New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Madam speaker, would you please call the house to order?

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: The house will come to order. Good afternoon, colleagues and guests. In the absence of clergy, let us pause for a moment of silence. Visitors are invited to join members in the pledge of allegiance. The quorum being present, the clerk will read the journal of Monday, March 16. Miss People Stokes.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Madam speaker, I move to dispense with the further reading of the journal of Monday, March 16, and that the same stand approved.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Without objection, so ordered.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Thank you, madam speaker. And to all of our guests that are in the chambers today, happy Tuesday. I have a quote for you today I would like to share. This one is coming from Harry s Truman. He was the thirty third president of The United States from 1945 to 1953. His words for us today, it is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit. Again, these words from Harry S. Truman. Members have on their desks a main calendar and a debate list. Before any housekeeping or introductions, we're gonna be calling the higher ed committee off the floor. We're gonna begin our floor work today by taking up resolutions on page three, and then we will take up the following bills on debate. We're gonna do calendar number seven by miss Cruz and calendar number 32 by miss Pollan. There may be a need for further floor activity, madam speaker. Should that be the case, we'll be happy to apprise at that moment. However, members should be aware that there will be a joint budget conference committees, subcommittees that will begin meeting today with cycle a at 04:00 and cycle b at 04:30. That's a general outline of where we're going today, ma'am. If you could now begin by calling the higher ed committee to the Speaker's Conference Room.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Higher committee members, please meet Chair Hyman in the Speaker's Conference Room. Higher ed committee members, meet Chair Hyman in the Speaker's Conference Room. We do have a piece of housekeeping on a motion by miss Kellis. Page 13, calendar number 62, bill number a one five five six f. The amendments are received and adopted. We have several introductions today. Let us start with Mr. Anderson for the purpose of an introduction.

[Khaleel M. Anderson]: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to introduce illustrious group of community organizers and civil servants, but additionally civic leaders who are amongst our midst in the chambers today, madam speaker. These folks represent civic associations across the great county of Queens. They range from individuals from the Rockaways all the way up to St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, South Ellison Park. And I'm grateful that myself and my colleagues are up here today to support them in their efforts to ensure that we keep our property tax system in the City Of New York affordable for all New Yorkers. I'm grateful to the Queensborough President, Donovan Richards, who brought this group up here to the chambers today. There are two special folks in our midst today as a part of this group. One serves as a state committee person and another serves as a district leader. And today we are honoring them, taking off that hat and honoring them in their civic hats, and we welcome them here to the chambers. And we also wish a special happy birthday to miss Deborah Smith who is amongst our midst today. Madam speaker, would you kindly, kindly extend the privileges and cordialities of the floor of the People's House to our advocates here from the County Of Queens.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: On behalf of mister Anderson, the Queen's delegation, the speaker, and all members, we welcome our wonderful civic associations from Queens and we extend to you the privileges of the floor. We hope you enjoy our proceedings today. We appreciate you traveling so far and for your long standing advocacy. Thank you so very much for joining us today. Ms. Kesey for the purpose of an introduction.

[Kimberly Jean-Pierre]: Thank you, madam speaker. It is my absolute pleasure and honor to introduce Doctor. Errol D. Tullon Jr. He currently serves as Suffolk County's sixty seventh sheriff. Now in his third term, the and the county's highest ranking law enforcement official, he leads with a forward thinking approach focused on public safety, innovation, and rehabilitation. Early in his tenure, sheriff Toulon restructured operations to strengthen intelligence gathering and target issues like gang activity and human trafficking. He established the first full time anti trafficking unit within a jail, helping to identify hundreds of victims and offenders, while supporting broader law enforcement efforts. Sheriff Toulon adopts a hands on strategy to combat gang violence in our communities and has traveled extensively, including to El Salvador, to deepen his understanding of gang operations. He also created the nation's first corrections intelligence center, advancing collaboration and information sharing across correctional systems. Committed to reducing recidivism, Sheriff Toulon launched the Start Resource Center, a nationally recognized reentry program that connects individuals to critical services from the start of incarceration through their return to the community. The program has become a national model for rehabilitation and reentry, assisting inmates with services including employment assistance, mental health and addiction support, identification and housing to immediately put them on a better path upon finishing their sentence. Sheriff Toulon is also dedicated to working directly with young people and has launched many school based programs, including the Sandy Hook Promise Initiative, the Sheriff Student Ambassador Program, and many others offered by the office's robust community relations unit. A three time cancer survivor and former deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, Sheriff Tullon brings his unstoppable spirit and over twenty five years of experience in public service to Suffolk County. Madam Speaker, will you please extend the privileges of the floor to Mr. Doctor. Shalon?

