Gaveled in 11:42 AM · Albany, New York · 2025–26 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
February 12, 2025
11:42 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR JEREMY COONEY, Acting President
ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Senate will come to order.
I ask everyone present to please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:In the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer.
(Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Monday, January 10, 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Rivera moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 1021 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 806, Third Reading Calendar 80.
Senator Webb moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 914 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 813, Third Reading Calendar 87.
Senator Fahy moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 1018 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2678, Third Reading Calendar 161.
Senator Martinez moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 1098 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2677, Third Reading Calendar 160.
Senator Sanders moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 431 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2680, Third Reading Calendar 163.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:So ordered.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Good morning, Mr. President.
Please recognize Senator Salazar for a special introduction.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Salazar for an introduction.
SENATOR SALAZAR:Thank you, Mr. President.
I am honored and humbled today to introduce to the chamber the family of Mr. Robert Brooks. This includes Robert's father, Robert Ricks; also his mother, Mary Brooks; and his cousin Eileen Graham, from Rochester, who are with us today in Albany.
Robert Brooks was beaten and tortured at the hands of 15 correction officers and correction staff at Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9th, resulting in his death just two months ago. He was 43 years old.
The autopsy report recently confirmed what anyone who watched the publicly released video footage of what happened to Mr. Brooks -- what we know, which is that this was a homicide.
To Ms. Brooks, Ms. Graham and Mr. Ricks, I and my colleagues in the New York State Senate are deeply sorry for your loss. The violence committed against Robert is horrific and shocks the conscience. Robert's death is a grave injustice, and I know that it will not be in vain.
Mr. Brooks' family -- his father recently spoke at a press conference related to his son's death, and his words there resonated with me. Of the state workers responsible for Robert Brooks' death, his father said: "They denied my son a second chance. They denied him the second chance to be the best man he was capable of being."
He went on to say that Mr. Brooks was due to come home in 2026, next year, and said that he and his son spoke regularly.
Mr. Brooks told his father that upon returning home from prison, he aspired to do the good work that his father does in his community and to make a difference in young lives.
Today I and many of my colleagues are here to demand justice for Robert Brooks and to take swift action against the culture of violence and impunity that has persisted in our state prisons.
While it would be sufficient for us to demand this for Robert Brooks, we know that what happened to Robert was not an isolated incident. We must pursue justice by way of accountability, but also through systemic change, to prevent such violence from happening again.
As public servants, we all must be held to the highest standard in our daily work. In New York we can act to ensure that New Yorkers like Mr. Brooks who are entrusted to the state's care are treated with dignity, with respect, and with humanity, not violently beaten to death by state employees.
We owe that to the family of Robert Brooks, but also to the families of other individuals who are incarcerated. And we owe it to each other.
The killing of Robert Brooks demonstrates a sickness in our state's carceral system. Through policy change and changing culture, we must confront and seek to eradicate that sickness.
To Ms. Brooks, Ms. Graham and Mr. Ricks, and to Robert Brooks' children and many loved ones, I am deeply sorry for your loss. We grieve with you. We remain committed to seeking justice for Robert Brooks and his memory.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Thank you, Senator Salazar.
To our guests from Rochester, I welcome you on behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the privileges and courtesies of this house.
Please rise and be recognized.
(Standing ovation.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Please take up the reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 80, Assembly Bill 1021, by Assemblymember McDonald, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2024.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 57.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 87, Assembly Bill 914, by Assemblymember Clark, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Webb to explain her vote.
SENATOR WEBB:Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to talk about my bill.
In our body we have been consistently working to address maternal mortality rates here in the state. New York is Number 22 in the country for the highest maternal mortality rates. And when you break that down even further by race and ethnicity, and most certainly in my community that's more rural but also has a high population of folks of color, these numbers are even more disparaging, that women of color and particularly Black women in New York are six times more likely to die while giving childbirth -- and yet more than 70 percent of those deaths are preventable.
What this legislation does is that it will require the Department of Health to thoroughly evaluate and make recommendations on best birthing practices. This legislation is pushing for us to continue to take a more proactive approach to ensure that every mother or birthing person has access to safe, high-quality and evidence-based care no matter their race, income level, or zip code.
As the chair of our Women's Issues Committee, this legislation is not just simply about improving policies, it is about saving lives and having a more equitable impact on families across our state. It is about making sure that no mother is ignored, that no complication is dismissed, and that no family suffers a preventable tragedy.
I vote aye, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. And I also would like to thank our Senate Majority Leader for supporting this legislation as well.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 59.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 92, Senate Print 818, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Cannabis Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 92, those Senators voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Lanza, Martinez, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 44. Nays, 15.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar 160, Assembly Bill 1098, by Assemblymember Hunter, an act to amend the General Municipal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 59.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 161, Assembly Bill Number 1018, by Assemblymember Hevesi, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 59.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 162, Senate Print 2679, by Senator Ramos, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 162, voting in the negative: Senator Borrello. Also Senator Ortt, pardon me.
Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 163, Assembly Bill Number 431, by Assemblymember Epstein, an act to amend the Financial Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2024.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 163, those Senators voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 46. Nays, 13.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 206, Senate Print 519, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 206, those Senators voting in the negative are Senators Chan, Helming, Lanza, Oberacker and Ortt.
Ayes, 54. Nays, 5.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 208, Senate Print 2126, by Senator Jackson, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 208, voting in the negative: Senator Lanza.
Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 209, Senate Print 2505, by Senator Brisport, an act to establish a task force on educator diversity in New York State.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 209, those Senators voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Lanza, Oberacker, Ortt and Stec.
Ayes, 54. Nays, 5.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 210, Senate Print 2657, by Senator Parker, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 210, voting in the negative: Senator Oberacker.
Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 281, Senate Print 3161, by Senator Jackson, an act to amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 59.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of today's calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:There is no further business at the desk.
SENATOR GIANARIS:I move to adjourn until Monday, February 24th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, February 24th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days being legislative days.
(Whereupon, at 11:57 a.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.
Track Private Student Loan Data
Recruit Diverse Public School Teachers
Recruit More Bilingual Teachers
Delay TBI Service Start Date
Delay TBI Services Start Date
Improve Maternal Birth Care
Strengthen Maternal Care Standards
Add Child Care to Tax Policy