New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Acting President (Chair)]: The senate will come to order. I ask everyone to please rise and recite the pledge of allegiance. I pledge 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. 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 (Reading Clerk)]: In senate, Sunday, 01/18/2026, the senate met pursuant to adjournment. The journal of Friday, January '26 was read and approved. I'll motion the senate adjourn.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Without objection, the journal stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions, messages from the assembly. Secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Senator Ryan moves to discharge from the committee on rules, assembly bill number ninety four thirty five, substituted for the identical senate bill eighty eight twenty, third reading count of 39.

[Acting President (Chair)]: So ordered. Messages from the governor, reports of standing committees, reports of select committees, communications and reports from state officers, motions and resolutions. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Good afternoon, madam president. There will be an immediate meeting of the rules committee in Room 332.

[Acting President (Chair)]: There'll be an immediate meeting of the rules committee in Room 332.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Senator will stand at ease.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The senate will stand at ease. The senate will return to order. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Thank you, madam president. I believe there's a report of the rules committee at the desk. Can we take that up at this time?

[Acting President (Chair)]: Secretary Will Reed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Senator Stewart Cuddings from the committee on rules reports the following bills. Senate print seventeen zero three by senator Webb, enactment in education law. Senate print twenty fifty eight by senator Webb, enactment in education law. Senate print thirty one fifty five by senator Cooney, enactment in the insurance law. Senate print forty four ninety seven by senator Hinchy, enactment in the insurance law. Center print eighty five forty four by senator Hinchy, an act on the penal law. Center print eighty six fifty six a by senator Mayer, an act on the education law. Center print eighty seven fifty eight by senator Fernandez, an act on the public health law. Center print eighty seven sixty three by senator Brook, an act on the criminal procedure law. Senate print eighty seven sixty five by senator Gennard, enactment of public health law. Senate print eighty seven sixty six by senator Bailey, enactment of general business law. Senate print eighty seven sixty nine by senator Scufus, enactment of the executive law. Senate print eighty seven seventy by senator Fernandez, enactment of labor law. Senate print eighty seven seventy one by senator Bailey, enactment of social services law. Senate print eighty seven seventy three by senator Harcom, enactment of the environmental conservation law. Senate print eighty seven seventy five by senator Rivera, enactment of social services law. Senate print eighty seven seventy six by senator Claire, enactment of social services law. Senate print eighty seven seventy seven by senator May, enactment of economic development law. Senate print eighty seven seventy nine by senator May, enactment of agriculture and markets law. Senate print eighty seven eighty four by senator May, enactment of education law. Senate print eighty seven eighty five by senator Martinez, enactment of veteran services law. Senate Senate Print eighty seven eighty six by Senator Schoofus, enactment of the insurance law. Senate Print eighty seven eighty eight by Senator Ort, enactment of the county law. Senate Print eighty seven eighty nine by Senator Sanders, enactment of the general business law. Senate Print eighty seven ninety one by Senator Brisport, enactment of the social services law. Senate print eighty seven ninety two by senator Webb, enactment of amend the chapter of the laws of 2025. Senate print eighty seven ninety four by senator May, enactment of general business law. Senate print eighty seven ninety six by senator Jackson, enactment of the chapter of the laws of 2025. Senate print eighty seven ninety seven by senator May, enactment in the chapter of the laws of 2025. Senate print eighty seven ninety nine by senator Fahey, enactment in the mental hygiene law. Senate print eighty eight zero one by senator Baskin, enactment in the county law. Senate print eighty eight zero five by senator Bailey, enactment in the education law. Senate Print eighty eight zero eight by Senator Cooney, enactment of Financial Services Law. Senate Print eighty eight zero nine by Senator Dabo, an enactment of Civil Practice Law and Rules. Senate Print eighty eight eleven by Senator Connery, an enactment of General Business Law. Senate Print eighty eight thirteen by Senator Myery, an enactment of Criminal Procedure Law. Senate print eighty eight fifteen by senator Webb, natural in the executive law. Senate print eighty eight sixteen by senator Fernandez, an action in the general business law. Senate print eighty eight nineteen by senator Passard, action in the social services law. Senate print eighty eight twenty six by senator Henchy, an action in the executive law. Senate print eighty eight twenty eight by senator Gennardis, an action in the general business law. Senate print eighty eight twenty nine by senator Liu, an action in the tax law. Senate print eighty eight sixty by senator May, an action in the domestic relations law. Senate print eighty eight sixty six by senator Salazar, an action in the insurance law. Senate Print eighty eight sixty nine by Senator Scoufis, enactment in the insurance law. Senate Print eighty eight eighty seven by Senator Sapoveda, enactment in the Assays, Powers, and Trust law. All those report direct to third reading.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Report of the Rules Committee.

[Acting President (Chair)]: All those in favor of accepting the report of the Rules Committee, please signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. The report of the Rules Committee is accepted. Senator Gineris.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: At this time, Madam President, I believe there's a privilege resolution at the desk. Let's take that up, read it in its entirety, and recognize Majority Leader Stewart Cousins on that resolution.

