New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: We'll come to order. I ask everyone to please rise and accept the pledge of allegiance.

[Unidentified Senator (Pledge Leader)]: I pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: In the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer. Reading of the journal.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: In senate, Tuesday, 01/06/2026, the senate met the sword to adjournment. The journal of Monday, 01/05/2026 was read and approved. I'll motion the senate adjourn.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Good. Without objection, general stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions, messages from the assembly, messages from the governor, reports of standing committees, reports of select committees, communications and reports from state officers, motions and resolutions. Senator Gineris.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Happy New Year, mister president. Happy New Year. And all my colleagues. So mister president, there's a resolution at the desk. I ask that that resolution be read in its entirety and then move for its immediate adoption.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Substitution at the desk, secretary will read. Senator Stewart Cousins moves to substitute senate concurrent resolution thirteen twelve for the identical assembly concurrent resolution eight twenty three. Substitution is so worded, the secretary will read. Assembly resolution eight twenty three by assembly member of People Stokes. Concurrent resolution of the senate and assembly relative to the adjournment senate DA of the 2025 session of the legislature.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Questions on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. The twenty twenty five legislative session is adjourned to the EDA. The senate will come to order. I ask everyone to please rise and recite the pledge of allegiance.

[Unidentified Senator (Pledge Leader)]: I pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Bishop Mark O'Connell of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Albany, New York will deliver today's invocation.

[Bishop Mark O'Connell]: Almighty God, source of all wisdom and compassion, we gather here in the halls of the New York State Senate at the threshold of a new dawn, a fresh beginning filled with promise amid these uncertain and critical times for our world. As conflicts rage in places like Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Venezuela and unrest echoes across the nations, we pause to seek your guidance, trusting that our actions here in New York can contribute to the greater good, fostering peace and justice both near and far. We invoke your presence upon this assembly, granting wisdom to the members of the senate, the assembly, and to our governor. Illuminate their minds and hearts as they deliberate and legislate that they may enact policies which uplift and protect the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized among us. Help them to see beyond division, to build bridges of understanding, and to prioritize the common welfare in all their endeavors. In the face of global turmoil, wars that displace families, crises that deepen inequality, may our leaders draw strength from your eternal light, working tirelessly to promote healing, equity, and hope. That their decisions reflect a commitment to human dignity, ensuring that no one is left behind in our shared pursuit of a just society. Gracious God, at this new dawn, as this new dawn breaks, unite us in purpose, inspire us with courage, and bless the work of this session. May it bear fruit that honors your creation and serves all people with integrity and mercy. Amen.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Secretary will call the roll to ascertain the quorum.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Senator O'Dabo, Senator Ashby, Senator Bailey, Senator Baskin, Senator Barello, Senator Brisport, Senator Bino, Senator Kansanee Fitzpatrick, Senator Chan, Senator Claire, Here. Senator Comrie? Here. Senator Cooney? Here. Senator Fahey? Here. Senator Fernandez? Present. Senator Gallivan? Here. Senator Genarez? Present. Senator Gonzalez? Here. Senator Guernardes. Here. Senator Grifle. Here. Senator Harcom. Here. Senator Helmy. Here. Senator Hinchy. Here. Senator Jackson. Here. Senator Kavanaugh. Here. Senator Krueger. Here. Senator Lanza. Here. Senator Lou. Here. Senator Martinez?

[Senator Monica R. Martinez]: Here.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Senator Martins? Here. Senator Meterra? Here. Senator May? Here. Senator Mayor?

