3003
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 13, 2026
11 3:28 p.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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24
25
3004
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: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Reading
14 of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Friday,
16 April 10, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, April 9,
18 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 Messages from the Governor.
25 Reports of standing committees.
3005
1 Reports of select committees.
2 Communications and reports from
3 state officers.
4 Motions and resolutions.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
7 Mr. President.
8 We're going to begin today by taking
9 up the reading of the calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 Secretary shall read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 370, Senate Print 6121, by Senator Mayer, an act
14 to amend the Executive Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 370, voting in the negative are
3006
1 Senators Ashby, Helming, Oberacker, Ortt and
2 Stec. Also Senator Walczyk.
3 Ayes, 44. Nays, 6.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
5 has passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 554, Senate Print Number 2071A, by
8 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
9 Labor Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 50.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 574, Senate Print 2117, by Senator Fahy, an act
24 to amend the Real Property Actions and
25 Proceedings Law.
3007
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
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: In relation to
12 Calendar 574, voting in the negative are
13 Senators Ashby, Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza,
14 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
15 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
16 Ayes, 34. Nays, 17.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 597, Senate Print 2666A, by Senator Salazar, an
21 act to amend the Correction Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
3008
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 597, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Chan, Griffo, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec,
9 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
10 Ayes, 42. Nays, 9.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 598, Senate Print 2707, by Senator May, an act to
15 amend the Public Housing 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.
3009
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 600, Senate Print 4534, by Senator Skoufis, an
6 act to amend the Executive Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
15 Rhoads to explain his vote.
16 SENATOR RHOADS: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 Again, we have the latest example of
19 overreach on the part of the state trying to
20 interfere with local control.
21 And I notice this seems to be a
22 pattern. Whether we're talking about Albany
23 dictating when local elections are going to be
24 held, or whether we're talking about how we are
25 going to enforce local codes, it seems as though
3010
1 the party of No Kings wants to operate as a king
2 and wants to dictate how local municipalities
3 handle their local affairs.
4 This bill raises serious
5 constitutional concerns under Article 9 of the
6 New York State Constitution and Municipal
7 Home Rule Law because it allows a secretary-run
8 code enforcement program to supersede an existing
9 locally established municipal code enforcement
10 program, even allowing code enforcement officers
11 from a different jurisdiction to come in to
12 enforce codes that they're unfamiliar with and do
13 not understand the local process and local
14 decision-making behind them.
15 This is the latest in a series of
16 bad bills. It's the latest in a series of bad
17 bills that tries to allow the state to take over
18 local law enforcement, to take over local code
19 enforcement, and to take over local
20 decision-making.
21 And I will be voting no and
22 encourage my colleagues to do the same.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
24 Rhoads to be recorded in the negative.
25 Announce the results.
3011
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 600, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Chan, Griffo, Helming, Murray,
4 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
5 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
6 Ayes, 36. Nays, 16.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 610, Senate Print 1694A, by Senator Skoufis, an
11 act to amend the Penal Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect on the first of November.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 611, Senate Print 2494, by Senator Gounardes, an
3012
1 act to amend the Civil Rights Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. 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, 52.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 677, Senate Print 1197, by Senator Addabbo, an
16 act to amend the Social Services Law.
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.
3013
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 680, Senate Print 5538, by Senator Baskin, an act
6 to amend the Public Health Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
20 reading of the calendar.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: If I could
22 return for a moment to motions, Mr. President.
23 Amendments are offered to the
24 following Third Reading Calendar bills:
25 By Senator May, page 6,
3014
1 Calendar Number 184, Senate Print 6985;
2 By Senator Mayer, page 9,
3 Calendar Number 275, Senate Print 4470B;
4 And by Senator Harckham, page 15,
5 Calendar Number 425, Senate Print 6390.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
7 amendments are received, and the bills will
8 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: At this time we
11 will call an immediate meeting of the
12 Rules Committee in Room 332.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There
14 will be an immediate meeting of the
15 Rules Committee in Room 332.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate will
17 stand at ease.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
19 Senate will stand at ease.
20 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
21 at 3:37 p.m.)