[Acting President (Chair)]: There's a privilege resolution at the desk the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Resolution fourteen seventy one by senator Stuart Cousins commemorating the observance of the forty first annual Martin Luther King Junior Day in the state of New York on 01/19/2026. Whereas, from time to time, we take note of certain individuals whom we wish to recognize for their valued contributions and to publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all. And whereas a tenant to such concern and in full accordance with his long standing positions, it is the custom of this legislative body to join the people of the great Empire State and proudly observing the forty first annual Martin Luther King Junior Day in the state of New York on 01/19/2026, taking note of his many accomplishments and contributions to mankind. And whereas doctor King was a visionary leader, minister, and champion of justice whose unwavering commitment to equality, dignity, and nonviolence transformed the course of American history. And whereas doctor King was born the grandson of a slave to a segregated society in Atlanta, Georgia on 01/15/1929. And whereas doctor King was deeply shaped by his academic and theological training, having graduated from Morehouse College, attending Crozer Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate in systematic theology Boston University, granting his leadership in rigorous scholarship, moral philosophy, and faith. And whereas after returning from closure, the reverend doctor Martin Luther King Junior delivered his first sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and became the church's co pastor with his father. And whereas, doctor King emerged as one of the most influential leaders of the civil rights movement, dedicating his life to the pursuit of racial justice and dismantling me, and the dismantling of systemic discrimination against black Americans through peaceful protest and moral courage. And whereas doctor King came to national prominence as a leader during the Montgomery bus boycott of nineteen fifty six to fifty pardon me, fifty five to fifty six, where his leadership helped prove provide an end to segregation against black Americans on public transportation and demonstrate the power of organized nonviolent protest. And whereas, as a founding member and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, doctor King coordinated grassroots campaigns and frequently partnered with organizations such as the student nonviolent coordinating committee and the congress of racial equality throughout the south to challenge segregationist laws against black Americans and discriminatory practices affecting education, employment, housing, and voting rights. And where we're after king, put a pivotal role in the Birmingham campaign of nineteen sixty three, confronting segregation through mass demonstrations that exposed the brutality of racial oppression and galvanized national support for civil rights. And whereas doctor King helped organize and lead the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where he delivered his historic I have a dream speech, articulating the vision of racial equality, economic justice, and unity that continues to inspire generations. And whereas doctor King led the some led the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marchers courageously confronting voter oppression and state violence. And whereas doctor King's leadership helped galvanize a national movement that challenged segregation, voter suppression, and racial violence, leading to landmark achievements such as the '19 such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And whereas, in recognition of his of his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to nonviolence the pursuit of justice and peace, doctor King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, becoming the youngest recipient at the time. And whereas to his powerful oratory writings and advocacy, doctor King articulated the vision of American of America rooted in fairness, opportunity, and mutual respect, Reminding the nation that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. And whereas King expanded the movement's focus to include economic justice, labor rights, and the eradication of poverty through initiatives such as the Poor People's Campaign recognized as civil rights and economic dignity are inseparable. And whereas after King's finest legacy of greater social justice for all Americans, it's truly reflected in his devotion to serve and respect others and in his steadfast love for all humanity, it taught us that through non violence, courage displaces fear, love transforms hate, acceptance dissipates prejudice, and mutual regard cancels enmity. And whereas even in the face of threats, violence, and ultimately his assassination on 04/04/1968, doctor King remained steadfast in his belief that love, truth, and non violence could overcome hatred, injustice, and fear. And whereas despite this immense loss, the legacy of doctor King continues to endure decades later, inspiring ongoing movements for fairness and and equality. His legacy and his dream continue to be a guiding life for generations. And whereas it is a sense of this legislative body that the common and shared responsibility of governance demands an irrevocable commitment to the preservation and enhancement of human dignity as exemplified by doctor King. And whereas by honoring the life and sacrifice of doctor King, we reaffirm a commitment to upholding democratic values and civic engagement, recognizing that we must continue his work to preserve a society that reflects the fundamental principles of equality and justice for all as expressed in this nation's founding documents. Now, therefore, be it resolved that this legislative body pause in its deliberations to memorialize and pay tribute to the legendary life and achievements of the reverend doctor Martin Luther King Junior upon the occasion of his 90 anniversary of his birth and the celebration of Martin Luther King Junior Day in the state of New York and throughout the nation. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution suitably engrossed be transmitted to the black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian legislative caucus.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Majority leader, Stuart Cousins, on the resolution.

[Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Majority Leader)]: Thank you so much, madam president. I love the beginning of the year because it's always a big reset. It's a reset in terms of getting back to work here, the new year, all of our resolutions. And today was budget day, so it's a reset and taking a look at our, fiscal stability in the state. And on doctor King Day, for me, I like to look at it as as a reset of our moral compass. Every year, I stand in this chamber to discuss the life and legacy of the reverend doctor Martin Luther King Junior. As a child of the sixties, I have the privilege of celebrating doctor King's birthday my entire adult life. But even as a young adult, I didn't realize how his fight improved my living up north. In the North, blacks weren't being terrorized overtly by clans and klansmen in white hoods and robes. We weren't being lynched. We weren't being prevented from boating from boating rather, with dogs and water hoses. However, in the North, blacks were denied access to integrated housing, quality schools, most jobs, loans, equal justice, and protection under the law. In the teenage debates that I had with my friends when we were like, is it Malcolm x or is it Martin, which had the right direction, I never really understood how much really was at stake in this fight for black America's inclusion in the American dream. Nor did I realize that my access to a better job in corporate America in the late nineteen seventies along with other women was a result of a lawsuit defending the rights of not only blacks, but everyone of color and women to have access to jobs and economic justice. I didn't realize that it was due to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that was born of the efforts of doctor King and countless others who collectively fought for justice and equality for all. In moving up in corporate America, I met others who benefited from a sacrifice and organized fight. In addition to white women's, I added Asian friends and new friends who spoke Spanish. When Ronald Reagan declared doctor King's birthday a national holiday, and yes, was Ronald Reagan, many of us thought that the battle was over. But year after year, there are more and more people who never lived through the pre civil rights era, didn't realize how they and people that they know actually benefited. People who never felt or thought about the cruelty of segregation, of marginalization, the sting of being deemed inferior due to your religion, gender, color, or national origin in the areas protected in 1964. In fact, over the past forty one years of celebrating MLK, too many of us went from genuine reflection to just a day off. And frankly, the highest levels of government, apparently, the recognition of doctor King seems to have become a problem to degrade and discard. Sadly, I understand why. In today's America, people are being profiled because of the color of their skin, their language, where they came from. Today, our neighbors are being abducted by masked government agents, taken off the streets, and detained without due process. Today, our government seems to be waging a war on every type of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while calling anything acknowledging the history of government sanctioned discrimination or exclusion, quote unquote, woke. This all could be discouraging and dismal had we not had the privilege of knowing an activist preacher and visionary, the so called dreamer, who faced all this and dared to galvanize a multiracial interreligious multitude of like minded dreamers whose collective action changed the trajectory of American history. And that is what I saw in my district over the weekend while attending six, it could have been 10, Martin Luther King events. I was heartened meeting 100 year old Mildred Hart, who'd marched and protested for much of her adult life. And I was also heartened by meeting two 14 year olds in Edgemont who've taken up the fight for the past six years since they were eight, organizing a day of service in the community. After these events, I was reassured that doctor King's lessons are still filling filling people with hope. These are not easy times, but doctor King reminds us that it's always the right time to do the right thing. And he also reminds us, very critical at this moment, that the ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people. Thank you, mister president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, leader Stuart Cousins. Senator Bailey on the resolution.

