thank you,
567
1 Mr. President.
2 First and foremost, I want to take a
3 moment and thank Senator Kavanagh for his
4 leadership on this bill, especially in our final
5 year. It's been a pleasure working with you.
6 This bipartisan bill focuses on
7 protecting children's health and giving families
8 transparency about what's in their food. It's
9 not a partisan issue. It's a commonsense issue.
10 As a food scientist, I can clearly
11 say this bill is achievable. Food companies work
12 within strict specifications and nutritional
13 requirements. I know this, I've done this.
14 Reformulating a product using an
15 alternative color source is not only possible,
16 it's already being done. And when companies say
17 change will cost more, the reality is natural
18 alternatives already exist, including oleoresins
19 when we're talking color, and other enhancers
20 that can replace synthetic dyes without
21 sacrificing quality.
22 This legislation is not about fear
23 or alarm, it's about understanding what actually
24 is in our food for our children and which they
25 are eating every day.
568
1 The chemical names can sound scary
2 without -- when context actually matters. And I
3 notice some of us, I'm looking around, I see some
4 blue bottles of dihydrogen oxide or CO2. If I
5 was to say that there wouldn't be any --
6 Senator Borrello, you can partake.
7 So they do sound scary. And my role
8 here is to separate real health and health
9 concerns from confusion.
10 And what's proposed in this bill --
11 this bill is sound, it's sensible, and the
12 framework is grounded in science. And I'm proud,
13 I am proud to sponsor this bill because, as
14 someone who has formulated food products
15 firsthand, I know this can be done. And I
16 believe New York should lead when it comes to
17 food safety and transparency.
18 And I proudly vote aye.
19 Thank you, Mr. President.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
21 Oberacker to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Senator Kavanagh to explain his
23 vote.
24 SENATOR KAVANAGH: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
569
1 Let me use just a little bit of my
2 time to clarify a few things that have been said.
3 First of all, this bill is not a
4 response to the Trump administration. It's not a
5 response to the MAHA movement. I honestly had
6 never heard of the MAHA movement when we
7 introduced this bill because it was February 2024
8 when we introduced this bill. And at least I did
9 not anticipate a second Trump administration at
10 that point, although perhaps some folks did.
11 This is a bill that results from our
12 work on national food safety. I was attending
13 national food safety conferences, and the
14 Center for Science in the Public Interest and the
15 Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports
16 and pediatricians all over the country had
17 flagged the fact that there are numerous
18 chemicals in our food that are undisclosed under
19 federal law and are widely perceived to be one of
20 the reasons why our food safety system is
21 failing.
22 So we introduced this bill -- again,
23 in the early part of 2024. We spent a long time
24 thinking about it and negotiating it, discussing
25 it, and then we passed it on this floor last
570
1 year. And we passed it with numerous amendments
2 that were intended to respond to concerns we
3 heard from small businesses, from others.
4 The second thing I want to clarify
5 is this bill goes into effect one year from the
6 date it shall have become law. There is an
7 additional provision that says if you have food
8 on your shelves and you're a retailer and that
9 food would otherwise be prohibited by this bill,
10 you can sell that food for an additional -- until
11 the earlier of three years from the date of
12 effectiveness or the best-by date.
13 And that was intended to deal with
14 situations where you didn't want retailers to
15 have to clear their shelves of or, frankly, check
16 the -- you know, check the ingredients list and
17 go to national databases to figure out whether --
18 statewide databases to figure out whether the
19 food was legal or not legal.
20 So that was a consideration we put
21 in very early in this process for our retailers.
22 I would note that the coalition of
23 giant food producers that are heavily lobbying
24 against this bill do not think this loophole is
25 going to be closed at the federal level. In
571
1 fact, they have been lobbying for more than a
2 decade to prevent this loophole from being closed
3 at the federal level. And they are not asserting
4 that this loophole is going to be closed at the
5 federal level now.
6 I will also note, when they put out
7 a memo about this bill in the very last days of
8 May last year, right around the time we were
9 debating it, they included among the purported
10 opponents the small bodega -- the Bodega and
11 Small Business Association of the State of
12 New York.
13 The Bodega and Small Business
14 Association put out their own memo in support of
15 this bill, because our small businesses
16 understand that big food companies should not be
17 providing unknown chemicals in food that they're
18 selling in their communities.
19 The -- ironically, the national
20 associations are telling us that one of the
21 problems with this bill is if that -- if food --
22 if giant food companies were to sell food that's
23 illegal, that somehow the bodega owners would be
24 responsible when they turn around and sell the
25 food. There's no reason to think that might
572
1 occur.
2 But again, these are giant food
3 companies telling us if they keep the
4 ingredient -- if they sell things illegally in
5 our state, the problem is that other people will
6 be held accountable. This bill will hold them
7 accountable.
8 And more than that, once again, this
9 is a bill that is, in addition to three widely
10 banned ingredients, this bill is primarily about
11 disclosing to our consumers what is in their food
12 in a way that is transparent that all of us and
13 scientists and others can review to make sure
14 we're selling food as safely as possible.
15 And the numerous consumer brands,
16 you know, and chemical companies -- Danone and
17 Diageo and Eastman and Mondelez and Coca-Cola and
18 Smucker's and McCormick and all these companies,
19 PepsiCo and Safeway and all these companies that
20 are producing food and relying on the trust of
21 consumers should stop opposing the simple premise
22 that what goes in the food is disclosing -- I'm
23 proud -- it should be disclosed, and the safety
24 profile of that should be disclosed as well.
25 I proudly -- I'm proud to vote aye.
573
1 Thank you.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Kavanagh to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Announce the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6 Calendar 213, voting in the negative are
7 Senators Ashby and Borrello.
8 Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 Senator Serrano, that completes the
12 reading of today's calendar.
13 SENATOR SERRANO: Is there any
14 further business at the desk?
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There is
16 no further business at the desk.
17 SENATOR SERRANO: I move to adjourn
18 until Monday, February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., with
19 the intervening days being legislative days.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: On
21 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
22 February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days
23 being legislative days.
24 (Whereupon, at 12:19 p.m., the
25 Senate adjourned.)