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: The quorum is present, and senate may proceed. I want to, first begin by, wishing everybody here in the body a happy New Year. Certainly wanna acknowledge our esteemed majority leader Andrea Stewart Cousins. Thank you for your work and leadership here. To deputy majority leader Gianaris, thank you. Minority leader, Rob Ort, and deputy minority leader, Lanza, and every member of this awesome body. I also want to acknowledge sergeant in arms, Ben Sturgis. It is good to see you brother. As president of the senate, it is my distinct honor to welcome you all to the twenty twenty six legislative session and to welcome you all to a new year of service to the great state of New York. As I look around this room, I am reminded that this chamber is a place of immense power, but it is also a place of incredible responsibility because the work done here does not stay here. It reaches into the daily lives of New Yorkers across the state, into their homes, their jobs, their schools, their places of worship, their communities. That responsibility calls on us to remain grounded, to resist distance, abstraction, or habit. It requires us to stay rooted in the lived experiences of the communities we represent and that begins with listening. Listening is not a formality, but as a discipline. Because when we listen honestly, we are reminded who we work for and what is being asked of us. We hear the pressures families are under. We hear the anxiety about staying in their communities, and we hear the expectation that government should be a partner making life more affordable and more secure. Each of you hears the voices of your constituents every single day, voices shaped by different geographies, different histories, and different needs. In this chamber, we have a responsibility to listen, not only to be informed, but also to be guided, to allow those voices to sharpen our judgment and anchor our decisions in the realities people are living with daily. At its best, leadership is not about value or visibility. It is about conscience. It is about listening closely and then having the courage to act boldly on what we hear. It is about governing with integrity, walking with humility, and remaining accountable to the people who place their trust in all of us, especially when the challenges we face are deeply felt and urgent, especially when the decisions we are faced with are difficult. New York has always been a state of possibility, but possibility must be tangible. It must show up in whether people can afford to live, raise families, and build a future here. This is not an abstract goal. It is the measure by which our work will be judged. The work ahead will demand seriousness and resolve. It will require transparency, honesty, and a clear vision for where we as people are trying to go. It will necessitate a shared respect for the people we serve, And it will call for us to remember that the power of this institution exists for one reason and one reason only, to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. We all have the power to make this state stronger, fair, and more affordable for the people we serve. As lieutenant governor, I look forward to working with members of both parties throughout this session. I encourage each of us to remain open to one another and to the voices of the communities we represent as we carry out responsibilities entrusted to us all. My hope is for a productive, thoughtful, and meaningful legislative session. Thank you, senator Gionnaires.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Thank you, mister president. At this time, let's proceed with the regular order of business.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Presentation of petitions, messages from the assembly, messages from the governor, the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Dear majority leader Stuart Cousins, I would appreciate the privilege of the presence of all the members of the New York State Senate at the Kitty Carlisle Heart Theater on 01/13/2026 at 1PM to deliver to deliver the 2026 state of the state address. Very yours truly, governor Kathy Hochul.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: The message shall be filed in the journal, reports of standing committees, reports of select committees, communications, and reports from state officers, motions and resolutions. Senator Gineris.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Recognize minority leader Ort for opening remarks.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Minority leader Ort. Thank