[Senator Jamaal T. Bailey]: Thank you, madam president. This is an occasion I look forward to every year. I never look forward to speaking after leader Stuart Cousins, but I look forward to her resolution every single year because it is the anniversary of when I first spoke on the floor. Some of you lament that day because I haven't stopped talking since. But it's important. I've said a few times, I'll repeat a couple of things. My grandfather James, the original JT Bailey, was born in 1929 like Doctor. King. So I've always seen a parallel of their two important lives, two black men from the South, two black men that were denied opportunity but rose above it. So I was thinking about how much agony Doctor. King went through. How much agony his family went through, but yet he still had faith. Doctor King reminded us that faith is taking that first step when you don't see the whole staircase. Any of us who have been to church have heard the phrase with the faith of a mustard seed. I don't know how many of you all cook, But if you've ever seen a mustard seed, you know how small it is. You know how easily it can get lost in your hands. It can very easily fall and he kept the faith because he believed in a greater tomorrow. Then he believed in a greater today. You know about his prescient speech, I've been to Mountaintop where he unfortunately seemed to predict his own unfortunate demise. Well, I want to bring you something that we've heard an excerpt from. And I say if the inexpressible cruelties of slavery couldn't stop us, the opposition that we now face including the so called white backlash will surely fail. We're going to win our freedom because both heritage of our nation and the eternal will of the Almighty God are embodied in our echoing demands. So I can still sing, we shall overcome. We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. We shall overcome because Carlisle is right, no lie can live forever. We shall overcome because William Cullen Bryant is right. Truth crushed to earth will rise again. We shall overcome because James Russell Lowell is right. Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne. Yet that scaffold sways the future. With this faith, we will we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. You've heard about the moral arc of the universe, you need to know where it came from. It's a speech that he gave to Stanford University, right? But I was trying to think about the positive side of MLK and how the life lessons that he taught are passed on today. Yesterday, madam president, there was a documentary that came out called Hoops, Hopes and Dreams. An ambassador Andrew Young was interviewed And he told the story, a true story, of Martin Luther King Junior walking into the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, the only YMCA that permitted black people to play basketball at that time. And MLK walked in with a full suit on, Walked to the basketball court. Took off his jacket but kept his tie on and proceeded to play and demanded the ball. Now he went up and they tell a story, he went up for right it's describing a move called the Euro Step in now modern day parlance. He went up with his right hand, a six four defender went up and he went did a reverse. And Andrew Young said, I didn't know you can do that. He said, there's a lot that you don't know that I can do. And from then on he called ambassador Andrew Young his point guard for the civil rights movement. You've heard me wax poetic about the power of sports and the majesty of sports but the reality is true. How you are on a basketball court does dictate how you live your life. Are you a willing passer? Are you willing to do what it takes for the team to win? Or are you just going to shoot the ball without impunity whether your team wins or not? That's what, that's why Doctor King chose Ambassador Young to be his point guard. For those of you who aren't familiar with basketball, the point guard is the one who sets the stage. You make sure you orchestrate the flow of the offense so that you put your team in the best position. While I respect all of the work that the great Ambassador Andrew Young has done, I would say MLK is our point guard. He's our point guard for justice. He's our point guard for righteousness. Our point guard for fearlessness. That North Star. And I never knew that he played basketball, madam president. But they spoke about how basketball back then was used as a tool to organize and grab younger folks and bring them into the movement. They're meeting people where they were at. Now you're on the basketball court. I'm going to talk to you about why we need to make this court better. About your role in making sure that we can all have courts like this. About how we can make sure that the Butler Street YMCA isn't the only place where black folks can play ball, madam president. Putting people into a movement by the use and freedom of their bodies, which were shackled. We celebrate two fifty years of this country. We've only been celebrating this holiday for forty one years. We've only had our civil rights for a little bit longer than that, madam president. And as we celebrate two fifty, I want people to be reminded of what Doctor King was trying to get people to see. Some saw. Some needed to try to silence that voice. And they did in the physical form, they killed the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream. I I heard this phrase at a judicial induction the other day. Reverend Patrice Wallace Moore from Alverne, got to give her credit. She said something that stuck with me that we're not here to just win championships, we're here to build champions. And that's what Doctor King was doing. He was building champions. And the further that we go away from what his mission was, the further we'll stray. Those of you who have Verizon, you lost service last week. Sometimes when you lose service it is because you get too far away from the tower. When we drift too far away from the tower, we lose the signal. Don't forget what the North Star was saying. Don't forget why he had a dream. Don't forget about the injustices that he spoke of. Don't forget about it. So when you go next year to your MLK celebrations, I want you to think about, are you fulfilling what doctor King said? What he said life's most persistent and urgent question was, what are you doing for others? Thank you, madam president. May God bless life and legacy of reverend doctor Martin Luther King Junior.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Bailey. Senator Comrie on the resolution.

[Senator Leroy Comrie]: Thank you, madam president. I wanna thank the leader for continuing to bring this resolution forward. I'm sorry to have to speak after senator Bailey and change the tone because I am nowhere near gonna be as articulate as senator Bailey, but I'm gonna try to get my point across. As we rise today to honor the life and legacy of doctor Martin Luther King, a man whose courage, moral clarity, and dream for justice transformed the conscious of our nation, Doctor King taught us that the art arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Yet he reminded us that it does not bend on its own. It takes all of us in our streets, our schools, our churches, and our seats of power to move it forward. Recognizing where we've been and how far we've come is important not just for meeting today's challenges, but for all future generations. Our political history cannot grow and evolve without that understanding of our past. Yet there is still much work that we have to do to move forward. Making sure the full history of our nation is told and preserved, especially the stories that have been too often overlooked or left out of our archives. I often say, it's often said that a system that fails one group today can fail any of us tomorrow. This is why doctor King said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and why justice must apply to everyone every time. That message is not just a history lesson, it's something that communities have to live and carry forward. Across New York State and especially neighborhoods like mine in 14th Senate District, the best senate district in the state, really, Argument. Argument? Okay. Well, we'll we'll do that argument another time. But across my neighborhoods, I had many black leaders who stood up, spoke out, and did the hard work of pushing our democracy to be more fair, more exclusive, and more representative. They were in the civil rights movement. They pushed to expand access. They pushed to ensure that our voices were heard. There were few civil rights leaders and activists that lived in District 14 and that a few couple that I honored was honored to know. Jefferson Diggs, who worked for my predecessor Archie Spignan and worked for me, a renowned civil rights activist. He participated in early sit ins against segregated lunch counters. He was one of the first African American reporters at the New York Daily News. He was involved in community civil rights work with the NAACP and many other local organizations. He marched in the summer. He marched in summer. He marched with King. He was very early in the process, but he resided in Queens in his last years and spread that information to many young people over time. Also, Linda McDonald, a civil rights pioneer from the East Elmhurst area, she marched also with doctor King in the sixties. She took part in sit ins and later led civic civic organizations and n double a c p linked groups advocating for racial equality and community empowerment. Flores v Lucas, a great civil rights figure. She was the first black woman from Queens admitted to the New York bar. She served as the president of the Jamaica Queens NWC pre branch in the fifties and sixties and was later one of the was later deputy commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights. Her leadership was influential in expanding civil rights and anti discriminate anti discrimination efforts locally and statewide. Also Roy Wilkins, a name that many of you know, a long time civil rights leader and long time head of the NAACP. He was a major African American leader in civil rights legacy. We're honored to have a park named for him in the area. There were many other historical figures that had queen's roots or ties. WED Dubois who lived in Addisley Park where they're trying to put a best facility in a historic neighborhood. That's a discussion for another day. To put in a location with which has fires all the time, right next to less than 50 feet away from a historic home is terrible. Well, we had other many national figures that lived in my district, Shirley Chisholm, Jackie Robinson, other major notable people. Queens was home for many music musicians and other people. And today, we also still have many people that are in my community. I could name names for a while that my office gave me, but I won't. We have a proud legacy of people that have expanded doctor King's vision of equality and empowerment. We have many people that have continued to make connections to make sure that we can continue carrying the torch, striving for voting access, fair housing, and equitable education. The ideas doctor King lived and died for remain living principles in our country, from our churches that march for justice to our young organizers ensuring that every vote counts. As we reflect on his legacy, we know that doctor King's dream was not one of complacency, but of commitment to justice, to service, and to community action. So today, as we honor Doctor. Martin Luther King and his legacy, let us rededicate ourselves to the unfinished work of equality. Let us remember the trailblazers from New York who stood beside him in spirit and purpose. Let us remind our young people that your actions, your your vision, and your decisions will echo through this chamber and our communities all over this country. And let us remember that we need to do that with justice, opportunity, and love to ensure that our history will never be erased by anyone. Thank you. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Comrie. Senator Sanders on the resolution.

