New York State Assembly

It is with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, and my heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all of those he inspired over the years.Mayor Dinkins was a trailblazer. A man of great...

It is with great happiness and pride that I offer my sincerest and most heartfelt congratulations to President-Elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first woman of color to ever be elected to that office....

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that Isa Puello has been appointed secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs.“Isa has been an important member of my team for many years, and has done an great job as we faced unprecedented challenges here in New...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Nily Rozic today announced that legislation passed earlier this year to allow all state employees to receive their pay stubs electronically has been signed into law.“In today's day and age, most people...

I join with my current and former colleagues in mourning the passing of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. A veteran and an elected official, he was dedicated to serving our country and our state. Although we were on different ends of the ideological...

A New York State government office, the district office of Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright, was defiled overnight with hate-filled and grotesque anti-Semitic language. The Assembly Majority has always been very clear that we have a zero tolerance policy...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced a joint legislative hearing will be held to examine the response failures of various utility companies during the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias. The storm...

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that he is immediately implementing sanctions recommended by the bipartisan Assembly Ethics and Guidance Committee concerning the conduct of Assemblymember Michael Miller.The Ethics Committee found that Assemblymember...

I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to my good friend and junior high school classmate Mario Cilento on his re-election as president of the AFL-CIO.For years, Mario has fought to improve the lives and working conditions of the hardworking...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the Assembly has passed legislation to ensure vulnerable New Yorkers have the tools and resources they need to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and to foster trust and accurately trace the virus in our communities.“New...

Speaker Carl Heastie, Elections Committee Chair Charles Lavine and Assemblymember Latrice Walker today announced that the Assembly passed legislation to make it easier for eligible voters to register to vote by creating a system for automatic voter registration...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Kimberly Jean-Pierre today announced the Assembly has passed legislation to help end discriminatory practices in the real estate industry that disproportionately affect minority homebuyers. This legislation makes...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Legislature has advanced legislation to limit the immunity that was granted in the State Fiscal Year 2020-21 Budget. The new legislation will narrow that...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman today announced the Assembly has passed the Healthy Terminals Act to ensure that airport workers are paid fair wages and have access to benefits including health care.“New York's airports...

Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman today announced that the Assembly passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth and Abolition Commemoration Day in New York State.“African American history has too...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Senate and Assembly have passed legislation that offers legal protection to any individual or entity sued for exercising their free speech rights. A “Strategic...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Pamela Hunter today announced the Assembly has passed legislation that would enable New Yorkers to make installment payments for many traffic-related fines and fees, helping to ensure they do not lose their driving...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus today announced the Assembly has passed legislation that would require video recordings of all interrogations of juveniles in family court (A.7970, Frontus).“The Assembly Majority has fought...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages today announced the passage of the Protect Our Courts Act, which would ensure that all members of the community are able to participate in the justice system without fear of immigration related...

Speaker Carl Heastie, Codes Committee Chair Joseph R. Lentol and Assemblymember Aravella Simotas today announced the Assembly passed legislation that will expand New York State's rape statutes, helping survivors seek justice and appropriate recognition...

It is with great sadness that I join my colleagues – and the nation – in mourning the death of Representative John Lewis.A champion of the Civil Rights Movement, John Lewis dedicated his life to the fight for racial equality and basic human...

For years, the Assembly Majority has fought tirelessly to bring greater transparency and accountability to our criminal justice system. Today, the Right to Monitor Act goes into effect, ensuring every New Yorker has the legal protections they need to...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced a series of joint legislative hearings to be convened over the coming weeks. The hearings will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted New York State with...

The Assembly Majority knows that women's reproductive health care and family planning decisions should be made by women and their health care providers – not their employers. Today's Supreme Court decision delivers an unconscionable blow...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR), Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Government Operations Committee...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the appointment of Ekow N. Yankah to the Public Campaign Finance Board and issued the following statement:Elections are a sacred part of our democracy. With...

It is with great sadness that I join my colleagues in mourning the death of the longtime dean of the Assembly's Rochester delegation, David F. Gantt.David was a lifelong public servant and a fierce advocate for his constituents and his community....

Today's Supreme Court decision to strike down Louisiana's attempt to restrict abortion access is a win for women not just in Louisiana, but across our country.Time and again, we see states seeking to control and limit women's reproductive...

Today's Supreme Court ruling establishes what the Assembly Majority has long known to be true: Dreamers are an integral part of the economy and the social fabric of our communities.The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or DACA, was established...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Assembly passed legislation that would establish the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office within the Department of Law to investigate allegations of corruption, fraud, use of excessive force, criminal...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember N. Nick Perry today announced that the Assembly passed legislation to create the Office of Special Investigation that would investigate and, when warranted, prosecute when a person dies in law enforcement custody...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Assembly has passed legislation to establish the New York State Body-Worn Cameras Program to increase accountability and evidence for law enforcement and the residents of the state by providing body-worn cameras...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the Assembly has passed legislation that would provide greater transparency of law enforcement conduct and promote trust between law enforcement and the public.“All across the nation, there is a shared sense...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the passage of legislation to affirm that police and correctional agencies must provide attention to the medical and mental health needs of individuals in their custody (A.8226-B, Fernandez).“One of my goals...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember N. Nick Perry today announced the Assembly passed the Right to Monitor Act, which confirms the public's right to record public law enforcement activity (A.1360-A, Perry).“As we seek to bring transparency...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Assembly has passed legislation that would create a civil penalty for the biased misuse of emergency services, such as 911, when there is no reason to believe a crime or offense, or imminent threat to person or...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that the Assembly has passed the Police Statistic and Transparency (STAT) Act, which would provide for collection of data concerning police and court activities, in order to promote transparency and help researchers...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember N. Nick Perry today announced the Assembly passed legislation that would that require law enforcement officers that discharge their weapon in circumstances where a person could be struck by a bullet from a weapon...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Walter T. Mosley today announced the Assembly passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, which would criminalize the harmful use of a chokehold by a police officer (A.6144-B, Mosley). “I have worked with my...

Speaker Carl Heastie today announced that this week the Assembly will pass a package of legislation to protect New Yorkers, improve police and community relations, and bring transparency and accountability to the criminal justice system.“The Assembly...

Today the Senate and Assembly had productive majority conferences to discuss the issues occurring in our communities that have caused so much unrest over the last several days. Members have bills on many topics related to these issues and we will be developing...

Tonight has been another night of heartbreak in the wake of the horrendous killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protests have been unfolding across the country and here in New York. Let's be clear - the reason for the protests themselves is warranted...

Across the state, New Yorkers are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, my colleagues in the Assembly Majority and I convened session to pass a comprehensive package of legislation to address these challenges.Here...

Speaker Carl Heastie and Chair of the Committee on Governmental Employees Peter Abbate, Jr. today announced the Assembly has passed legislation to ensure that the families of municipal frontline workers who lost their lives to COVID-19 as a result of...

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the Legislature has passed a major legislative package to help support New Yorkers during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and help the state be prepared for...