22 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
23 3:43 p.m.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 Senate will return to order.
3015
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: There's a report
3 of the Rules Committee at the desk.
4 Can we take that up, please.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
6 Secretary will read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator
8 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
9 reports the following bill:
10 Senate Print 9883, by
11 Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations
12 for the support of government.
13 The bill reports direct to third
14 reading.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
16 the report of the Rules Committee.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: All those
18 in favor of accepting the report of the
19 Rules Committee, please signify by saying aye.
20 (Response of "Aye.")
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
22 nay.
23 (Response of "Nay.")
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
25 report of the Rules Committee is accepted,
3016
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
3 the supplemental calendar.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
5 Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 695, Senate Print 9883, by Senator Gianaris, an
8 act making appropriations for the support of
9 government.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there a
11 message of necessity and appropriation at the
12 desk?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There is
14 a message of necessity and appropriation at the
15 desk.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
17 the message.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: All those
19 in favor of accepting the message please signify
20 by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
23 nay.
24 (Response of "Nay.")
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3017
1 message is accepted, and the bill is before the
2 house.
3 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
5 will be laid aside.
6 Senator Gianaris, that's the end of
7 the supplemental calendar.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's move on to
9 the controversial calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 Secretary will ring the bell.
12 The Secretary will read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 695, Senate Print 9883, by Senator Gianaris, an
15 act making appropriations for the support of
16 government.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
18 O'Mara, why do you rise?
19 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I was just wondering whether the
22 sponsor of this would yield for a few questions
23 on this budget extender.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Will the
25 sponsor yield?
3018
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes, I do.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
5 Senator.
6 I guess last week at this time we
7 didn't know why you were filling in for our good
8 friend Senator Liz Krueger. Today, we do. And I
9 first and foremost want to wish her -- knowing
10 Liz, she's probably watching this right now --
11 (Laughter.)
12 SENATOR O'MARA: -- but our well
13 wishes from myself and the entire conference for
14 a speedy recovery.
15 Get back here soon, so I don't have
16 to continue debating Senator Gianaris on these
17 bills.
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR O'MARA: You know, he's not
20 quite as forthcoming with information for us.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR O'MARA: But thank you,
23 Senator.
24 We're now on our -- this is our
25 third budget extender of this session. We're now
3019
1 at April 12th, 12 days late -- or are we at the
2 13th now? The 13th now. Thirteen days late on
3 this.
4 Two days away from Tax Day, when
5 everybody has to have their tax payments in on
6 time, yet we don't have our budget done on time.
7 This extender, how much is being
8 extended in spending, and what period of time?
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: First of all,
10 let me publicly share our concerns for our
11 colleague. It's great to see a moment of
12 bipartisanship when a colleague's health is in
13 question. So we appreciate that, Senator O'Mara.
14 I would also encourage you to stop
15 asking me yes/no questions if you want more
16 involved answers.
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: This extender
19 adds an additional 3.4 billion to what we've
20 already passed, so the cumulative total is now
21 7.4 billion.
22 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
23 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
24 yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
3020
1 sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
4 sponsor yields.
5 SENATOR O'MARA: To not ask you a
6 yes or no question, can you tell us what the
7 3.4 billion is being allocated to?
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: I can. It is
9 predominantly Medicaid spending.
10 About 4.5 billion of that 7.4 is
11 Medicaid, and then various other services to pay
12 public salaries and the like.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
14 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
15 yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
20 sponsor yields.
21 SENATOR O'MARA: Now, by my
22 calculation we now -- between these three budget
23 extenders, we're about $7.5 billion into the next
24 fiscal year at this point?
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Correct.
3021
1 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
2 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
3 yield.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR O'MARA: And this gets us
10 till Thursday, so presumably we'll be back here
11 on Thursday for another extender?
12 Because I assume -- at least I
13 haven't heard anything about any of the remaining
14 nine budget bills being ready for us to vote on.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: That's correct.
16 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
17 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
18 yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
20 sponsor yield?
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
23 sponsor yields.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, can you
25 tell us what the holdup is, what issues are
3022
1 precluding the final agreement on these remaining
2 nine budget bills?
