Regular Session - April 7, 2026
2075
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 7, 2026
11 11:17 a.m.
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13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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2076
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: 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 BAILEY: Reading
14 of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 April 6, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Friday, April 3,
18 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: 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.
2077
1 Reports of select committees.
2 Communications and reports from
3 state officers.
4 Motions and resolutions.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
7 Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Good
9 morning.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
11 Senator Mayer, I wish to call up Senate Print
12 4470A, recalled from the Assembly, which is now
13 at the desk.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 Secretary will read.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 275, Senate Print 4470A, by Senator Mayer, an act
18 to amend the Executive Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll on reconsideration.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
23 reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
24 (Laughter.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: I got a
2078
1 bit ahead of myself.
2 Call the roll on reconsideration.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 50.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
7 Calendar.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
9 following amendments.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 amendments are received.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: There will now
13 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
14 Room 332.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There
16 will be an immediate meeting of the
17 Rules Committee in Room 332.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate
19 stands at ease.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 Senate will stand at ease.
22 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
23 at 11:19 a.m.)
24 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
25 at 11:24 a.m.)
2079
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 Senate will return to order.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
5 there's a report of the Rules Committee at the
6 desk.
7 Let's take that up, please.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senator
11 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
12 reports the following bills:
13 Senate Print 1966, by Senator Ryan,
14 an act to amend the Social Services Law;
15 Senate Print 2011, by
16 Senator Parker, an act to direct the Department
17 of State and the Public Service Commission to
18 jointly study and report upon the provisions of
19 consumer credit reporting agencies;
20 Senate Print 8963, by
21 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
22 Public Health Law;
23 Senate Print 9585, by
24 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
25 Public Health Law;
2080
1 Senate Print 9602, by Senator Brouk,
2 an act to amend the Social Services Law;
3 Senate Print 9612, by
4 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
5 Education Law;
6 Senate Print 9757, by
7 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend
8 the Executive Law;
9 Senate Print 9758, by Senator Myrie,
10 an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;
11 Senate Print 9818, by
12 Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations
13 for the support of government.
14 All bills reported direct to third
15 reading.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
17 the report of the Rules Committee.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
19 in favor of accepting the report of the
20 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
23 nay.
24 (No response.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2081
1 report of the Rules Committee is accepted.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's move on to
4 the supplemental calendar, beginning with
5 Calendar 694, please.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There's a
7 substitution at the desk.
8 The Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Parker
10 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
11 Assembly Bill Number 9333 and substitute it for
12 the identical Senate Bill 8963, Third Reading
13 Calendar 688.
14 Senator Gounardes moves to
15 discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
16 Assembly Bill Number 10542 and substitute it for
17 the identical Senate Bill 9585, Third Reading
18 Calendar 689.
19 Senator Brouk moves to discharge,
20 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number
21 10539 and substitute it for the identical Senate
22 Bill 9602, Third Reading Calendar 690.
23 Senator Hinchey moves to discharge,
24 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number
25 10541 and substitute it for the identical Senate
2082
1 Bill 9612, Third Reading Calendar 691.
2 Senator Scarcella-Spanton moves to
3 discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
4 Assembly Bill Number 10540 and substitute it for
5 the identical Senate Bill 9757, Third Reading
6 Calendar 692.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: So
8 ordered.
9 The Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 694, Senate Print 9818, by Senator Gianaris, an
12 act making appropriations for the support of
13 government.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
15 is there a message of necessity and appropriation
16 at the desk?
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
18 a message of necessity and appropriation at the
19 desk.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
21 the message.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
23 in favor of accepting the message please signify
24 by saying aye.
25 (Response of "Aye.")
2083
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
2 nay.
3 (Response of "Nay.")
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
5 message is accepted, and the bill is before the
6 house.