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: On behalf of Ms. Kasse, the speaker, and all members, we welcome you, sheriff, to the Assembly Chamber, our people's house, And extend to you the privileges of the floor. We thank you for your long dedicated service. For your creative, insightful means of law enforcement. We congratulate you on your beating cancer. And we thank you so very much for joining us today. Mister Jacobson, for the purpose of an introduction.

[Jonathan G. Jacobson]: Thank you. Thank you, madam speaker. The associate New York State Association of Counties is meeting, in Albany this week. And so today, it is my honor to welcome several distinguished members of the Orange, Duchess, and Ulster County legislature who are visiting us here in the chamber. From Orange County, we have the chair of the legislature, Lori Turtel, and who previously served on the, Highlandtown board and as chief of staff to senator James Scufus. We also have majority leader Genesis Ramos who represents my district in the legislature and who made history as the first Latina to serve as majority leader of the Orange County legislature. We have legislator Deshonda Carter, who is a retired New York City Department of Corrections captain here with us. We have legislate also, we have Matthew Frescaldi, who served in the US Coast Guard and is a volunteer firefighter, and he is also director or was director of constituent services for senator James Scufus. Legislator Stephen Hunter is a human resource professional who, has obtained a new middle name of Landslide since he won by 16 votes in the last election. And we have legislator Virginia Scott who, is a former teacher in the Washoeville School District and a former council member in Cornwall. From Duchess County, I'm pleased to welcome the chair of the legislature, Yvette Valdez Smith, who made history as the first Latina to serve as chair of the duchess county legislature.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, mister Jacobson. And

[Jonathan G. Jacobson]: one other person who is not a legislator is here with them and that is Julie Shiryoshi. Yeah. You know, I gotta wrap it up. Okay. I'm getting the sign here, who was my who many of you know is my former chief of staff and, director of Eleanor's legacy, and now is chair of the county legislature in Duchess. Thank you, we mister Jacobson. Also have legislators, Emma Arnoff.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Jonathan, thank you very much. Thank you. Behalf of mister Jacobson, miss Barrett, mister Eckis, the speaker, and all members, we welcome our wonderful local municipal legislators from Orange, Duchess, and Ulster Counties. We welcome you to the Assembly Chamber, our people's house, extending to you the privileges of the floor. Hope you enjoy our proceedings today, and thank you so very much for traveling to join us today. Thank you. Mister Beepen, for the purpose of an introduction.

[Anil Beephan, Jr.]: Well, thank you very much. Madam speaker, with me here today I have the honorable Pat Cardellemi from the town of Union Vale. Pat served as a council member for a number of years and he's up here in Albany with NFIB advocating for all of our small businesses. And with the remainder of my time, I'd like to also introduce Legislator Arnoff, Chair Yvette Valdez Smith, County Legislator Alex Winsby, and County Legislator Molly Rhodes, all from my district visiting us here today. Madam Speaker, if you don't mind extending the cordialities of the House.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. On behalf of mister Bipen, the speaker, and all members, we welcome our distinguished honorable guests to our assembly chamber today and extend to you all the privileges of the floor. Hoping you enjoy our proceedings today. May look a little bit different, but we're all working towards the same goal. So thank you so very much for joining us today. Mister Wright, the for purpose of an introduction.

[Keith L. Wright]: Good afternoon. Thank you to madam speaker. Harlem Stage is a shining jewel in the 70th Assembly District. It serves as a dynamic hub that cultivates inspiration and provides space for telling otherwise untold stories. It is rooted in cultural witness and directly inspired by the legacy of Harlem. That legacy, of course, includes a long line of the greatest black artisan art in artists and artistry in history, and Harlem Stage is no exception. Their work is vital and indicative of the essential role that the arts and culture institutions play in strengthening our communities. The village of Harlem knows that well. I am especially thrilled to know that at the helm of Harlem Stage is a wildly capable and deeply accomplished individual, Doctor. Indira Etwaru. Doctor. Etwaru has already made her mark in Harlem, leading Harlem Stage to its first ever national tour, marking an expansion of the organization's artistic and civil reach. The depth of her experience in the art and in social justice nationally is a gift to the institution and to the whole village of Harlem, where she will surely continue to be a force for excellence. It is my pleasure and honor to introduce doctor Indira Ettore to the People's House. Madam speaker, I ask you to do the same. Greet her the cordialities and all the privileges of the floor. Thank you so much.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. On behalf of mister Wright, the speaker, and all members, we welcome you, doctor, to the People's House, our assembly chamber, and extending to you the privileges of the floor. We thank you so very much for all of the wonderful art that you are giving to our community through the Harlem Stage. Very historic. We love it so much. We appreciate you being here today. Thank you so very much for joining us. Resolutions, page three, clerk will read.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number ten fifty four, Mr. Levine, legislative resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 17 through the twenty third, twenty twenty six as Neurodiversity Celebration Week in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number one zero five five, mister Sayej, legislative resolution memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Persian American communities celebration of the Persian New Year, Norus, on 03/20/2026.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Mr. Saj, on the resolution.

