Gaveled in 3:28 PM · Albany, New York · 2025–26 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
April 13, 2026
3:28 p.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 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, Friday, April 10, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, April 9, 2026, 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.
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 afternoon, Mr. President.
We're going to begin today by taking up the reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Secretary shall read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 370, Senate Print 6121, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Executive 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 370, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Helming, Oberacker, Ortt and Stec. Also Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 44. Nays, 6.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill has passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 554, Senate Print Number 2071A, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Labor 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, 50.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 574, Senate Print 2117, by Senator Fahy, an act to amend the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: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 COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 574, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 34. Nays, 17.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 597, Senate Print 2666A, by Senator Salazar, an act to amend the Correction 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 597, voting in the negative are Senators Chan, Griffo, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 42. Nays, 9.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 598, Senate Print 2707, by Senator May, an act to amend the Public Housing Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 600, Senate Print 4534, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Executive Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Rhoads to explain his vote.
SENATOR RHOADS:Thank you, Mr. President.
Again, we have the latest example of overreach on the part of the state trying to interfere with local control.
And I notice this seems to be a pattern. Whether we're talking about Albany dictating when local elections are going to be held, or whether we're talking about how we are going to enforce local codes, it seems as though the party of No Kings wants to operate as a king and wants to dictate how local municipalities handle their local affairs.
This bill raises serious constitutional concerns under Article 9 of the New York State Constitution and Municipal Home Rule Law because it allows a secretary-run code enforcement program to supersede an existing locally established municipal code enforcement program, even allowing code enforcement officers from a different jurisdiction to come in to enforce codes that they're unfamiliar with and do not understand the local process and local decision-making behind them.
This is the latest in a series of bad bills. It's the latest in a series of bad bills that tries to allow the state to take over local law enforcement, to take over local code enforcement, and to take over local decision-making.
And I will be voting no and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator Rhoads to be recorded in the negative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 600, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Chan, Griffo, Helming, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 36. Nays, 16.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 610, Senate Print 1694A, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 611, Senate Print 2494, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Civil Rights 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, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 677, Senate Print 1197, by Senator Addabbo, 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, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 680, Senate Print 5538, by Senator Baskin, 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:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of the calendar.
SENATOR GIANARIS:If I could return for a moment to motions, Mr. President.
Amendments are offered to the following Third Reading Calendar bills:
By Senator May, page 6, Calendar Number 184, Senate Print 6985;
By Senator Mayer, page 9, Calendar Number 275, Senate Print 4470B;
And by Senator Harckham, page 15, Calendar Number 425, Senate Print 6390.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The amendments are received, and the bills will retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:At this time we will call an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:There will be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
SENATOR GIANARIS:The Senate will stand at ease.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Senate will stand at ease.
(Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 3:37 p.m.)
(Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at 3:43 p.m.)
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Senate will return to order.
Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:There's a report of the Rules Committee at the desk.
Can we take that up, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules, reports the following bill:
Senate Print 9883, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
The bill reports direct to third reading.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Move to accept the report of the Rules Committee.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:All those in favor of accepting the report of the Rules Committee, please signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Opposed, nay.
(Response of "Nay.")
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The report of the Rules Committee is accepted, Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Please take up the supplemental calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 695, Senate Print 9883, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Is there a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:There is a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Move to accept the message.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:All those in favor of accepting the message please signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Opposed, nay.
(Response of "Nay.")
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The message is accepted, and the bill is before the house.
SENATOR LANZA:Lay it aside.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill will be laid aside.
Senator Gianaris, that's the end of the supplemental calendar.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Let's move on to the controversial calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The Secretary will ring the bell.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 695, Senate Print 9883, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator O'Mara, why do you rise?
SENATOR O'MARA:Thank you, Mr. President.
I was just wondering whether the sponsor of this would yield for a few questions on this budget extender.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Will the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes, I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Thank you, Senator.
I guess last week at this time we didn't know why you were filling in for our good friend Senator Liz Krueger. Today, we do. And I first and foremost want to wish her -- knowing Liz, she's probably watching this right now --
(Laughter.)
SENATOR O'MARA:-- but our well wishes from myself and the entire conference for a speedy recovery.
Get back here soon, so I don't have to continue debating Senator Gianaris on these bills.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR O'MARA:You know, he's not quite as forthcoming with information for us.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR O'MARA:But thank you, Senator.
We're now on our -- this is our third budget extender of this session. We're now at April 12th, 12 days late -- or are we at the 13th now? The 13th now. Thirteen days late on this.
