Transcript Highlights:

• Senator. The junior senator from the 8th. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator. The Senator from Greenbrier. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator. The Senator from Greenbrien. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator. The Senator from Watson. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator. The Senator from Pleasance. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the prior minutes, and removed House Bill 5537 from the agenda. It then took up three House bills. House Bill 4002, creating the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University to connect higher education research with state and local government, was explained by counsel and advanced to the full Senate with a do pass recommendation after brief supportive discussion. House Bill 4573, requiring the Department of Human Services to share information with the Department of Education and county boards about post-secondary transition programs for students with foster care experience, was also reported to the full Senate with a do pass recommendation. The most extensive discussion centered on House Bill 4425, which would repeal the current code section allowing students one transfer during their four years of secondary school while retaining athletic eligibility. Counsel explained that the repeal would return transfer eligibility decisions to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (SSAC). Several athletic directors, principals, and coaches testified in support of repeal, arguing the current rule has led to recruiting, instability, competitive imbalance, and harm to school communities and team culture. They cited examples of transfers affecting rosters, community support, and competitive balance, and said the rule has created a “free agency” atmosphere in high school sports. SSAC director Wayne Ryan testified that the legislature’s current code has limited the association’s ability to address the issue, and said the SSAC wants the rule repealed so it can adopt an emergency rule and then work with its membership to craft a better system. He said bona fide residential moves remain eligible and described the waiver process for hardship cases. After discussion from senators on both sides about school choice, fairness, and the need for a better long-term solution, the committee voted to report House Bill 4425 to the full Senate with a do pass recommendation, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• With us are Senators O'Mara, Bottcher, and May. We have a quorum with vote sheets, correct? Yes.
• Sponsor Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in relation to requiring the
• Sponsor Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. I make a motion.
• Sponsor Senator Passaud and act to amend the executive law and the label law.
• Sponsor Senator Harkham and act to amend the public officer's law. I make motions are second.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Investigations and Government Operations Committee met on March 10, 2026 and considered a series of bills, mostly reported favorably. Measures discussed included S.104, requiring the State Liquor Authority Chair to make quarterly reports; S.333, concerning the description of the state arms; S.384, related to the Public Lands Law; S.647, expanding video conferencing for purely advisory bodies; S.663 and S.3075, both Alcoholic Beverage Control Law bills involving alcohol sales and private label liquor; S.3371 and S.6599, Public Officers Law measures; S.5396, concerning private label wine; S.5827, requiring child-resistant packaging for edible cannabis products; and S.9020A, another Public Officers Law bill. Members also briefly noted the importance of public lands protections and one bill’s relevance to the committee’s prior work on state symbols. Two bills were referred to finance rather than reported: S.625A, dealing with the timing of annual tax elections, and S.3052, establishing a municipal right of first refusal for state land sold at public auction. S.4657A, a legislative law bill concerning the Law Revision Commission, was also referred to finance after being noted as part of the one-house budget resolution. Most other bills were approved with one or more members voting without recommendation, and S.663 received one nay while still being reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Senator<00:41:25.800> Oh.
• Senator Oh. Senator Oh.
• Senator Bahr: Aye. Senator Watzek? No. Senator Dziedzic? Aye. Senator Fateh? No.
• Senator Hoffman and Jaeger? No. Senator Johnson Stewart? No. Senator Koran? Yes. Senator Mathews?
• Senate. Senate.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Pa. members of the committee? Senator Pa.
• >> Senator<00:12:48.160> Nelson. >> Senator Nelson. >> Senator Nelson.
• >> Senator<00:13:26.639> Hley. >> Senator Hley. >> Senator Hley.
• >> Senator<00:31:40.640> Hley. >> Senator Hley. >> Senator Hley.
• c> Hley thing as Senator Nelson and Senator Hley thing as Senator Nelson and Senator Hley said<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair, uh Senator.
• Um >> Thank you chair uh Senator.
• Thank you, Senator Dornneck. Thank you, Senator Dornneck.