[Nader J. Sayegh]: Thank you very much. I would like to take today the opportunity to recognize the Persian New Year of Norus. Norus stands for new beginning, and it is a festival and very highlighted occasion signifying renewal of nature and the arrival of spring. A festival of great significance and importance to the Persian people. It is one of the many holidays that adds to the assortment of cultures here in New York fostering cultural pride and a sense of community amongst Persian Americans in New York State. Through their many business across the state, Persian Americans have spread their culture and positively contributed to New York State. So therefore, I wish our Persian Americans a very happy and prosperous holiday.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number ten fifty six, Ms. Tapia, legislative resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2026 as Kidney Disease Awareness Month in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Ms. Tapia on the resolution.

[Yudelka Tapia]: Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I rise today to introduce a resolution that brings attention to a serious and growing public health challenge, chronic kidney disease. Across the New York State, more than one point five million people are living with this condition, often without knowing it until it has reached an advanced stage. Kidney disease progresses quietly, but its consequences are severe, frequently leading to kidney failure that requires dialysis or a transplant. One of my sons is alive today because he received a kidney transplant. Another is still waiting for that same life saving gift. My family knows firsthand the fear, the uncertainty, and the hope that comes with waiting for a donor. Today, thousands of New Yorkers are in the same position, hoping for a second chance at life. This resolution calls on the governor to proclaim March as a kidney disease awareness month in The United in The York. In Because awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to encourage early detection, prevention, and action. But awareness must be paired with opportunity. That is why I will once again advance my legislation to allow New Yorkers to register as an organ donor when filing their personal income taxes. Other states, including California, have successfully adopted this approach, expanding access to donor registration and helping save lives. Through this resolution, we reaffirm our commitment to education, prevention, and expanding the pool of organ donors. I look forward to advancing this resolution and to passing my bill against this session. Together, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and help ensure that more than more New Yorkers receive the lifesaving transplants they need. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number ten fifty seven, Ms. Walsh, legislative resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2026 as Autoimmune Awareness Month in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Ms. Walsh on the resolution.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I want to initially just thank my constituent Rebecca Hosey from Half Moon New York for bringing this idea to me. Autoimmune Awareness Month is a global initiative that's dedicated to recognizing the over fifty million Americans and millions more worldwide affected by over one hundred autoimmune diseases. An estimated eight percent of The U. S. Population has an autoimmune disease according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Other estimates suggest roughly one in ten people. Women are roughly twice as likely to be diagnosed as men. Bringing awareness to autoimmune disease encourages early diagnosis as often symptoms can be misunderstood. Autoimmune awareness connects patients and reduces the isolation associated with living with invisible symptoms. So I'm very grateful to Rebecca again for coming to me with this idea And I hope that you'll all support this. It's important that we bring awareness to this very important topic. So thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted. Page six, calendar number seven. Clerk will read.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number 182A, calendar seven, Ms. Cruz, enact to amend the insurance law.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: An explanation has been requested. Ms. Cruz.

[Catalina Cruz]: This bill would require DFS to issue a request for proposal to implement the homeowner natural disaster preparedness home safety and loss prevention pro program authorized in 2016 budget.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Miss Walsh.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker. Will the sponsor yield for a few questions?

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield?

[Catalina Cruz]: Yes.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Sponsor yields.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: And here we are again this year debating this bill or

[Catalina Cruz]: Our yearly date.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Pardon me? Our yearly date. That's right. It is our yearly date. And I appreciate that we're, you know, taking this up again. It's certainly not this chamber's fault. This has been passed for two years. It's really been stuck in the senate. So I wanted to just ask you a few questions. So you mentioned in your explanation of the bill that this was actually a program that was established through the budget in 2016?

