New York State Assembly

I’m disappointed and I’m furious but I can’t say that I’m shocked at Republicans in Congress passing this big, awful bill. The cruelty, the lack of empathy and the lack of concern for our friends, neighbors and fellow Americans is par for the...

Speaker Carl Heastie today continued his annual statewide tour at the Huntington YMCA with Assemblymember Steve Stern, where they presented the state championship winning swim team with a proclamation, toured the recently updated facility and announced...

The administration in Washington can call this a “Big Beautiful Bill” all they want, but Americans know the truth. It is ugly and cruel and will be devastating for families across New York and across the country. They are taking an axe to Medicaid...

Speaker Carl Heastie continued his annual statewide tour today with Assemblywoman Judy Griffin visiting Baldwin High School’s wellness center and Innovation Learning Collaboratory in Nassau County. “Investing in our young people is critical to shaping...

Speaker Carl Heastie continued his annual statewide tour today with Assemblymember Billy Jones to visit the future site of the Plattsburgh YMCA and announce $4.5 million to complete the project. “The YMCA provides critical access to recreational, community...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Al Stirpe today toured the Onondaga Community College (OCC) cleanroom and heavy machinery room, to learn about the workforce development programs that will support Micron and give students opportunities in the semiconductor...

Speaker Carl Heastie today began his annual statewide tour in Oneida County, where he and Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon toured the Rome Family YMCA, and visited Bellamy Harbor Park to examine damage caused by the tornado that hit central New York...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal announced the passage of a bill that requires advertisers to disclose the use of a synthetic performer created using artificial intelligence (AI) (A.8887-B, Rosenthal). “With the surge of AI...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymembers Steve Otis, Donna Lupardo and Chris Eachus have announced the passage of a series of legislation to support emergency medical services (EMS) across the state. “Time and time again, our emergency medical professionals...

The Assembly today passed legislation that would remove the “100-foot rule” which requires existing utility ratepayers to subsidize the cost of connecting new ratepayers to the gas system. The conversations we heard on the floor of the People’s...

Earlier today we learned of the horrifying attacks on Representative Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman, members of the Minnesota State Legislature, and their spouses. I am devastated for their families and the people of Minnesota. Even at this...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Alex Bores today announced that the Assembly has passed the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, which will put critical safety standards in place for artificial intelligence (AI)...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Corrections Committee Chair Erik Dilan today announced the passage of legislation to make a series of changes to New York’s corrections system, improving safety for incarcerated individuals (A8871, Dilan). “The recent series...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, together with members of the Senate and Assembly Majorities, today called on the U.S. Senate to stop $13 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts that will put 1.5 million New Yorkers...

It is with deep sadness that I learned today of the passing of former Representative Charlie Rangel. He was a role model. As a kid growing up and getting into politics, he was a person you looked up to and wanted to emulate. He dedicated his life to public...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi today announced that the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget invests $2.2 billion in childcare, including $400 million to ensure that localities have the resources...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Ways and Means Committee Chair J. Gary Pretlow today announced that the $254.3 billion Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget puts money back into the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers and makes investments in critical...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Housing Committee Chair Linda B. Rosenthal today announced that the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget makes critical investments in affordable housing across New York State. The spending plan also includes the Housing...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Higher Education Committee Chair Alicia Hyndman today announced the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget makes critical investments in New York’s higher education system, supporting the State University of New York...

Speaker Carl Heastie, Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto and Libraries and Educational Technology Chair Robert Caroll today announced the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget provides $37.6 billion in funding to the General Support...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry B. Bronson today announced that Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget includes $8 billion to eliminate the Unemployment Trust Fund debt. “The Assembly Majority fought hard for this...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Consumer Protection Committee Chair Nily Rozic today announced that the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget delivers a major victory for consumers with the inclusion of several key protections. These new measures, spearheaded...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin today announced that the Assembly has passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow a terminally ill patient to request medication to end their lives peacefully (A.136, Paulin)....

It's springtime and hope springs eternal for baseball fans everywhere, but the dispute between Comcast and the YES Network is a dark cloud for followers of the New York Yankees. Sports fans will ultimately pay the price if Comcast and YES do not agree...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal announced the passage of legislation (A.1502, Rosenthal) this week to make menstrual products safer by restricting the purposeful inclusion of certain chemicals like lead, mercury and per-and polyfluoroalkyl...

Today, we are two days away from Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season and the Yankees home opener. As a member of the New York State Assembly that represents the Bronx and as a diehard Yankees fan, I am asking that Comcast come to a resolution with the...

Speaker Carl Heastie announced today that the Assembly has passed a package of legislation to improve government transparency during Sunshine Week. This week seeks to highlight the importance of public records and transparent governance. “This is a...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Higher Education Committee Chair Alicia Hyndman today announced the Assembly’s State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25 Proposed Budget makes higher education an achievable goal for all students by providing critical funding to the State...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto today announced the Assembly’s State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Proposed Budget provides $38.5 billion in funding to the General Support for Public Schools (GSPS), a $2.7 billion increase...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the Assembly’s proposed State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget will invest $1 billion into programs that will provide new opportunities and programs for children across the state. “Our children are our future...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry B. Bronson today announced that the Assembly’s State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget proposal includes $7 billion to eliminate the Unemployment Trust Fund debt. “New York’s businesses...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair J. Gary Pretlow today announced the Assembly will pass a $256.5 billion State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Budget proposal that will put money back in the pockets of New Yorkers, and invest...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley B. Mayer, Assembly Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto, Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Toby Ann Stavisky and Assembly...

It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the loss of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, president of the New York State NAACP. A dedicated civil rights leader, she committed her life to working on the frontlines of the fight for equality, bringing a seat to the table when...

These indictments are the next step in securing justice for Robert Brooks and his family. The beating and torture that led to Mr. Brooks’ death at Marcy Correctional Facility is disturbing and unconscionable. Each and every individual involved, and...

The president and the Republican members of New York’s congressional delegation – I’m looking at you Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota – may have just created a $16 billion financial hole in the most important transit...

Speaker Carl Heastie announced today that the Assembly has passed two bills to increase protection for medical staff that provide reproductive care and strengthen reproductive care access. “Healthcare decisions should always remain between a woman and...

Speaker Carl E. Heastie Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes Chair, Ways and Means J. Gary Pretlow Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos Assistant Speaker Vivian E. Cook Speaker Pro Tempore Pamela J. Hunter Chair,...

January 8, 2025Assembly Chamber_____________________________________[as prepared for delivery] Good afternoon members, staff and guests. I want to begin by wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year and thank you for joining us here in the New York...