• Yes, Senator<00:44:18.000> Kubc. Senator Kubc. Senator Kubc.
• Senate Labor Committee is adjourned. Senate Labor Committee is adjourned. >> Thanks.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill is Senate Bill S-840A by Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
• The second bill is Senate Bill S-7635B by Senator Ryan.
• The third bill is Senate Bill S-7808A by Senator Stossel-Spant?
• The fourth bill is Senate Bill S-7930A by Senator Schumer?
• The eighth bill is Senate Bill S-9213 by Senator Discusis?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on March 10, 2026, with a quorum present and 11 bills on the agenda. The committee chair noted that all measures were recommended to be referred to the Finance Committee. The bills largely concerned retirement and pension-related changes for public employees, including increased military service credit, retirement rules for 911 operators and dispatchers, salary base determinations for NYC police pension members, retired firefighters serving as fire science instructors, borrowing from accumulated contributions for certain NYC correction members, a cost-of-living-related benefit for Verrazzano Bridge toll employees, restoration of 20-year service credit for certain NYC correction officers and sanitation workers, death benefits for Orange County correction personnel, pension benefits for fire marshals with service beyond 25 years, prior service treatment for NYC Police Pension Fund members, and death benefits for certain retirement system beneficiaries. Members moved each bill without substantive debate, and each received unanimous support in the recorded vote tally of seven ayes, zero nays, and zero AWRs. Several bills were sponsored by Senator Jackson, who also participated in the motions on those measures. Senator Cooney arrived during the meeting and joined the committee proceedings. No opposition or amendments were recorded. At the conclusion of the agenda, all 11 bills were reported to the Finance Committee, and the chair adjourned the meeting after noting the completion of the committee’s third meeting of the 26th legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATOR GIANARIS.
• [Applause] Senator Gianaris. Please recognize Senator Webb for another introduction. Senator Webb.
• Senator Gianaris. >> Please take up the calendar. >> Calendar 176, Senate Print 259A, Senator Mayer,
• Thank you, Senator Murray. Senator Murray recorded in the affirmative.
• Calendar 4479, Senate Print Calendar 449, Senate Print 3078, Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the Legislative

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity. A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections. The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fellow members of the committee include Senator Sam Sutton, Senator José Serrano, Senator Brian Kavanagh
• , Senator Monica Martinez, Senator Robert Rolison, and Ranking Member Senator Jake Ashby.
• We have Senator Ashby, Senator Martinez, and Senator Rolison present.
• The third bill on our agenda is Senate Bill 3180 by Senator Sanders.
• The ninth bill on agenda is Senate Bill Bill 9091 by Senator Clear.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Aging Committee met on March 10, 2026, with a quorum present and considered 10 bills focused on services and supports for older New Yorkers. The agenda included measures on dementia information access through New York Connects (S.118A), expanded informal caregiver training (S.903), elder abuse prevention training (S.3180), creation of an Office of Older Adult Workforce Development (S.3750), state handling of income verification for the senior citizen tax exemption (S.4805), a filing extension for the enhanced STAR exemption (S.5069), language access services for senior and disability-related tax abatement programs (S.5280), and sustainability planning for senior centers (S.7160). Committee members and sponsors described these bills as recurring priorities that had passed in prior years, with several aimed at improving access, administration, and outreach. The committee also advanced S.9091, which would establish a state master plan on aging dashboard to improve transparency, accountability, and public tracking of implementation; supporters cited backing from the Statewide Senior Action Council and Livable New York. The final bill, S.9165, would require the Office for the Aging to issue an annual report on budget expenditures for the senior population, with the sponsor saying it would help identify whether resources are adequately reaching older adults across agencies. Several bills were noted as having previously passed the committee and/or floor, and one was described as having been vetoed in prior years despite agreement on the policy goal. All 10 bills were approved by the committee, with most reported to the floor and S.3750 reported to the Finance Committee. No opposition or substantive amendments were recorded during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been joined by our Ranking Member, Senator White, and Senator Rawlinson.
• Our third bill is Senate Bill 1982A by Senator Furtle.