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Well, as I
4 mentioned last week, they are the ones that have
5 been publicly discussed. They tend to be bills
6 that don't have direct correlation to the budget
7 itself in terms of dollars and cents, which is
8 frustrating for many of us.
9 And the fact that it takes three
10 parties to agree, and the person who has proposed
11 the budget seems less than willing to appreciate
12 that.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
14 Through you, Mr. President, if the
15 Senator will continue to yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
20 sponsor yields.
21 SENATOR O'MARA: Have the
22 majorities been presented with any specific
23 language yet regarding the changes to the CLCPA
24 that the Governor has been seeking?
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: No. Well, let
3023
1 me -- let me amend that.
2 There is language that gets floated
3 back and forth, but nothing in terms of an actual
4 bill, a full bill.
5 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
6 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
7 yield.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
9 sponsor yield?
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
12 sponsor yields.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: Can you tell us
14 what those main points are of that that the
15 holdup is revolving around?
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: No.
17 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
18 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
19 yield.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Does the
21 sponsor yield?
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
24 sponsor yields.
25 SENATOR O'MARA: Are there any
3024
1 table targets yet for the various conference
2 budget committees?
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: No.
4 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
5 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
6 yield.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Will the
8 sponsor yield?
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 sponsor yields.
12 SENATOR O'MARA: Do we have a
13 schedule for when the joint budget conference
14 committees are going to meet?
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: No.
16 It seems that the strategy the
17 Governor is undertaking involves agreement on the
18 non-budgetary issues before we discuss the
19 budget. So no.
20 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
21 Senator.
22 On the bill.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
24 O'Mara on the bill.
25 SENATOR O'MARA: You know, here we
3025
1 are again, a week post last week's extender, now
2 extending us for only four days at this point.
3 You know, it's just -- it's
4 Groundhog Day all over again, except now we get
5 to do it twice this week. And really no progress
6 being seen, none that's been conveyed by the
7 majorities here. And there's been nothing really
8 reported in the media of any type of what the
9 standstill is all about and what we're trying to
10 get agreements on as well.
11 I think, as I've stated in prior
12 extenders, you know, New Yorkers deserve to know
13 what's being haggled over and why, so that they
14 maybe can provide some input on what's being
15 discussed. Because we're undoubtedly, as years
16 pass, probably going to get stuck with budget
17 bills, nine of them left, with messages of
18 necessity like we're getting these extenders on.
19 And there's really no reason we
20 couldn't have had a message of necessity for this
21 extender today, because we could have been
22 prepared and had that notice for three days for
23 us to be able to review the actual bill, rather
24 than getting it about this time yesterday.
25 So, you know, we deserve to do
3026
1 better for the constituents and the citizens of
2 New York State. And an open and transparent
3 process about what this soon to be probably close
4 to $270 billion budget comes in at, and what the
5 details of that are, with major concerns over the
6 rising costs of utilities in this state, the
7 impact of the CLCPA on those costs, concerns of
8 rising insurance rates, which is another one of
9 the major issues holding up the budget
10 discussions and causing exacerbation of the
11 affordability crisis we have here in New York
12 State.
13 And it -- it is -- it's not good
14 government for us to be doing this all behind
15 closed doors. Nothing to share with the public,
16 who sends us here to represent them. Yet we get
17 no information whatsoever on what's going on. So
18 it's very concerning with this and what's going
19 on.
20 So thank you, Mr. President.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Are there
22 any other Senators wishing to be heard?
23 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
24 closed.
25 The Secretary will ring the bell.
3027
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
3 we've agreed to restore this bill to the
4 noncontroversial calendar.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 17. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
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, 52.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
18 reading of the supplemental calendar.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
20 further business at the desk?
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There is
22 no further business at the desk.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to adjourn
24 until Wednesday, April 15th, at 3:00 p.m., with
25 the intervening days being legislative days.
3028
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: On
2 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
3 Wednesday, April 15th, at 3:00 p.m., with the
4 intervening days being legislative days.
5 (Whereupon, at 3:53 p.m., the Senate
6 adjourned.)
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