New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: I ask everyone present 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

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: journal. In senate, Monday, 02/23/2026, the senate may be pursuant to adjournment. The journal of Friday, 02/20/2026 is read and approved. A motion to senate adjourn.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Without objection, the journal stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions, messages from the assembly, messages from the governor, report to standing committees, report to select committees, communications and reports from state offices, motions and resolutions, senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Good afternoon, mister president. Several motions here. Amendments offered the following third reading calendar bills on behalf of senator Scufus, calendar two thirty six, senator Cooney, calendar two fifty one, senator Mayer, calendar two seventy five, senator Sepulveda, calendar two ninety, and senator Grenardis, calendar three zero one.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: The amendments are received and the bill bills will retain their place in the third reading calendar. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: At this time, let's take a previously adopted resolution fifteen thirty four by the dynamic team of senators Parker and Todisco. We'll read that resolution's title and recognize first senator Parker on the resolution.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: The buddy comedy we all need. Second, Rory Reid.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolution fifteen thirty four by senator Parker, honoring the Schenectady Belmont Pop Warner football program, upon the occasion winning the regional championship and achieving a top five national championship finish.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Parker on the resolution.

[Senator Kevin S. Parker]: Thank you very much, mister president. First of all, let's, have these young people stand up and and be recognized. Give them a round of applause. This is a championship team. And as you see, group of young people. But in that short amount of time, they have not won, mister president, not one time, not two times. They have not won even three times or four times, but five times. And they are a a football team that prides themselves on hard work, on dedication. They come from a community in which those are the daily values. And although a little bit a ways away from my district in Brooklyn, share a lot of the same population that we have there. And so I've been happy to team up with Senator Tedesco to host these young people here in Albany today. To have them understand that there are people as they may be watching us for inspiration, which some of us may argue should not happen, but we also get inspiration from them. And we see the work that they do, we see their hard work, and we see that just like in the legislature where you have to work hard to get things done, that in the field of sports, they have showed that hard work, that dedication, and that commitment will win the day. And so I want to thank you for opening up the house to them and acknowledging them. Senator Tedesco, I think, who, you know, who represents this, intrepid group, will have, a lot more to say, and so I yield to him. Thank you.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Thank you, senator Parker.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Tedesco, in the resolution.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: Thank you so much, mister president and my colleagues. I had the opportunity along with senator Park to to speak to these outstanding student athletes earlier. And I explained to them that in the senate chamber, we do get a lot of pretty good things done, but sometimes it gets stifled. And I I let him know that there are 61 other members, but if it was just me and senator Parker, we could solve a lot of problems in the state. But that some people get in the way sometimes, but we work very well together. And, as you look up there, you're seeing some outstanding student athletes, parents, volunteers, tremendous coaches, and they are proof of the fact, because you've heard me say this before, all good things emanate from the 44th Senatorial District. In Belmont, Pop Warner, you are one big part of that whole thing. I look up at that camera, and I hope there are some NFL scouts because you got some superstars coming your way. And I told them, I'm ready to be their agents when the time comes to see what we could do about them in the NFL. Well, actually, I'm I'm very pleased also to work with, senator Parker in a collegial way to welcome and congratulate the Eastern Regional Champion and top five nationally