[Catalina Cruz]: Yes. We're about to make our tenth anniversary of

[Mary Beth Walsh]: I was Happy going to say happy anniversary but I guess maybe by your from your perspective it's not so happy because here we are. But so over the last almost ten years then since this program was authorized, what has or what has not occurred?

[Catalina Cruz]: So in 2017, DFS issued a circular letter that encouraged insurers to submit disaster preparedness courses to the department for approval so that the homeowner owners may enroll in such courses and seek appropriate policy discounts. It's my understanding that that to this date no such courses have actually been submitted to DFS for approval and our hope is that the issuance of an RFP and a request for state funding would resolve that issue.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. So to your understanding then the issue, just to clarify that the issue is that there haven't really been proposals submitted, not that DFS has failed to approve any courses. Yeah, they just haven't been submitted. Okay. So what this bill would do then would be to mandate mandate that DFS gets proposals from insurers or how are we making them do this?

[Catalina Cruz]: So it it's it would operate almost as a financial incentive for the proposals to to be submitted to DFS because the request would be for DFS to ask the governor for this for the funds so that they can then issue an r r f p and then the r f p would entice folks to actually submit these courses that we can then comply with the law that's almost ten years old and provide homeowners with those choices.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay, so since we're in the middle of budget negotiations and everything right now, has there been any request from DFS so far, anyway, asking for any funds to implement the program?

[Catalina Cruz]: Not that I'm aware of.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. So and then so you kind of, I think, got to the next question I was gonna ask about what that appropriation would would pay for. So are you saying that DFS would be giving a financial encouragement to insurers to submit a program for consideration? Who's getting the money I guess?

[Catalina Cruz]: The money would be for DFS to develop the program so that there's an actual program and then you'd have the insuring companies actually submit these proposals.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: So if I'm understanding it right then, you mentioned that there was kind of a circular letter that was sent out in 2017 encouraging insurers to do it, but this bill would really say to DFS, you need to develop solid program for getting these proposals from insurers.

[Catalina Cruz]: That's correct.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. Alright. Is there any idea of how much money would be necessary for DFS to do this work? No. Okay. And how how much time would DFS have in order to put this all together and get this out there?

[Catalina Cruz]: The request for funding would need to be submitted by 03/01/2027.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. And I think we made it clear last year but let's repeat it for everyone's benefit because it had come up in a prior debate. But the request for funding is going from DFS to the governor's office.

[Catalina Cruz]: That's correct.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: It wouldn't come back to us. That's correct. Okay. Alright. Thank you so much for that answer. Okay. So let me just make sure. Is there anything in the bill, I didn't see it, that actually talked about how DFS would be evaluating these proposed programs that insurers could that the insured could take?

[Catalina Cruz]: This bill doesn't address that.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. And I guess taking it even a step further, is there anything in the bill that talks about once this program starts and there's some program that is developed that say homeowners could take, is there anything that talks about what kind of rebate they could potentially get on their insurance or anything of that nature?

[Catalina Cruz]: If my recollection serves me, it's in the original bill, the one that has not been complied with.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Okay. And and So that's already been kind of set up Yes. What that will

[Catalina Cruz]: If my memory serves me correct.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Alright, okay, very good. So there is something though. And I mean I would say that the New York Insurance Association opposes this bill because I mean there's there I wasn't really entirely clear about why they were opposing it. I think maybe

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: I don't think neither

[Mary Beth Walsh]: of If I had to guess I would say that I don't want to guess actually. Do you happen to know what the nature of their objection I unfortunately do not. Okay. It does say that the bill raises questions as to how meaningful the program would be and that it was a mandate on Department of Financial Services.

[Catalina Cruz]: It's probably the kind of opposition they should have submitted to the original bill because this is more about ensuring that they are complying with existing law rather than relitigating legislation that passed almost ten years ago.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Any idea why DFS hasn't just done this on their own? None. Okay, I guess we'll find out.

[Catalina Cruz]: Yeah, and my hope is we don't have to be here again next year, perhaps we'll debate something else and they'll get

[Mary Beth Walsh]: it done. But hopefully we will both be here next year. Well yes, we'll be ready to debate anything that comes I'm sure.