Two days away from Tax Day, when everybody has to have their tax payments in on time, yet we don't have our budget done on time.
This extender, how much is being extended in spending, and what period of time?
SENATOR GIANARIS:First of all, let me publicly share our concerns for our colleague. It's great to see a moment of bipartisanship when a colleague's health is in question. So we appreciate that, Senator O'Mara.
I would also encourage you to stop asking me yes/no questions if you want more involved answers.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR GIANARIS:This extender adds an additional 3.4 billion to what we've already passed, so the cumulative total is now 7.4 billion.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:To not ask you a yes or no question, can you tell us what the 3.4 billion is being allocated to?
SENATOR GIANARIS:I can. It is predominantly Medicaid spending.
About 4.5 billion of that 7.4 is Medicaid, and then various other services to pay public salaries and the like.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Now, by my calculation we now -- between these three budget extenders, we're about $7.5 billion into the next fiscal year at this point?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Correct.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:And this gets us till Thursday, so presumably we'll be back here on Thursday for another extender?
Because I assume -- at least I haven't heard anything about any of the remaining nine budget bills being ready for us to vote on.
SENATOR GIANARIS:That's correct.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Senator, can you tell us what the holdup is, what issues are precluding the final agreement on these remaining nine budget bills?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Well, as I mentioned last week, they are the ones that have been publicly discussed. They tend to be bills that don't have direct correlation to the budget itself in terms of dollars and cents, which is frustrating for many of us.
And the fact that it takes three parties to agree, and the person who has proposed the budget seems less than willing to appreciate that.
SENATOR O'MARA:Thank you.
Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Have the majorities been presented with any specific language yet regarding the changes to the CLCPA that the Governor has been seeking?
SENATOR GIANARIS:No. Well, let me -- let me amend that.
There is language that gets floated back and forth, but nothing in terms of an actual bill, a full bill.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Can you tell us what those main points are of that that the holdup is revolving around?
SENATOR GIANARIS:No.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Does the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Are there any table targets yet for the various conference budget committees?
SENATOR GIANARIS:No.
SENATOR O'MARA:Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Will the sponsor yield?
SENATOR GIANARIS:Yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR O'MARA:Do we have a schedule for when the joint budget conference committees are going to meet?
SENATOR GIANARIS:No.
It seems that the strategy the Governor is undertaking involves agreement on the non-budgetary issues before we discuss the budget. So no.
SENATOR O'MARA:Thank you, Senator.
On the bill.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Senator O'Mara on the bill.
SENATOR O'MARA:You know, here we are again, a week post last week's extender, now extending us for only four days at this point.
You know, it's just -- it's Groundhog Day all over again, except now we get to do it twice this week. And really no progress being seen, none that's been conveyed by the majorities here. And there's been nothing really reported in the media of any type of what the standstill is all about and what we're trying to get agreements on as well.
I think, as I've stated in prior extenders, you know, New Yorkers deserve to know what's being haggled over and why, so that they maybe can provide some input on what's being discussed. Because we're undoubtedly, as years pass, probably going to get stuck with budget bills, nine of them left, with messages of necessity like we're getting these extenders on.
And there's really no reason we couldn't have had a message of necessity for this extender today, because we could have been prepared and had that notice for three days for us to be able to review the actual bill, rather than getting it about this time yesterday.
So, you know, we deserve to do better for the constituents and the citizens of New York State. And an open and transparent process about what this soon to be probably close to $270 billion budget comes in at, and what the details of that are, with major concerns over the rising costs of utilities in this state, the impact of the CLCPA on those costs, concerns of rising insurance rates, which is another one of the major issues holding up the budget discussions and causing exacerbation of the affordability crisis we have here in New York State.
And it -- it is -- it's not good government for us to be doing this all behind closed doors. Nothing to share with the public, who sends us here to represent them. Yet we get no information whatsoever on what's going on. So it's very concerning with this and what's going on.
So thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard?
Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed.
The Secretary will ring the bell.
Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Mr. President, we've agreed to restore this bill to the noncontroversial calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 17. 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, 52.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:The bill is passed.
Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of the supplemental calendar.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:There is no further business at the desk.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Move to adjourn until Wednesday, April 15th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Wednesday, April 15th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative days.
(Whereupon, at 3:53 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.
Strengthen Fire Code Enforcement
Short-Term State Funding Extension
Ban Filming School Entrances
Expand Free Speech Protections
Share Gun Safety Info
Let State Enforce Housing Violations
Breast Pumps for Incarcerated Parents
Create Housing Grant Web Portal