• Senator White, Senator Rawlinson. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you.
• Senator White, Senator Rawlinson, all in favor. All right, thank you.
• Our 12th bill is Senate Bill 8941 by Senator Martinez.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Local Government committee met on March 10 and considered 13 bills, mostly on municipal finance, property tax exemptions, local planning, and public safety. Measures included Next Generation 911 system updates, good-faith deposit procedures for bond sales, sheriff and undersheriff training requirements, comprehensive planning for housing needs, increased volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker benefits, industrial development agency incentives for pollution mitigation projects, and several local real property tax exemption or conveyance bills. The committee also took up bills on water quality improvement funding for the Town of Warwick, special equalization rates for certain school districts, and eye and tissue donation procedures. Testimony and discussion were limited on most bills, with members generally moving them without comment. There was some discussion on the Nassau County assessor exemption bill, where a member noted a separate bill addressing a recurring property-closing issue. The comprehensive planning bill drew the most recorded opposition, with one senator voting nay and another recorded as AWR. Several other bills also had AWRs or nays noted, but no extended debate was captured. All 13 bills were voted out of committee, with most reported to Finance or other committees as noted. The committee adjourned after the final bill, and the clerk was acknowledged for his first meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are joined by Senator Prasad, Senator Myrie, Senator Weber, and again our ranking member, Senator
• Senator Myrie, Senator Weber, and again our ranking member, Senator Rolison.
• Moved by Senator Emery. Seconded by... Move the bill. Moved by Senator Myrie.
• Seconded by both Senator Rolison and Senator Persaud. Any AWR or negative votes?
• Seconded by Senator Rolison. Seconded by Senator Weber. Any AWR or negative votes? All right.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Children and Families Committee met on March 10, 2026, for its first meeting of the year and considered a seven-bill agenda, with one bill laid aside pending amendment. The committee discussed measures on diaper allowances (S-179), custodial interrogation of juveniles by law enforcement (S-878B), child care assistance and the child care block grant (S-2001), remote training for agency personnel (S-5437), inspections of child daycare homes and opioid overdose prevention (S-6225), juvenile facility oversight by the Correctional Association (S-7117), and caseload standards for child protective services workers (S-7318). S-6753 was set aside by the sponsor for a future agenda after amendment. Members generally expressed support for the bills, often noting hopes that measures would advance through both houses and be signed into law. The juvenile interrogation bill drew two negative votes, and the juvenile facility oversight bill received one abstention and two negative votes, though both were still advanced based on the voting sheets. The daycare inspection/opioid prevention bill was supported in light of a recent Bronx child death, and the caseload standards bill was praised as a good bill. All of the bills considered were referred onward, mostly to Finance, with S-878B referred to Codes. The committee completed the agenda without further action beyond these referrals and the laying aside of S-6753.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am New York State Senator Pete Harckham.
• Ranker, Senator Dan Stec, Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and Senator Palumbo.
• Our next bill, Senate Bill 3408 by Senator ...: an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in
• Senator Hinchey, seconded by Senator May. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec? All right.
• And we've been joined by Senator Fahy. Welcome, Senator. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, chaired by Senator Pete Harckham, met with a quorum and considered a 10-bill active list. The committee advanced several bills on environmental monitoring and reporting, including measures on SPDES public notice submission, bioheating fuel requirements, community air monitoring, air quality monitoring for major mass transit projects, climate-related financial risk disclosure, mercury thermostat collection, financial responsibility for major facilities or vessels, a New York Youth Climate Corps, and a DEC study of school retrofits near major highways. Some of these bills were advanced on the calendar, while others were referred to finance. The committee discussed Senator Harckham’s PFAS and biosolids bill at length. Members reviewed amendments intended to address Farm Bureau concerns, including language changes that removed opposition, and discussed the proposed statewide moratorium, eligibility for voluntary testing, and the new Agricultural PFAS Response Fund. Harckham and others noted that the bill would help reimburse or assist farmers with remediation if contamination is found, and that the public should understand only a small percentage of New York farms have received direct biosolid application. Members also noted that the bill could affect other biosolid uses, such as at a golf course in one senator’s district. Throughout the meeting, senators asked brief questions, offered supportive comments, and in several cases recorded votes of without recommendation or nay on specific bills. The committee ultimately voted to advance or refer all ten bills as appropriate, with the PFAS bill referred to finance after unanimous support from those present. The meeting concluded after welcoming several senators who joined during the session, including new member Senator Bachar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joining us today are Senators Lou, Jackson, Griffo, and Murray, and Senator Fahy.
