Gaveled in 2:35 PM · Albany, New York · 2025–26 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
February 26, 2025
2:35 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR ROXANNE J. PERSAUD, Acting President
ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: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 PERSAUD: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 PERSAUD:Reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Monday, February 24, 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Liu.
SENATOR LIU:Madam President, on page 27 I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 344, Senate Print Number 952, and ask that the bill retain its place on Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The amendments are received, and the bill will retain its place on Third Reading Calendar.
Senator Liu.
SENATOR LIU:Madam President, please call on Senator Bailey for an introduction.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Senator Bailey for an introduction.
SENATOR BAILEY:Thank you, Madam President.
On this uncharacteristically late getaway-day session time, I just want to thank these incredible scholars from AMSNY for sticking with us and sticking with the program.
Madam President, I rise today to welcome an incredible group of students from the AMSNY Scholars of Medicine and Science Program -- you can stand up, if you could, please. This is very important that they see you.
The Scholars of Medicine and Science Program supports students who have demonstrated a commitment to improving health disparities and health inequities through medicine, scientific research and advocacy. They've been selected for this program because they've overcome adversity on their path to medicine, and we expect that their lived experience will benefit their practice of medicine and scientific research. I'll get back to that in a second.
But I wanted to let you know that these students have traveled here from various medical schools throughout New York State -- from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo, the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University -- UA, SUNY Albany, we've got to get one, man; Stony Brook is killing us -- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Bronx Community Health Leaders Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; New York Medical College; and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
And our conference has always supported these important programs in diversity in medicine. And in times when the word "diversity" seems to be a buzzword for so many things, we must continue to encourage diversity.
I said I would get back to something in a second. I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for taking on a task because many of you, much like me, come from households where Robitussin, Vicks, ginger ale and saltine crackers were the cure-all for everything.
(Laughter from balcony.)
SENATOR BAILEY:And that meant -- why? Why was that the cure-all for everything? We laugh because it's part of who we are, because it came from a fundamental distrust of the medical system. Because we saw what happened with heroes, that they're trying to take their names away from the Tuskegee Airmen, they're trying to take the names away from them now. But, you know, the syphilis experiment and all of these things. We had a large distrust of the medical system.
Because of folks like you taking on that task to make sure you're rebuilding that trust and repairing it, it's a big thing that you're doing. "You can't be what you can't see" has been said so many times in this chamber. It has been said so many times by so many people. But it is absolutely true. People in our communities don't go to the doctor like they should, because they don't believe in it.
So I just want to say thank you for giving us something to believe in. It is proof positive -- and I always want to lift up one of my mentees from church: Emilio Woodstock was a Diversity in Medicine scholar. That's my little guy -- I shouldn't say my little guy, but that's my mentee from way back in the day. And he is proof positive that this program works, and so are you.
So I want to say thank you for having the patience to wait through. Hope you enjoy the rest of the session.
And, Madam President, please extend to them all of the privileges and courtesies of this house for our future doctors, future healthcare changers and makers.
Thank you, Madam President.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Thank you, Senator.
To our guests, I welcome you on behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the privileges and courtesies of this house.
Please remain standing to be recognized.
(Standing ovation.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Senator Liu.
SENATOR LIU:Madam President, please take up the reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 117, Senate Print 678A, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 126, Senate Print 555, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 176, Senate Print 524, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 176, voting in the negative are Senators Brisport and Skoufis.
Ayes, 59. Nays, 2.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
Senators, can you take it outside, please. Thank you.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 224, Senate Print 553, by Senator Liu, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 225, Senate Print 620, by Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 237, Senate Print 315, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 298, Senate Print 936, by Senator Gonzalez, an act directing a state agency telework report.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Senator Gonzalez to explain her vote.
SENATOR GONZALEZ:Thank you, Madam President.
I introduced this bill because New York's healthcare system is in crisis. Hospitals are closing across our state, and services being cut as remaining hospitals struggle to stay open.
I represent Mount Sinai Beth Israel, which just this week announced that it will be closing on March 26th. But this issue isn't specific to my district. From SUNY Downstate to St. Vincent's, Columbia-Greene Medical Center, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, to Long Island City -- to Long Island College Hospital and more, there have been an increasing number of stressed hospitals, hospital closures, and service cuts.
Now more than ever, we must protect our hospitals and healthcare access, and we must start by understanding the current landscape of healthcare across our state. This bill will make sure that data on community healthcare access is publicly available and used by the Department of Health to establish stressed healthcare zones.
It will also help in prioritizing funding for these zones, and underserved communities, and prevent closures that leave communities without access to life-saving care.
This data would have been critical in my own district, because when we close or propose to close a hospital, it should be clear what the impact will be on nearby hospitals and certainly on the communities that are involved.
So with that, I want to thank this body for voting on this bill, and I vote enthusiastically in the affirmative.
Thank you, Madam President.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Senator Gonzalez to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 298, voting in the negative are Senators Griffo, Ortt, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 57. Nays, 4.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 302, Senate Print 1284, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 6. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 354, Senate Print 2633, by Senator Gonzalez, an act to direct the Department of Health to complete a report on the impact of hospital closures on healthcare access in New York.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 61.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 356, Senate Print 3393, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 356, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 60. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:The bill is passed.
Senator Liu, that completes the reading of today's calendar.
SENATOR LIU:Madam President, is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:There is no further business at the desk.
SENATOR LIU:I move to adjourn until Monday, March 3rd, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, March 3rd, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days being legislative days.
(Whereupon, at 2:45 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.
Protect Rent Stabilized Deposits
Protect Patient Treatment Privacy
Change Fishing License Rules
Make Voyeurism a Crime
Honor All Campus Holidays
Temporary Craft Beverage Permits
Teach Traffic Stops to Drivers
Report on Hospital Closures