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: Thank you, madam president. I want to first thank our leader for, bringing this history lesson that we need so much this day and age. Of course, I will take another moment, to explain to my beloved colleague from his part of Queens that that I represent the talented 10th Senatorial District, so I won't I won't take him that way. But I I must admit, madam leader, I was scared when I heard, senator Bailey speak. I thought he was condemning my basketball skills. It is true that if you if you, if you don't play, you you kinda lose it. So I thought he was condemning, but he he brought me back on. And there's a role for us all, even for some of us who have to be the water boy. So there's a role for us all. But I want to tell you about the unfinished business of the reverend doctor Martin Luther King junior, the unfinished business. Yes, he went to the mountaintop. Yes, he did all of these incredible things. But I would suggest to you that those are not the things that got him killed. Those were things that created a certain amount of tension, a certain amount of friends or enemies. But what got him killed was, I would suggest you two different things. The first is the poor people's campaign. The poor people's campaign when he started speaking on this. And the second, of course, was his position on the Vietnam War. Well, the Vietnam War. Now the poor people's campaign, for those who don't remember it, had to do with many different things, but you could look at, four different things that on it. You would look at his position on health, how he felt that there should be a universal system of health care so people would not have to face impoverishment or just dying. Those would not be the stark choices. He spoke of how we should have full employment, a full employment society, a place where everyone who wanted a job and and was willing to get out there had a worthy job for themselves. He also spoke of human dignity of how we had to figure out how to love one another, that we didn't have to, in one sense, like one another, but you had to figure out how to love one another. And especially for those who may be the immigrants, the outsiders, those who we don't really know, those who are currently being rounded up even as we speak and iced away somewhere in other places. He also spoke of labor rights, the rights and the dignity of humans to form unions of of of labor. We should study those things. Those things are under attack even at as we speak. But he also spoke of endless wars, endless wars. Now this may sound familiar to many people, but he wasn't speaking of Venezuela, possibly Mexico, could be Canada, might be Greenland. Only god knows what we're gonna do next week. He was speaking of his day, Vietnam. Vietnam. He was speaking of the the Vietnamese war that seemed to be an endless war and a draining of the American economy. He spoke of how you can't you can't fight two things. You can't have a war on poverty and in one sense of war on the poor. You have to figure out which one you wanted to win. And one I would argue is unwinnable. If you you if you're having an endless war on the poor, it's it will never be ended, but you can win a war on poverty. As I conclude, and there are better speakers who will who come after me, I will remind you that the the reverend doctor, certainly could be our point guard and and should be and all of us should pay attention to that. But he thought of himself as a drum major. Just as a drum major. Not as a general, not as a big guy with a banner in his hand, just as a drum major. If to remind you, a drum major has four functions. The first function of a drum major, of course, is to call people to battle. There is a war. Let us fight it. All those who want to win come on this side. All those who don't want us to win go on the other side. They're drum major. The second function of a drum major is that they motivate. Going to war is often a scary process. Whether you are fighting in some unknown land or you are fighting at right at the end of your block or your neighbors. Going to war and and hopefully the war will be of the mind, something that we can win in a peaceful fashion. Going to war can be a scary fat thing and a drum major calls people and motivates people. A drum major also rallies the troops. Sometimes when you're out there, and I and I would suggest that this is that such a time, you may become battle weary. You've gone through too much. The battles never seem to stop. There's always something. Next week is a Greenland or this one or there's always something coming at you. But a drum major rallies the troops, that steady beat, that comforting beat that says this is the way forward and here's where we're going. The last thing that a drum major does, is if need be, a drum major calls retreat. He tells you, okay, this this is not the battle that we're gonna win today. We're going to have to go back over this way. We're not gonna just throw the weapons down and flee. We're going to go in an organized fashion and retreat. Now I would suggest to you as I as I conclude that the drum major beat many different, calls, but he never sounded our retreat. He never called for us to retreat on this field of battle. And I would suggest to you that now is a time more than any other in this winter in America where we will see who are the true American winter soldiers. Who are the people who believe in America for all of us and not just some of us, not just a talented handful over here and the rest of us. Who are those who are strong enough, brave enough to say no when everybody seems to be saying yes. In season or out of season, the reverend doctor Martin Luther King Junior stood for morality, for health, for dignity of people that he that would never know him. And I would suggest you that we are not going to hear the call for retreat because every time I hear him, I hear the the call to move forward. The challenge to take the next hill, to to get to that golden city on the hill that he spoke of where all of us can be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. Thank you very much, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Sanders. Senator May on the resolution.

[Senator Rachel May]: Thank you, madam president. And I wanna thank the majority leader for a wonderful, exposition here. I had the honor yesterday to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the citywide Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church in Auburn, the city where Harriet Tubman chose to spend the last decades of her life. It was uplifting to be in the church with so many people who have been doing the work of justice for so long. But I also found myself thinking about people who are new to the struggle. Doctor King once said, the nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self respect. It calls up resources of strength and courage they did not know they had. I think we are seeing his words come true every day in this country, in Minneapolis, in Los Angeles, in Portland, in Chicago, and here across this state. People just living their lives who see shocking acts of violence from masked federal agents right outside their doors, and suddenly they discover courage they never knew they had. On this Martin Luther King Day, I am so grateful for his his model of nonviolence and his willingness to lift up the radical notion of nonviolent resistance as a true solution to the kinds of desperate problems we're facing right now. Thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator May. Senator Ramos on the resolution.