ranked Belmont Pop Warner football program to this chamber today. National recognition. The Schenectady Belmont Pop Warner football program punched its ticket to national competition by winning the Eastern Regional Championship on Saturday, November 29 in March Creek, Pennsylvania. Prior to their regional and national success, the program enjoyed a historic seven for seven, not 70%, 80%, or 90%, a 100% seasons at the local level with all seven teams winning their respective capital district Pop Warner Super Bowls. They just keep winning. Winning is great. We've heard it so much around the world. I wonder where else we've heard about winning. Now we won't mention that here. It's said that success of any organization starts with leadership, and their coaches work tirelessly to make this group collectively greater than the sum of its parts. Madam president and my colleagues, I'd ask you to welcome them. Oh, jeez. Did I say, madam? You are looking good today. Let me tell you. I got a Braun shaver though. You gotta get that no. No. Welcome them. Congratulate them. Offer them all the cordialities of this august body. And we certainly appreciate the records you've achieved, and I know there's most more to come. Thank you, mister president.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator Todisco. To our five time champions, student athletes, future change makers, and future occupants of this body. I welcome you on behalf of the senate. We extend to you all the privileges and courtesies of this house. Please rise and be recognized. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Mister president, I'd like to remind senator Tidisco that we have significant outside income limits in this chamber, and so I think we'd all welcome his new career as an agent for these football players as opposed to being here with us. I think we're, currently awaiting the leader for her resolution, so we'll stand at ease just momentarily until she arrives.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator, stand at ease momentarily.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Privilege resolution that's at the desk, read it in its entirety and recognize majority leader Stuart Cousins on that resolution.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator returns to the order. Secretary Reed.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Resolution sixteen thirty six by senator Stuart Cousins mourning the death of reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson in honor of his lifetime of service, leadership, and advocacy for civil rights and social justice. Whereas from time to time, the legislature of the state of New York pauses in its deliberations to recognize individuals whose lives have profoundly shaped society, whose leadership, courage, and moral conviction have left an enduring imprint on history, inspiring generations to confront inequality, expand opportunity, and work toward a more just and fair society. Among the distinguished figures whose lives embodied these ideals, few have demonstrated such enduring courage, moral clarity, and transformative impact as the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. Whereas the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, born Jesse Lewis Burns on 10/08/1941 in Greensville, South Carolina, rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential civil rights leaders in history, dedicating his life to the pursuit of justice, equality, and human rights for black Americans and all people. And whereas, reverend Jesse Jackson was raised in the segregated self was surrounded by a community that instilled in him a deep sense of faith, resilience, and responsibility. He went on to earn a bachelor's of arts in sociology from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina. In 1964, he began his theological studies at Chicago Theological Seminary, but deferred his studies when he began working full time in the civil rights movement with the the reverend, doctor Martin Luther King Junior. He was ordained on 06/30/1968 by Reverend Clay Evans and received his masters of divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000. And whereas Reverend Jackson emerged as a mentee and follower of the Reverend Doctor. Martin Luther King Junior during the civil rights movement, standing alongside Doctor. King in the final moments of his life in 1968 and carrying forward the movement's moral and strategic legacy with unwavering commitment. And whereas Reverend Jackson played a pivotal role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conferences Operation Brave Basket, transforming it into a national force for economic justice by negotiating employment opportunities, corporate accountability, agreements, and community investment commitments that reshape access to economic power