• Joining us today are Senators Liu, Jackson, Griffo, and Murray, and Senator Fahy.
• Opposed, Senator Murray. Without recommendation with Senator Griffo. And Senator Oberacker.
• Third bill on the agenda, Senate Bill 516 by Senator Reed.
• Bill moved by Senator Jackson, seconded by Senator Fahy. Move to bill.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Higher Education Committee met on March 10, 2026, with a quorum present and took up seven bills. The committee advanced S.553, which would require SUNY and CUNY to observe all religious holidays and specifically include Asian Lunar New Year; S.2046, creating Mental Health Educational Opportunity Programs and sending it to the Finance Committee; S.516, establishing a Black History Preservation Commission within SUNY; S.6334, allowing direct support staff in non-facility OPWDD programs to provide nursing services under a registered professional nurse’s order; S.6482, updating geologist licensure requirements; S.6759, authorizing parents or legal guardians to apply topical fluoride varnish to a child’s teeth; and S.6929, requiring dental laboratories to register with the Department of Health. Most bills had no opposition or only a support memo, including support from CUNY for S.553 and from the New York State Council of Professional Geologists for S.6482. Members generally moved the bills forward without substantive debate, though several were reported “without recommendation.” S.2046 was the only measure explicitly referred onward to the Finance Committee. During consideration of S.6929, Senator May asked whether the registration requirement would affect a dental office using its own 3D printer to make dental items; staff said they would check and follow up. The committee completed its work and adjourned at 11:12 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to introduce my vice chair, Senator McKelvey. Senator McKelvey.
• Aloha, Senator. Aloha.
• So, Kathleen, why Aloha, Senator. Aloha.
• That's my senator. Um, okay. I'm from Kaneohe. Yeah. Terrific.
• your state senator is my vice chair. Hi. your state senator is my vice chair. Hi.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held a hearing on several Governor’s Message nominations. The chair opened with instructions about live streaming, testimony limits, and the possibility of reconvening if technical problems occurred. One nomination, GM 542 for Jamie Gagnon to the West O‘ahu subarea of the Hawaii Health Planning Council, was initially deferred because he was not present and there was concern he may not have received notice; when recalled later in the hearing, he testified that he wanted to help address limited provider resources and improve coordination of care. The committee also heard from Christine Cabingao Ting Kang for GM 541, but she was not present and her nomination was deferred to Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 225. The committee then heard strong support testimony for GM 688, Raelynn Tenno for the Pa‘ala Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs. Tenno said she wanted another term because of her experience caring for elderly family members and her work on emergency preparedness for older adults and condominium/HOA communities. Supporters from the Office of Aging, the PABEA chair, the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, and others praised her knowledge of housing, elder issues, and community service. GM 712, Kathleen Merriam for the State Council on Mental Health, also drew support; Merriam described over 40 years in mental health work, including managing a community mental health center in Kaneohe and supporting clubhouse programs. The committee also considered GM 560, Jeffrey Hicks for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council. Hicks said his career in justice and juvenile work motivated him to continue contributing to rehabilitation efforts for youth. The chair and members discussed the importance of prevention and rehabilitation in juvenile justice. After testimony, the committee moved to decision-making and voted to advise and consent on GM 542, GM 688, GM 712, and GM 560, while GM 541 was deferred to a later date and time. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are joined by Senator Fahy and Senator Fernandez. We have voting sheets for other folks.
• Moved by Senator Borrello, seconded by Senator Fahy and Senator Fernandez. All those in favor? Aye.