[Senator Jessica Ramos]: Thank you, madam president. You know, I imagine doctor Martin Luther King Junior must be one of the most quoted people to have ever walked this planet. But for me, more than the words he spoke, I really find a lot of meaning in the standards that he set and standards for how a nation should treat its people and how those entrusted with power should carry it. Doctor King reminded us that justice isn't just a feeling, it's a practice. It's something we return to day after day in the choices that we make, in the laws that we pass here, and the way we treat those who place their trust in this institution. And his off his story is often told on a national stage, but in my district, it's very often a local one. Before he became a voice heard around the world, Doctor King was a student pastor at First Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, Queens. He walked our streets, he learned from our congregations, He sharpened his moral vision in the company of everyday people who believed that faith, community, and public life would be woven together in the service of something greater than ourselves. That history matters because it reminds us that the work of democracy doesn't begin in grand speeches. It begins in neighborhoods, in houses of worship, in classrooms, and in conversations among people who may not always agree, but who still choose to stay engaged with one another. Doctor King believed deeply, deeply in democracy, not as comfort, but as commitment. In fact, the 1965 Voting Rights Act granted people who look like me the right to vote in this country for the very first time. He knew that there wasn't any democracy without full participation and that there's no freedom without the right to disagree. And there's no unity without the courage to keep showing up for one another even when the path forward is contested. He called us to build what he named the beloved community, a society where justice and peace are not rivals but partners, where dignity is not reserved for the powerful but extended to everyone. And in this chamber, that calling takes a very real form. It looks like the laws that protect working families. It looks like systems that treat people fairly even when it's difficult. It looks like debates that are guided by conviction but grounded in respect. Because democracy does not only live in the moments we commemorate, it lives in the daily, often unseen work of public service. In the way we listen to our constituents and the care we bring to our legislation and in the standards we set for ourselves and for each other. Doctor King measured a society by how it treats those at the margins. That remains one of the clearest tests of our work today. I mean, much like the bible, where it says that we love thy neighbor, he didn't believe that had any asterisk. He didn't say love thy neighbor except for members of the LGBTQ community. He didn't say love thy neighbor except for, immigrants. He didn't say, any exception to the love that we're supposed to feel for one another and to uplift each other. So as we honor his legacy, I hope that we don't only do so with praise, but with purpose. And I want us here in the senate to continue to lead with the values that we have, the and that welcome the debate with without demeaning difference. That understands that hope becomes real when it's written into law and it's felt in people's lives. So here's hoping that we continue to bend that arc here in New York and for the generations that will inherit the world that we're building. Thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Ramos. Senator Webb on the resolution.

[Senator Lea Webb]: Thank you, madam president. I too wanna thank our majority leader for continuing to bring forward this resolution every year. You know, as already has been stated yesterday, we all collectively paused as a state and as a nation to honor the life and enduring legacy of doctor Martin Luther King Junior, one of the most consequential leaders in American history and a giant of the civil rights movement. Doctor King challenged our nation to confront its deepest injustices and to live up to his founding promise of freedom, equality, and justice for all. Now we remember doctor King as an incredible civil rights leader, minister, orator, father, husband, a remarkable human being. Doctor King's legacy continues to echo across generations because his service, spoke truth to power. It carries with it the hope and the heavy burden of systemic oppression, persecution, bigotry, and other barriers that create challenges for countless individuals and communities across our very nation and state. Doctor King reminded us that civil rights are not confined to history books, although there are constant efforts to erase those books or to commemorative days. His work extended beyond voting rights and desegregation to include economic justice, labor rights, education, and the moral responsibility of the government to take care of its people. Doctor King once said, we are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now in this unfolding conundrum of life and history. There is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action. I believe that this quote is very relevant in this moment in time that we all find ourselves in our collective history where are there are very powerful efforts to erase his legacy through federal actions, ongoing cognitive dissonance, disservice, and moral degradation from leaders who will quote him and then actively pursue policies and practices that actively erode at everything he worked and sacrificed for. We are in that fierce urgency of now because we are continuing to experience the catastrophic erosion of human rights across our state, country, and beyond. And so his words and leadership remain as a powerful call to action urging all of us in this chamber, in our communities, in this great states in in this great state and beyond to reject apathy and complacency and to commit ourselves to vigorous and positive action in the face of injustice. And as we reflect on doctor King's legacy, let us all recommit ourselves not only to honoring his words, but to advancing his vision through our service in this chamber and in our communities. Let this resolution serve as a reminder that the work of justice is our assignment and that each of us has a responsibility to carry it forward now and for generations to come. I proudly vote I on this resolution. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Webb. Senator Lanza on the resolution.

[Senator Andrew J. Lanza]: Thank you, madam president. First, I wanna thank thank the senate leader, Andrea Stewart Cousins, for bringing this resolution to the floor as she always does. I especially enjoy listening to her words on this day. She brings a context and a thoughtfulness that I think few can. As you all know, this is the only resolution I speak on. I also enjoyed listening to to the many fine words of my colleagues. And in listening to my colleagues, it is clear that all these years later, doctor Martin Luther King Junior still has the power to bring out the best of us. It's clear that all these years later, the path he set out for all of us is still valid and one we must continually try to follow. Doctor Martin Luther King was, to me, one of the greatest of all Americans. Like Abraham Lincoln, he set out to repair the nation's house that was and is divided against itself. In the process, he changed history, not just American history, but world history for the better. Doctor Martin Luther King revealed truth and advanced justice, not by tearing down America, but rather by embracing its principles and pushing, yes, fighting to bring us closer to living up to its promise. Lots of people try to imitate doctor Martin Luther King. Most fall short. Everyone wants to tell you what doctor Martin Luther King would say about something happening today or yesterday and tomorrow? None of us know. I certainly don't. Funny thing is when people tell you what doctor Martin Luther King would say, it always ends up being something that they would say whether or not doctor Martin Luther King ever lived. But even that even that leader is a compliment. Because at the end of the day, with all our weaknesses and fall faults, we can all agree that he was one of the greatest people to ever live, and we all want greatness on our side. So I don't always know what he would say, but I know this. He was a man of faith. He brought light to darkness. He brought truth to the lies, and he brought love to hate. And on this earth, it takes great bravery and courage to do all that, And he had it. And he did it. And all those things he did and said should still remain as an inspiration to each of us. Now he was taken away from us too soon in a violent act. The very thing he fought and dedicated his life against. None of us know why. I don't have the answer. I often turn to the bible for inspiration in my life. And it seems to me for some reason, sometimes greatness and goodness requires death as an exclamation point. And certainly certainly, doctor Martin Luther King's voice was not silenced as senator Bailey said that day. But in fact and remarkably, it has grown louder every day since. And that is a truly remarkable thing and a beautiful thing. And it says to me that in a world where everything is far from perfect and maybe everyone is not acting the the way they ought to, somehow there's still enough decency in us collectively to make sure that his voice is never silenced. And so we ought to be grateful to that. The other thing I know, and I'll end with this, madam president, is that there is no doubt the world is better because doctor Martin Luther King lived. And as long as we never get too far from what he taught and from his example, we'll still have the chance to get where he wanted us to go. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Lanza. Senator Brisport to close.