7 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is laid aside.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please proceed
11 with the rest of the supplemental calendar,
12 please.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 688, Assembly Bill Number 9333, by
17 Assemblymember Hevesi, an act to amend the
18 Public Health Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
23 shall have become a law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
2084
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 689, Assembly Bill Number 10542, by
9 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
10 Public Health Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 690, Assembly Bill Number 10539, by
25 Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman, an act to amend
2085
1 the Social Services Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
5 act shall take effect one year after it shall
6 have become a law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar 690, voting in the negative are
14 Senators Rhoads and Weik.
15 Ayes, 51. Nays, 2.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 691, Assembly Bill Number 10541, by
20 Assemblymember Powers, an act to amend the
21 Education Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
2086
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 692, Assembly Bill Number 10540, by
11 Assemblymember Cashman, an act to amend the
12 Executive Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 692, voting in the negative:
24 Senator Weik.
25 Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
2087
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 693, Senate Print 9758, by Senator Myrie, an act
5 to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
19 reading of today's supplemental calendar.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Let's go
21 to the controversial calendar, please.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
23 Secretary will ring the bell.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2088
1 694, Senate Print 9818, by Senator Gianaris, an
2 act making appropriations for the support of
3 government.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
5 O'Mara, why do you rise?
6 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 Is it you, Senator Gianaris --
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: It's me.
10 SENATOR O'MARA: -- to ask
11 questions of?
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: For
13 Senator Krueger, yes.
14 SENATOR O'MARA: Would the Senator
15 yield for a couple of questions on this budget
16 extender bill.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Does the
18 Senator yield?
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes, I do.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 Senator yields.
22 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, this is
23 our second extender of the budget for this fiscal
24 year, and it extends us till next Tuesday, I
25 believe. How much is the total spending or
2089
1 appropriations in this bill?
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Approximately
3 $4 billion.
4 SENATOR O'MARA: And this will get
5 us through next Tuesday?
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Correct.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Through
8 you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue
9 to yield.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
11 sponsor yield?
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, can you
16 give us an update on where you feel budget
17 negotiations are? Are any of the remaining nine
18 budget bills locked down yet? And what are the
19 major issues that we're grappling with?
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: None of the
21 remaining bills are locked down.
22 The remaining issues are the ones
23 that you have seen reported, not much different
24 from the last extender we did.
25 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
2090
1 Mr. President, if the Senator will yield.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Does the
3 sponsor yield?
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, have
8 there been table targets assigned yet for the
9 remaining open bills?
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: No.
11 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
12 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
13 yield.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Does the
15 sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 Senator yields.
19 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, are there
20 any scheduled meetings of the joint budget
21 conference committees to work on finalizing these
22 bills?
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Nope.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: On the bill.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2091
1 O'Mara on the bill.
2 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 Just, you know, the concern
5 continues from this side of the aisle of the lack
6 of any urgency to get this budget done. We're
7 now over a week late -- excuse me -- and now
8 New Yorkers, you know, really deserve to know
9 what's going on with the State Budget that now is
10 going to be clearly in excess of $260 billion,
11 probably closer to $270 billion.
12 Just where this legislative body
13 stands in negotiating issues that are open, not
14 even talking about what issues are open, what's
15 holding things up -- it's very concerning. And,
16 you know, it's like a repeat of every year around
17 here, it seems.
18 And it's just not a good way to do
19 business. We should be doing better for the
20 people of New York.
21 You know, because of the significant
22 religious holidays we've had over the past week
23 and into this week, I'm okay with proceeding with
24 the extenders here and supporting that.
25 But we really need to get down to
2092
1 business here and start locking these budget
2 bills down, start letting New Yorkers know what
3 we're looking at for next year, and really where
4 everybody stands on these issues that appear to
5 be holding this budget up.
6 Thank you, Mr. President.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
8 you, Senator O'Mara.
9 Are there any other Senators wishing
10 to be heard?
11 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
12 closed.
13 The Secretary will ring the bell.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
16 we've agreed to restore this bill to the
17 noncontroversial calendar.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
19 consent, the bill is restored to the
20 noncontroversial calendar.
21 Read the last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 14. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
2093
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
8 reading of the controversial calendar.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
10 further business at the desk?
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
12 no further business at the desk.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
14 adjourn until Monday, April 13th, at 3:00 p.m.,
15 intervening days being legislative days.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
17 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
18 April 13, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being
19 legislative.
20 (Whereupon, at 11:34 a.m., the
21 Senate adjourned.)
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