• And our last bill, next to last bill: Senate 1784 by Senator Hinchey.
• Seconded by Senator Fernandez and Senator Fahy. All those in favor? Yes.
• Senator Coney.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture first moved through a series of animal welfare bills, reporting all of them to the floor. The measures included bills on sentencing for aggravated cruelty to animals, additional aggravated cruelty provisions, penalties for animal abandonment, requiring owners or lessors of vacated properties to inspect for abandoned animals, and restricting surgical depopulation procedures on dogs and pets. Members generally expressed support, and each bill advanced by motion and voice vote with no noted opposition or recusals; one additional bill was held by the sponsor. The committee then heard from Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball, who gave an update on state and federal agriculture issues. He discussed the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, federal farm bill negotiations, specialty crops, labor and H-2A reform, dairy margin coverage concerns, possible cuts to EQIP, organic certification funding, trade and USMCA review, tariffs and input costs, and disaster concerns affecting Long Island seafood producers. He also highlighted state programs such as Nourish New York, Dairy Modernization, farm-to-school efforts, and workforce development initiatives. Members asked questions about raw milk sales, H-2A labor, solar siting on farmland, farm-to-school expansion, tariff impacts, and support for farmers facing federal cuts and rising costs. Ball said raw milk sales remain limited to licensed on-farm sales with inspections and warnings, supported reform of H-2A and broader labor policy, urged protecting prime and actively farmed land from solar development, and emphasized the need to preserve food access programs like Nourish New York and farmers market nutrition benefits. The meeting ended after the commissioner’s testimony and member discussion, with no further formal action beyond the earlier bill reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Barr. Senator Barr.
• Senator >> Thank you, Senator Boldon. Senator Matthews.
• Senator Westlin: Aye. Senator Koran: No. Senator Carlson: Aye. Senator Bahr: No.
• Senator Boldon: Aye. Senator Swedzinski: Yep. Senator Limmer: No. Senator Lucero: No.
• Senator Marty: Aye. Senator Matthews: No. Senator Port: Aye.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Senator Omar Fateh. Uh Senator Omar Fateh.
• Thank you so much, Senator Gustafson. Last up, we have Senator Omar Fateh. Welcome, Senator.
• Senator Duckworth? Senator Duckworth?
• Wiger and Senator reasons that Senator Wiger and Senator Abeler<00:54:36.720> just<00:54:37.240
• to<01:00:04.360> that um Senator the Senator alluded to that um Senator the Senator alluded

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, Senator Kunesh.
• Thank you, Senator.
• > with<00:11:52.400> that<00:11:52.680> Senate Thank you Senator and with that Senate
• Um, Senator Members, any questions? Um, Senator Kroon. Kroon. Kroon.
• Go ahead, Senator Utke. Go ahead, Senator Utke.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:20:05.520> McEwen. Senator McEwen. Senator McEwen.
• No. >> Senator McEwen. No. >> Senator Green. Yes. >> Senator Klobuchar. I. >> Senator Houschild.
• Senator<00:30:37.840> Kasky. Senator Kasky. Senator Kasky.
• >> Senator Lang. >> Senator Lang. >> Senator Lang. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Senator Wiger. >> Senator Wiger
• Uh Senator Senator Lee. So, come around. Uh Senator Senator Lee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator<00:51:18.960> Abbas. >> Senator Abbas. >> Senator Abbas.
• questions you did, Senator. questions you did, Senator.
• Senator<01:05:27.839> Aler, Senator Aler, Senator Aler, >> thank<01:05:30.960> you.
• Senator Al to pass is four to one. She Senator Al to pass is four to one.
• >> Senator<01:40:58.800> Sullivan. >> Senator Sullivan.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Judiciary Committee will now open this public hearing.
• >> Thank you. >> Senate Chair recognizes, uh, Jr.
• Senator Oll. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Senator Oll. >> Thank you. Other questions? Senator Oll.
• >> Senator Atlas. >> Senator Atlas.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all