[Senator Jabari Brisport]: Thank you, madam president, and, thank you to our majority leader for introducing this resolution. Doctor King said we are not makers of history. We are made by history. And today in 2026, I want to acknowledge the torch of many of the fights we have fought to get to this point. We are six years since the mass mobilizations of George Floyd, some of the largest mass mobilizations in our nation's history. We are thirteen years since three black women coined the phrase black lives matter. We are eighteen years since the election of the first black president. We are thirty one years since the million man march. Sixty three years since the I have a dream speech. One hundred and five years since the Tulsa race massacre, one hundred and sixty one years since the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery mostly, four hundred and six years since the first slaves were brought to America. The history is long and the work continues. And doctor King said true peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice. He would want us to embrace radical solidarity with every fight we have today. Solidarity with the nurses on strike, solidarity with the immigrants being terrorized by ICE, solidarity with every New Yorker being pushed out of their community by an affordability crisis, solidarity with every parent who was worried about how to afford childcare. Doctor King, a democratic socialist, would advocate that we this year, we fight for everybody, and we fight against the systems that harm us. Fight against the imperialism that brought Europeans to Africa five hundred years ago, and today brings the American military to Venezuela and maybe Greenland. Fight against the capitalism that brought black bodies to America as capital and still keeps money and power concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy white men. Fight for the ultimate economic justice, reparations. And not just to fight, but to win. Ashay, and thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Guinaris.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Madam president, the leader would like to open this resolution for cosponsorship.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk. Senator Guinaris.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: This time, let's take up the reading of the calendar.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number eight, senate print eighty seven fifty two by senator Scarcella Spanton, enactment of labor law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section three, this act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, GNR Spruger, Ortzville Cotton's White.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Aye, 57.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Acting President (Chair)]: There's a substitution at the desk the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Senator Ramos moves to discharge from the committee on rules of senate bill number ninety four seventy nine, a substitute for the identical senate bill eighty seven fifty three, third reading, calendar nine.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Substitution so ordered, the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number nine, assembly number 9479 by assembly member Bronson, an enactment of public authorities law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two is actually taken effect on the same date and in the same manner as the chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, Gennaro Krueger, Hort, Sulecotin's wife.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to calendar nine, voted in negative R, Senators Obaracar and Walzik. Ayes, 55. Nays, two.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Counter number 12, senate print eighty seven fifty six by senator Rivera, enactment of chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two of this action taken effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, Genoa's Kruger Hortz, who cut his wife?

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to calendar 12, vote in the negative are senators Barello, Chan, Lanza, Martinez, Oberecker, Tedisco, and Wolsin. Aye, fifty nine seven.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 14, senate print eighty seven sixty one by senator Comrie, enacting the real property action of proceedings law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two, this action taken effect on the same date and in the same manner as the chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: All the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. GNR school report, Smith Evans White.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to calendar 14, voting in negative r, senators Chan and Walzik. Aye 55, next two.

[Acting President (Chair)]: There's a substitution at the desk. Secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Senator Hinchy moves the discharge from the committee on rules of senate bill number ninety four forty one, a substitute for the identity of senate bill eighty seven sixty four. Third reading, calendar 16.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the So we lay aside.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 17, senate print eighty seven sixty seven by senator Serrano, an enactment of parks recreation and historic preservation law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two, this action will take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: You call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabble. GNR's Krug reports for Cotton's White.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to calendar 17, voting in a negative. Senator Walzwick, ayes fifty eight six, nays one.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 18, senate print eighty seven sixty eight by senator Bailey, enacting the real property law and the real property action proceedings law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section four, this action will take effect immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. Senator Scruger. Ort, Swiggutton's wife.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Aye, 57.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number '25, center print 8787 by senator Adabo, an act men in racing, pari mutuel wagering, and breeding law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two, this action will take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the law of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. GNR's Kruger. Court. Court. Court.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Ayes. 57.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: County number 26, senate print eighty seven ninety by senate Scarcella Spandard, enactment of real property tax law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two, this action taken effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, GNR approval of court, suitcumstance White.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Aye. 57.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 30, senate print eighty eight zero two by senator Claire, enactment of public health law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section 19 is asked to take effect immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Gabo, GNR's Kruger, Hort, sore cuttings white.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to calendar 30, voting negative. Senator Walzer. Ayes, 56 and ayes one.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Channel number 33, senate print 8806 by senator Mayor. Next one on the public health floor.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section four, this action will defect immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, Cheynares Kruger, Ort, Suerkuns, White.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Mayor to explain her vote.

[Senator Shelley B. Mayer]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, I rise to proudly vote in favor of the chapter amendment to my bill, which would direct counties together with cities, towns, villages, and other EMS providers to develop comprehensive plans to provide coordinated EMS services within their counties. This issue has been a long time coming. I first introduced a comprehensive bill to introduce to improve New York's EMS system in 2022. And since then, my colleagues, particularly Assemblyman Otis and I, together with the emergency service community, have worked tirelessly to get to a path forward. Finally, the legislature and the governor have reached an agreement on a path forward to support EMS providers. This agreement begins to address the serious statewide challenges facing the current EMS system, which now has gaps in coverage and unacceptable wait times in communities both upstate and down. EMS is essential to health of all of our communities. We need a bigger solution. This is the start of a solution that will work in letting counties work together with providers to figure out how to move forward to ensure maximum coverage. I proudly vote aye and thank my colleagues for working so hard on this issue for the last four years. I vote aye.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Mayor to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Ayes. 57. The bill is passed. Calendar number 39 is semi number ninety four thirty five by semi member Magnarelli. An axement of Public Service Law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Lay it aside.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 45, senate print eighty eight twenty seven by senator Bernardiz. Announcement of chapter of the lawsuit done 25.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section six is actioned to effect immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: All the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo, Gynar Spooker, court still comes white.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: The relation count on 45, vote in a negative. Senator Walden, ayes 56, age one.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Count on number 48, senate print eighty eight thirty four by senator Baskin, an enactment of Indian law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section three, this action took effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. General order speaker, Ort Swillcuttons

[Acting President (Chair)]: White. Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to counter 48, voted in a negative. Senator Walzig. Ayes, 56 and ayes,

[Acting President (Chair)]: Duals passed. Senator Gutierrez, that completes the reading of today's calendar.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Let's please go to reading of the controversial calendar.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The secretary will ring the bell. The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 16, the semi number ninety four forty one by assembly member Jacobson, an act of the public service law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Lanza, why do you rise?

[Senator Andrew J. Lanza]: Madam president, I believe there's an amendment at the desk. I waive the reading of that amendment and ask that you recognize senator Helming.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Lanza. Upon review of the amendment in accordance with rule six section four b, I rule it non germane and out of order.

[Senator Andrew J. Lanza]: Only, madam president, I appeal the ruling of the chair ask that senator Helming be heard on the appeal.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The appeal has been made and recognized, and senator Helming may be heard.