[Catalina Cruz]: Yes.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Alright. Thank you so much. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: A party vote has been requested. Miss Walsh.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker. The republican conference generally will be in the negative on this particular bill. But if there are those of us who wish to support it, now would be the time to do so at our seats. Thank you.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. Miss Peoples Stokes.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Madam speaker, the majority conference is gonna be voting in favor of this piece of legislation. However, there may be a few that desire to be an exception. They should feel free to do so at their seats. Thank you.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. The clerk will record the vote. Miss Walsh, to explain her vote.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker. So just briefly to explain my vote, I'll be supporting this piece of legislation. I think it is frustrating when something has been decided as it was almost ten years ago to start a program and the program has value to try to instruct homeowners in the best ways that they can prepare against natural disaster. And I think, you know, it's frustrating when we put something like that and we pass it and it becomes, you know, it came through the budget, but I mean it became law and it's been sitting around for almost ten years and it sounds like nothing's really been done to effectuate it. So I think that this is the next step to try to ensure that there is some compliance. And I think that if homeowners that do take this class when it's ultimately developed, I think getting a reduction, it's usually a rather small reduction in their homeowners premiums, I think that that's something that is valid. And I think it's good public policy to try to encourage homeowners. We all know throughout all of our districts that there are more extreme weather events that have been happening. And I think that this is this is a good program. So I will support this legislation to help effectuate that. Thank you so much. I'm in the affirmative.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, miss Walsh in the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Ayes, one zero nine. Noes, 28.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: The bill is passed. Miss People Stokes for the purpose of an introduction.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Thank you, madam speaker, for allowing me to interrupt our proceedings briefly to on behalf of our colleague, Alicia Hyman, all of the members from Queens. The Queensborough president is in our chambers. His name is Donovan Richters. Most of you all probably know him. He also provides over, I'm told, the most diverse district in the entire country. So can we please welcome him to our chambers and offer him the cordialities of

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: the floor?

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: On behalf of miss Heinemann, the speaker, our entire Queen's delegation, we welcome you, mister Richards, to the people's house, our assembly chamber, and welcome you and extend to you the privileges of the floor. We're happy to see you here today advocating and communing with your fellow queensites queensers, queensites. We thank you so very much for joining us today, mister president. Thank you. Page 10, calendar number 32. Clerk will read.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number eight fifty two b, calendar 32, miss Pollan, an act to amend the general business law.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Has An been requested. Ms. Pollan.

[Amy Paulin]: Yes. The bill would require that bicycles be advertised for resale with a photo of the bicycle and at least the last four digits of its identifying serial number.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Mr. Gandolfo.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the sponsor please yield for just a couple of questions.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Sponsor yields.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Thank you. Now this requirement currently exists for new bicycles? Yes. And we're extending it to the resale market pre owned bicycles?

[Amy Paulin]: Yes.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. And the language has it applying to bicycles manufactured after 01/01/1989?

[Amy Paulin]: Yes.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Before 1989, bicycles weren't required to have the serial that's Correct. Okay. Would this impact the ability to sell a bicycle pre that was manufactured pre 1989?

[Amy Paulin]: No. Okay.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Alright. Now the requirement is that a bicycle for the bicycle for sale on the resale market would have to have a photograph of the bicycle and then a I guess a close-up of the serial number, two separate photos?

[Amy Paulin]: We don't specify.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Alright. And so with the serial number, I I know the intent of the bill is that a prospective buyer can look at the serial number and see if it might be reported stolen. Is there anywhere that a potential buyer could look that information up if they're given the serial number?

[Amy Paulin]: Not to my knowledge.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. So how I guess what would they do with the information if they can't look it up to find out if it's been reported stolen?

[Amy Paulin]: I I think it's almost the opposite. If if a bike is stolen and it's reported to the police, the police have somewhere to look. Similarly to the way the Department of Agriculture tries to track down puppy mills, for example. They look at penny savers, if those still exist, or they look at online papers or whatever is the vehicle now, and they see if a puppy seller is selling excessive puppies over the years. And the same would be true for the bicycles.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. So, it's less targeted toward a potential buyer and more targeted to assist an investigation, they could go back and find

[Amy Paulin]: a I think that's how it would work.

[Amy Paulin]: Okay. Would work.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Alright. Now in terms of an online marketplace, what is the how would you define an online marketplace? Is that eBay, Facebook Yes. Okay. Yes. And I think I asked this last year, and I don't remember your answer, but does it specifically have to be posted to the marketplace of a social media platform? Or if someone were to just make a regular Facebook post and say, I have this bicycle, take a picture of it and put it on their feed.

[Amy Paulin]: Yeah. I I think it could be any place. Doesn't have to be specifically. We just put that language in there, was an amendment later on in the bill to make sure that, you know, eBay and Facebook and so forth weren't liable.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Is there a what is the penalty for violating this new statute?

[Amy Paulin]: $250.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Is that on the first offense?