[Senator Robert G. Ortt, Minority Leader]: you, mister president. To my colleagues, both on my side of the aisle and the other side of the aisle, welcome back. Happy New Year to everyone. It is good to see all of you, healthy and back here in the capital. I hope everyone had a great holiday season with their families and got to spend time, with the people who love us and the people who we love. And hopefully, that recharges you. I know for me that kind of recharges me and sometimes reframes why I'm here, why we all do what we do. I'll say it's good to be back in Albany. I think I speak for everyone. Why we do what we do, we have to come here to do it. But the real reason, the motivating factor is for the people we represent and that we work for back in our districts. And I'm sure most of you and I hope most of you got to spend, some time in those districts, the last six months, obviously, as we get ready for a new session. It's always exciting. It's kinda like the first day back at school. It's a clean slate. Right? It's very thematic when you think about New Year. We all have hopes and aspirations for what this year can be for ourselves, for our constituents, and for the people of the state. Remembering that they also have aspirations, And our constituents, the people we work for, also have hopes and aspirations for what they, their family, their business, and this state can achieve for them and the opportunity that that can lay out for them and their families and for people who's called the Empire State home and who wanna continue to call it home. And so with that, our conference is ready to work. We are ready to do the hard work on behalf of the people of New York. We're certainly ready to work with our colleagues across the aisle. We're certainly ready to, stand in opposition when we think that is necessary, as a matter of policy, as a matter of principle. We know affordability is gonna be a major topic as it has been for the past couple of years. There is obviously at times a difference in how we define affordability and our solutions to that. And I don't think those those differences are strict strictly political. I think they're sincere. I think they're principled differences, but they're important differences. You know, our conference does believe and will continue to advocate that one of the ways to make things more affordable for New Yorkers is to put more of their money back in their pockets, to let them keep more of their hard earned money in any way we can do that. We certainly will continue to advocate for a cleaner environment while at the same time advocating for a menu of energy options to keep prices down, keep New Yorkers working as we transition to new technologies and a cleaner and healthier environment, here in the state of New York. Our conference believes in public safety for everybody, regardless of your ethnicity, your color, your creed, your zip code, your income level, for everybody, instead of advocating for some type of general insecurity for all. That I think is a very difference between our conferences and when we when we when we work to protect the marginalized. I think it's important that we remember the marginalized is is not the thief or the the assaulter or the drug dealer. It's the victim of those crimes. And those are the communities at our conference. And I believe many of my colleagues across the aisle also care about and wanna make a better life for. We need to provide a better quality of life in short. And this is we all know it's an election year when all of us will go up basically for that interview before our constituents to say, did we do a good job on behalf of you? Did we represent you, your values, your hopes, your dreams, your needs? Did we accomplish that? Did we move that forward in a tangible way? Not just good speeches, not just well intentions. But mister president, you sort of did we actually put some points on the board for people? Did we make their life a little easier? And if the answer is no, then we need to do a better job. Our conference again stands ready to work here. Republican conference is ready to work with our college across the aisle, with the governor, this session to improve the lives of our constituents and New Yorkers across the board. Mister president, thank you for your indulgence. Happy New Year, and god bless.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Senator Generis. And now let's recognize majority leader, Andre Stewart Cousins, for opening remarks. Majority leader, Stewart Cousins.

[Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Temporary President and Majority Leader]: Good afternoon, mister president. Thank you for being here and certainly for your your words, at the outset of our session. To my colleagues, welcome back. Happy New Year. And of course, to those who are are streaming in here, to all New Yorkers, happy New Year. Once again, I am proud to represent the great state as we all are and very, very excited for the opening of the twenty twenty six legislative session. So, mister president, you recognized my good friend Ben, but I think we deserve to give Ben another round of applause because we've missed you so much. You you get, two rounds of applause because, you know, we missed you last year.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: So

[Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Temporary President and Majority Leader]: we we can't, applaud your your being here and your recovery enough. So so thank you. I also wanna welcome back staff from from both sides of the aisle. And, again, as the minority leader said, I hope that we all had an opportunity to enjoy the holidays and to enjoy some meaningful time with those people who care about us. And obviously, we we are, you know, again hoping that you are energized, recharged and and ready to take on, you know, what we know is gonna be an interesting year, a challenging year. I certainly look forward to another year of partnership with the governor, with my colleagues, in in the assembly, and, I also wanna continue work with the minority leader and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I am especially happy to see our floor leaders back and ready to go. My deputy leader, Mike DeNeres, thank you so much for all you do, and your counterpart, senator Andrew Lanza. So, again, thank you for your collaboration when we do these things. You know, as I look around the chamber, I know I'm looking at leaders who are rightfully confident in what you've delivered for your communities. But at the same time, I'm keenly aware that too many families are still struggling to pay the bills and to make ends meet. These are not times of complacency. These are times that demand clarity, responsibility, and focus. We're beginning a new year in a moment when the pressures facing New Yorkers feel heavier and more immediate in their daily lives. Families are opening utility bills they can barely afford. They're walking down grocery aisles where prices are rising higher than their paychecks. They're worried about the cost of housing, health care, child care, the overall cost of living. At the same time, many New Yorkers are watching with genuine and well founded concern the erosion of hard run hard won rights and constitutional freedoms that are being challenged all across the country. That's the reality that our constituents are living with. It's the responsibility therefore of the senate led by this majority to meet it head on. Understandably, there's a lot that we do not know and a lot that we cannot predict and that uncertainty can feel overwhelming. But there is one truth about our work. It is that we've been here before and every time this chamber has risen to meet the moment. In fact, we have already proven who we are in times of crisis. When the chaos and division of Trump one point o tested the foundations of our institutions, It was this chamber that stepped forward to defend New Yorkers. We'll continue to be a clear and unwavering voice for what New Yorkers deserve from their federal representatives. For example, laws like our shield act were not abstract ideas. They're fundamental protections that matter now more than ever. We showed the country that states could hold the line when Washington would not, and that government could still be a force of stability, fairness, compassion, and good. In moments of crisis, when COVID brought the world to a halt and even when a former governor resigned in scandal. This chamber provided continuity and steadiness. We confronted what was uncomfortable, kept government functioning, and passed critical budgets under impossible conditions. We did it without losing our values or losing sight of the people we serve. Those moments were not easy, but they reminded us of something essential. We know how to lead in uncertain times. We know how to confront the unimaginable. We know how to govern when the ground shifts beneath us because we already have. We know how to work together. We know how to reach consensus. We represent every corner of the state from cities to suburbs, small towns, farmlands. We represent district that are safely democratic and republican, as well as districts that are competitive, moderate, hard fought. Our strength comes not from pretending that one size fits all, but from understanding that New York works best when communities see themselves reflected in the various solutions we advance. Ideology and principles matter. They guide us. They shape our priorities and our sense of justice. But governing also requires realism. The landscape ahead is complicated. The stakes are high. Navigating what comes next will require discipline, collaboration, and resolve. In moments like these, we have to be adults in the room. We have to help set the tone and direction for the state. We must give a sense of security to our constituents who are living in unprecedented times of uncertainty. That is what the senate has done under this majority's leadership. When Washington chose chaos, we deliver stability. When Washington offers rhetoric, we produce results. When Washington leans on division, we focus on improving the people's lives in tangible and practical ways. That's the standard New Yorkers expect from us as we move into this new year. We know what our communities need. We understand the challenges they face. We see the role of the senate led by the majority that we must play, not to respond to the moment only, but to shape what comes next. This session, our work continues to meet the affordability crisis head on. We'll tackle everything from the rising utility costs, price of groceries, promoting universal childcare. We'll continue strengthening a health care system that put patients first, and we'll stand firm in defense of voting rights and equal rights. With one of our central focuses being standing up for communities, and certainly the bishop mentioned this today, that are being targeted and marginalized, which includes protecting our immigrant brothers and sisters by advancing goals set forth in New York for all. As we open the legislative session, let us do it with confidence, grounded in what we've already proven, clear eyed about the work ahead, and united in our responsibility to deliver because New York and New Yorkers are counting on us. And this senate will be able, as always, to meet the moment. Thank you. Let's get to work.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: Thank you, majority leader. Senator Generis?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Mister president, before I move the next resolution, I want to acknowledge that, we are joined by assembly members, Pretlow and Ra, who are informing us that the Assembly is ready to conduct business. And with that, I would like to take up our own resolution appointing a committee of two, to inform the governor that the Senate is organized and ready to proceed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Secretary will read. Resolution thirteen zero seven by senator Sewell Cousins, directing the temporary president to appoint a committee of two to inform the governor that the senate is organized and ready to proceed with business.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. Senators Bino and Chan are appointed to inform the governor that the senate is organized and ready to proceed with business. Senator Gionnaires.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: And now let's take up the resolution appointing a committee of two to inform the assembly that the senate is assembled and ready to proceed with business.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Secretary will read. Resolution thirteen zero six by senator Stewart Cousins directing the temporary president to appoint a committee of two wait to upon the assembly and inform that body that the senate is assembled and ready to proceed with business.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: The question on the resolution, all those in favor please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The resolution is adopted. Senators Ryan and White are appointed to inform the assembly that the senate is assembled and ready to proceed with business. Senator Gineris?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: Is there any further business at the desk today?

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: There is no further business at the desk.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris, Deputy Majority Leader]: I move to adjourn until Monday, January 12 at 3PM with intervening days being legislative days.

[Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, President of the Senate]: On motion, the senate stands adjourned until Monday, January 12 at 3PM with the intervening days being legislative days.