[Senator Pamela A. Helming]: Thank you, madam president. I rise to appeal the ruling of the chair. This amendment is clearly germane as both the bill before this body and the amendment that I put forward will provide transparency about the cost impacting utility bills. The bill in chief requires utilities to provide a detailed list of proposed capital expenditures included in a rate case. The amendment I have brought forward, senate bill fifty two fifty one by sponsor, senator Patricia Canzonary Fitzpatrick, goes even further with transparency by directing the Public Service Commission to determine and disclose the cost on a per rate payer basis of compliance with the provisions of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Madam president, I am very confident that people across this state would agree. We need full disclosure and transparency to so that people can understand why their bills, why their costs are skyrocketing. When the CLCPA was passed in 2019, it was done without any public assessment of its cost. That point was raised here time and time again on this floor, and then later on, we heard from the New York State Comptroller. In his July 2024 report, he notes that the cost of transitioning to renewable energy are not known nor have they been reasonably estimated. He went on to say that the funding sources to cover those costs have not been identified, and as we've been saying along, have left the ratepayers as a primary source of funding. What we do know since the passage of the CLCPA mandate is that New York's electricity prices are up nearly 50%, and New Yorkers, families, seniors, workers, business, and our family farmers are paying 50% more for electricity than the national average. In addition, these all electric mandates and the implementation dates, they're unachievable. In so many areas of our state, we're seeing this over and over again. It just keeps playing out. The electricity capacity does not exist. We've had residential projects that have been completely either stalled or pulled off the books at a time when we have a housing crisis and need more housing. We've heard from businesses who have delayed expansion plans because of the uncertainty surrounding these unachievable mandates. Madam chair, I'll offer this, that ratepayers deserve to know exactly how much these policies and unfunded mandates are costing them. This amendment is an opportunity to provide this critical honesty and transparency. And for these reasons, madam president, I urge you to reconsider your ruling and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the cost transparency amendment that is before you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Helming. I wanna remind the house of the vote is on the procedures of the house and the ruling of the chair. Those in favor of overruling the chair, signify by saying aye.

[Senator Andrew J. Lanza]: Aye. Show of hands.

[Acting President (Chair)]: A show of hands has been requested and so ordered. Announce results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Aye 21.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The ruling of the chair stands and the bill in chief is before the house. Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section two, this action is expected immediately.

[Acting President (Chair)]: No? Oh, call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. Gina R. Sprueger Orts, for Cotton's wife.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Harkom to explain his vote.

[Senator Pete Harckham]: Thank you very much, madam president. Just wanna share a few observations. Number one, the cost of the scoping plan are clearly identified in chapter 10. As we have pointed out on the floor before, the net benefit of the CLCPA to the taxpayers and ratepayers of New York State is well over a $100,000,000,000. Number two, ISO, the utilities, and just about anybody working on this issue will tell you that one of the reasons our rates in New York are higher is not because of the CLPA, not because of clean energy. A kilowatt of wind and solar is by far the cheapest form of energy, cheaper than natural gas, oil, or especially nuclear. What's driving our costs are data farms, AI, cryptocurrency, and these large last mile warehouses. So I once again just rise to put on the record that the CLCPA is not what driving cost and the solutions to the CLCPA are the same things that Texas is using. Texas is the biggest oil state, in the nation and one of the largest in the entire world. And all of their new generation is renewable, wind, solar, and battery storage. And in the process, they have saved their ratepayers $30,000,000,000 because they know it is the fastest to scale and it is cheapest per kilowatt. So having said that, madam chair, I madam president, I vote aye. Thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Harkom to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Barello to explain his vote.

[Senator George Borrello]: Thank you, madam president. Not to disagree with my colleague on the other side of the aisle, but the idea that the kilowatt hours are cheaper for wind and solar than traditional forms of energy is just not true. If it were true, then why would we need these extensive power purchase agreements where companies that are forced to buy green energy at a much higher rate and it's often subsidized by the ratepayers and the taxpayers. If it was actually cheaper, we wouldn't need those power purchase agreements that force even public utilities and not for profits to have to pay more and give back less to the folks that they're supposed to be benefiting. So this is just not true. It is simply not true. And if the CLCPA was making things cheaper, then why did this body ban utility companies from being able to outline an itemized list of what the costs are that from the CLCPA to the rate payers? So let's not pretend here that we are actually saving people money when in fact we are costing people more money and driving more people out of the state. On this particular bill, I'll be voting yes, but on the concept of of of green energy being cheaper, I'm a flat out no. Thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Burrell, to be recorded in

[Senator Pamela A. Helming]: the affirmative. Senator Helming to explain your vote. Thank you, madam president. I will be voting yes on this bill. Whenever we could take steps to be more transparent about the cost to ratepayers, I fully support that, and that's what this bill does. However, I'd like to point out that in my area, the mandates, including the CLCPA, New York state fees, and taxes to comply with energy mandates have been estimated to drive up gas and electric costs anywhere between 2027%. Pending rate cases, that are out there right now are estimated on the delivery cost alone of energy, of electricity, to my constituents and many others in this room are estimated to increase the cost by 37%. So the notion that the CLCPA is not driving up cost for ratepayers is somehow making it true is just not accurate. I vote yes, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Helming to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Hitchie to explain your vote.

[Senator Michelle Hinchey]: Thank you, madam president. I wanna thank my colleagues for voting yes on this bill, and, I'm really happy, and I thank the leader for bringing it to the floor today. This bill is incredibly important because it provides transparency to the capital projects that utility companies, are doing across our districts. One of the reasons why ratepayer bills are increasing and why this transparency is so important is because a number of utility companies actually continue to build fossil fuel infrastructure, including in places where it's no longer needed and has been transitioned to renewables. And so being able to have that transparency to not waste ratepayer dollars on infrastructure that we are moving away from, and instead invest into renewable energy that we do know for a fact is cheaper, is incredibly important. So this bill will provide that transparency and save people money, and I'm really glad it's coming to the floor today, and I thank my colleagues for voting for it. Thank you.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Hitchie to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Aye, 57.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Calendar number 39, assembly number 9435 by assembly member Magnarelli, enactment of public service law.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Rose, why do you rise?

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Madam president, I'm hoping that, my colleague, senator Ryan, might yield to a few questions.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Ryan, do you yield? Yes. Senator Yee.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Thank you, senator. I appreciate that. Through you, madam president, I was, I was first off, I wanna thank the sponsor for sponsoring the underlying bill, president, and I was, honored to go on the bill as a cosponsor because in addition to this bill, relating to pole attachment safety and quality, I viewed this as being a bill that also promoted transparency and accountability for the, the utility operators and telecommunication companies that were utilizing utility poles. But I noticed that in the chapter amendment that is before us, a number of important provisions that caused me to be a cosponsor on the bill are now being removed. And I just wanted to ask a few questions with respect to, to some of the the things that have been removed. In the initial legislation, it appeared to, require that there be preregistration before installations were actually accomplished so that, individuals who were interested, be it municipalities, be it, individual residents who were concerned about what was being installed on a pole would be able in advance of the installation to have that information. It appears as though that preregistration has now been turned into almost an after action report where the report would be compiled up to a year after the installation, as opposed to, providing, individuals with preknowledge of what's being installed on those poles. Can can you explain why that change has been made?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Through you, madam president. I when I say, are you referring to the, portion with the right away permits, I'm assuming?

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: To, section one nineteen e of the bill.

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: So, obviously, with the intent being to know who is requesting to get on those polls to kind of get out in front of it, I guess if you will for the reporting aspect of it. I don't know as to why the intent with taking it out, but with the reporting database afterwards, I believe that there is sufficient, the mechanism being of the reporting, who's going on the polls, what they requested to go on the polls, what work is being done, the time frame, and also knowing who's going to go on them post, I think that that would be sufficient to be okay with it. I'm okay with it. I think it accomplishes sort of the same thing. Would we have liked the reporting mechanism prior to the right of way permits? Perhaps, but I think I don't think it's lost on the reporting mechanisms after the fact, especially with the ability to capture the inadequate work, if there is inadequate work, with photographs and report to the Public Service Commission afterwards.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Thank you, senator. Would the sponsor continue to yield? You continue to yield?