[Amy Paulin]: Usually, there's a warning on the first offense.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Because I was just concerned if, you know, grandma puts a picture of a bicycle and doesn't know that I

[Amy Paulin]: think in the beginning, people are not

[Jarett Gandolfo]: gonna

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: know to

[Amy Paulin]: do this and perhaps maybe never. So they Right. Will learn with that warning and then put it on.

[Jarett Gandolfo]: Okay. Excellent. Alright. Those are all the questions that I have. Thank you to the sponsor and thank you, madam speaker.

[Amy Paulin]: Thank you.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: A party vote has been requested. Miss Walsh.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker. The minority conference will, generally speaking, be in the negative on this piece of legislation. But if members wish to vote yes, they may do so now at their seats. Thank you.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. Miss People Stokes?

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Thank you, madam speaker. Majority conference is gonna be in favor of this piece of legislation.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. The clerk will record the vote. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Ayes, one zero three. Noes, 38.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: The bill is passed. Miss Peoples Stokes.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Court, do you have any further housekeeping or resolutions?

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: We have no housekeeping. A resolution by Miss Walsh. Clerk will read.

[Assembly Reading Clerk]: Assembly number ten fifty nine, Miss Walsh, Legislative resolution mourning the death of justice James Hughes, distinguished citizen, accomplished judge, and devoted member of his community.

[Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker, for the ability to just take a couple of moments to recognize my friend, Justice Jim Hughes of Clifton Park in Saratoga County who passed away on 03/12/2026 after a long battle with cancer. Jim had an amazingly long and very accomplished career of public service. He served in US Navy before joining the New York State Police. When he was in the Navy from 1956 to 1960, he was a radio man second class. He was honorably discharged and then he graduated from the New York State Police Academy in 1961. He was originally stationed on the Eastern Tip Of Long Island early in his career and then he was transferred upstate in 1967 to Clifton Park where he ended up spending the remainder of his life. He was, I don't know, it's hard to explain Jim to everybody. He just never lost the state police. He never lost the trooper in him, I guess. He was serving as a Clifton Park town judge in the early '80s. But even before that, when he was a trooper, he earned degrees in political science, police science and criminal science during his career. And then when he was on the bench as a Clifton Park town judge and then as a Mechanicville city court judge and an acting family court judge, somewhere in there in the 80s. And he wasn't, you know, like a spring chicken at that point. He went to law school. He went to law school and completed it while he was still serving on the bench. He was known as a judge for his fairness, directness, integrity and respect for the law. And he contributed to legal education by authoring a DWI jury charge manual. I got to know him mostly through family court because he was an attorney for the child for many years working in family court to protect the children's rights and their welfare. In 2024, so while he was in the midst of battling cancer, he received the prestigious New York State Magistrate of the Year Award for his outstanding judicial service. Many people in Clifton Park would also know him if they belonged to the Y because Jim remained throughout his life a real fitness fanatic. He would get his coffee early in the morning at Stuart's, but he would be there pretty much at the break of dawn at the Y working out. Just a great guy. He continued to approach me over the last ten years while I was serving in the assembly with different bill ideas for trying to improve the judicial system. So he really just never stopped working for the community. He just never really stopped thinking about how we could all do our jobs a little bit better. So I appreciate everyone's attention as I just I feel very honored to be able to honor this man. And I want to extend sympathy to his son Michael, his daughter-in-law Cheryl, his grandsons James and Michael, and many other devoted family members who will be at his calling hours later this week. So condolences to the family and thank you to my colleagues for listening. They really broke the mold after James Hughes came around. And I won't ever forget him. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you. On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted. We have a number of additional resolutions before the house without objection. These resolutions will be taken up together on the resolutions. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolutions are adopted. Miss People Stokes.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Thank you. Madam speaker, I have two requests. The first one is I like to request prayers for our colleague Vivian Cook. For if she was here today with us still in session, we would have had a full meal for Wayne's birthday. Say a prayer for Vivian while she's in rehab. And secondly, I wanna ask us all to wish Wayne a collective happy birthday because I know we've said it already with that amazing carrot cake that wasn't allowed. Happy birthday, Wayne.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Happy birthday, Wayne.

[Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (Majority Leader)]: Now, madam speaker, I move that the assembly stand adjourned and that we reconvene at 11AM, Wednesday, March 18. Tomorrow will be in a session day.

[Acting Speaker Pro Tempore (Presiding Officer)]: Miss Peoples Stokes' motion, the house stands adjourned.