[Acting President (Chair)]: Yes. Senator Yeats.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Thank you, senator Ryan. Part of the initial was concerned about something that was going on the poll, they would be able to ask questions about it in advance of the installation. Is that right preserved after the chapter amendment? And will sponsor continue to yield? Yes. The initial legislation thank you, senator. The initial legislation referred to an electronic database where information prior to the installation would have been kept so that it would be searchable by the public. I do notice that the that language has been changed. Would the electronic database would the electronic database, that contains the after action information also able is that also able to be searchable by the public?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Yes. My understanding is yes. Okay. The database will still be searchable.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Would sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President (Chair)]: You continue to yield? Yes. Center yield.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: But the information that's contained in the database would be information after the installations have already been completed, and it may again be up to a year after the installation was completed?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: The answer to the question is yes, but I think that also the intent behind the initial being we're talking about work that's performed. There were I'm I'm I'm a little confused because what we're trying to capture is bad, inadequate, inefficient, unsafe work. So the reporting mechanisms wouldn't have been before. It would have to be done or captured after the work is done and then reported.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Will the sponsor, continue to yield?

[Acting President (Chair)]: Continue to yield? Yes. Senator Ehles.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: The reason that I was suggesting that this is a preregistration requirement is that in the initial, in the initial report, that had to be submitted, it would have included the anticipated date of work commencement and the anticipated completion date, which would have indicated to me that this was a report that was actually submitted prior to the to the work actually being performed, partially so that individuals who were interested and concerned about what may go be going up on a utility pole, on the utility pole in front of their house or next door might have been able to find out that information and ask questions about that before the installation was done to make sure that it was safe. Was was I incorrect?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Through you, madam president. I don't think you're incorrect. Just not completely I guess, not completely fully understanding the intent. Right? So I know we're going back to the initial and the possible identification of those that are going to be seeking third party attachments or right away attachments. What the intent behind the bill is to make sure that third party attachments so also providers whether it be a joint pole, whether it's the electric company or telephone company who are part owners, they don't if a third party attache wants to get on the pole, the power company and the telephone company don't have the ability to say no. So it's sort of a moot point being asset. So I think being ahead of it, I understand the intent of what you're saying, but that's not really intent is. What the intent is, is so that when these third parties get on and or they do less than safe work or inefficient work or inadequate work that is not in line with safety, that is unsafe work, there's a mechanism to see to it that that work is then reported. So I think we keep going back to getting ahead of it. But again, even if you were able to identify those that wanted to get on the poll prior, you wouldn't be able to tell them no to begin with. Does that answer your question?

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Thank you, senator. It does. Will the sponsor continue to yield? You continue to yield? Yes. Senator yields? In the initial legislation, there was a process under section two to allow public input or complaint prior to the installation, and I am assuming that that is no longer the case in the revised legislation. Correct?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Through you, madam president. Yes.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: And will sponsor continue to yield? You continue to yield?

[Acting President (Chair)]: Yes. Senator yields?

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: There was also in, section b three of the legislation and continuing a rather extensive process for investigation of complaints and adjudication of violations, which also seems to have been modified. Was there a rationale behind the modification of that process?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Through you, madam president. There is still a reporting mechanism in there. Right? So there's also the photography if they're they will be able to submit photos, so they will be able to go out and if there is, again, inadequate work, there is a mechanism to correct that and see to it that corrective actions are taken.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Will the sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President (Chair)]: You continue to yield? Yes. Senator

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: yields. Specifically with respect to, to the fines that were in the in the initial legislation, for violations, by a company that could be imposed or would be imposed by law. There was a first violation fine of $20,000, a second violation fine of $50,000, a third violation fine as well. Those fines have been removed in the, in the current chapter amendment. Was there a rationale behind the removal of the the actual penalties?

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Through you, madam president? The rationale was that there is currently written into law fines if if one were to provide or perform such bad work.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: It's a continued deal.

[Acting President (Chair)]: You continue to yield? Yes. Senator yields.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: What are those fines in comparison to what was proposed in the initial legislation? We do have the power to to change the law with respect to those fines.

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Yeah. Which was our we tried to change those because in the first instance, the well, through you, madam president. There was the intent behind that was to kind of stop that from happening from the get go, the 20 the first, second and the third, including a stop work order. The fines are higher to that. I think it is to which would range from $150,000 to $500,000 But but the yeah. Thanks. Thank you very much.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: Just on the bill.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Rhodes, on the bill.

[Senator Steven Rhoads]: I certainly appreciate obviously, I appreciate the underlying, the underlying purpose of the legislation. I also appreciate senator Ryan for engaging in, in this discussion and helping to explain some of the rationale behind the chapter amendment that we see now. I am concerned that that telecommunication companies may be undermining, or may be influencing, the chapter amendment that we see before us. The bill certainly continues to provide the laudable goal of poll attachment safety and accountability after the fact. But an important piece of the prior legislation was the fact that this information would have been provided and available to the public in advance of the pole installation so that if they had questions or concerns, there was a mechanism for them to voice those concerns and a mechanism for them as the installation was occurring to be able to identify who it was that was doing the work, what the purpose of it was, and who was accountable for it as it was being installed. That, unfortunately, has been eviscerated in the, in the chapter amendment, unfortunately, and I will be voting in the opposition to the amendment. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Thank you, senator Roose. Are there any other senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Section three, this action taken effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: Adabo. GNR's Kruger Oort, still cutting his wife.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Ryan to explain his vote.

[Senator Sean M. Ryan]: Yep. Well, while I appreciate, my colleagues' concerns, I would, respectfully disagree. I think at the end of the day, what this law accomplishes is what we set out to do. What this law accomplishes is to if there are telecommunications companies that are performing unsafe, insufficient work. There is a way for the general public to bring that awareness, the Public Service Commission. There is a mechanism for reporting a database, a very extensive database that actually says who's going on the poll, when they're going on the poll, what work was performed, how many polls they went on, and what type of work was done where, how, when, and why. There are existing fines in place to take those corrective measures. It's diff this bill is a little different than what it started, but at the end of day, we accomplished the same thing, which is making sure that all of our public utility workers are going home safe to their families, which is the most important thing that they did when they started the day. I vote aye.

[Acting President (Chair)]: Senator Ryan to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Reading Clerk)]: In relation to counter 39 voting in negative are senators Ashby, Varela, Rhodes, Steck, Walzik. Ayes 52 oh, also senator Grifold. Ayes 51, nay six.

[Acting President (Chair)]: The bill is passed. Senator Generis, that completes the reading of the controversial calendar.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Is there any further business at the desk?

[Acting President (Chair)]: There is no further business at the desk.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: I move to adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21 at 11AM.

[Acting President (Chair)]: On motion, the senate stands adjourned until Wednesday, January 21 at 11AM.