[Senator Kevin S. Parker]: of

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: black Americans. And whereas Reverend Jackson strengthened the national movement for justice by by founding the Rainbow Push Coalition, united his earlier organizations to advance political empowerment, economic opportunity, and equal rights for underserved communities. Through the rainbow push coalition, Reverend Jackson championed voter registration, educational equity, fair housing, and criminal justice reform. Mobilizing millions of Americans to participate in civic life and expand the political influence of historically marginalized communities. And whereas Reverend Jackson's groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns galvanized a multiracial rainbow coalition, elevating issues such as universal health care, workers rights, environmental justice, and international human rights, And open doors for future candidates of color to seek and hold the highest officers in the nation. And whereas reverend Jackson distinguished himself as a global humanitarian and diplomat negotiating the release of American hostages and political prisoners in Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and other regions, demonstrating the steadfast commitment to peace, dialogue, and the protection of human life. And whereas Reverend Jackson was a tireless advocate for labor rights, sustainable workers across industries ranging from farm workers to airline employees to public sector unions consistently affirming that economic justice is inseparable from civil rights. And whereas Reverend Jackson's voice resonated across generations as he spoke out against apartheid in South Africa, voter suppression in The United States, and human rights abuses around the world, Reinforcing the moral imperative of global solidarity and the struggle for freedom and equality. And whereas Reverend Jesse Jackson's lifelong dedication to youth empowerment, leadership development, and educational opportunity inspired countless young people to pursue public service, activism, and community leadership, ensuring that his legacy continues to shape the future. And whereas Reverend Jackson further distinguished himself through national public service, including his tenure as shadow senator for the District Of Columbia from 1991 to '97, where he advocated for full congressional representation and statehood for the residents of Washington DC. And whereas in recognition of his decades lead decades of leadership, moral courage, and unwavering commitment to civil and human rights, Reverend Jackson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 2000, the nation's highest civil honor. And whereas Reverend Jackson maintained deep and enduring ties to New York State, shaping his shaping his civil rights landscape and launching the Wall Street project in New York City, an initiative dedicated to challenging the financial industry to expand access and opportunity for minority entrepreneurs, investors and professionals and to ensure that corporate sector reflected the diversity, talent and economic aspiration of all communities. And whereas Reverend Jackson's work in New York strengthened grassroots organizing, expanded political participation, and inspired generation of New Yorkers to confront injustice with courage, discipline, and moral conviction. And whereas throughout his life, Reverend Jackson maintained a steadfast voice against racism, poverty, violence, and discrimination, championing championing voters rights, workers rights, educational equity, and and the dignity of marginalized communities across the nation. And whereas, reverend Jackson passed away on 02/17/2026 at the age of 84, leaving behind a monumental legacy of activism, institution building, and moral leadership that transformed The United States and inspired movements around the world. And whereas Reverend Jackson is survived by his devoted wife of more than six decades, Jacqueline Laveena Brown Jackson and their children, Santita Jackson, Jesse Lewis Jackson Junior, Jonathan Luther Luther Jackson, Youssef Dubois Jackson, Jacqueline Lavina Jackson, and Ashley Laverne Jackson, all of whom carry forward his legacy of service, faith, and commitment to justice. Now, therefore, be it resolved that this letter said the body poses its deliberations to mourn the past of reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson to honor his extraordinary life and achievements and to recognize his profound contributions to civil rights, democracy, and human dignity. Be And it further resolved that a copy of this resolution suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson with the with the deepest sympathy and gratitude of the people of the new of the city of New York.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Majority leader Stuart Cousins on the resolution.

[Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins]: Thank you so much, madam president. And I certainly rise, to honor this extraordinary life and legacy of of Jesse Jackson and extend, on behalf of the senate, our deepest condolences to his family and our deepest gratitude for sharing him with us, for, you know, the better part of of a century. It is not often that we have an opportunity to see a full life. So many of our heroes are gone in very, very early ages and we can only imagine what happened what would have happened if they were, you know, 50 or 60 or whatever. Jesse Jackson was here for eighty four very full years and I think the resolution told us in broader strokes how he impacted so much of what we experience today. I talked to a couple of friends of mine, the Robinson sisters in Westchester. They're legendary and I know you know them, madam leader. You know, Joanne and Roberta and their mother, May Morgan Robinson, was somebody who was always trying to engage community in voting rights and making them understand how important this was. Joanne was a teacher in 1984 in the Bronx, and her class of mostly black and brown children, were learning about astronauts and and the space race. And Joanne asked them, why do you think there's never been a black astronaut? And to her dismay, a couple of the children explained it's because black people weren't smart enough to be astronauts. She was shocked that her fifth graders had ingrained in them that they weren't worthy of being anyone great. That was the same year that Jesse Lewis Jackson launched his presidential campaign. And ultimately, she became a delegate because she said that she did not want to miss the opportunity to allow for those children to understand that, yes, black people are capable and could stand on debate stages and command the attention of millions of people in America talking about things that they needed to hear, whether it was universal health care or child care, whether it was public housing or the fact that, yes, you are somebody even if you may be in impoverished circumstance. It doesn't mean you as a person are impoverished. Him showing up in Sesame Street saying, I am somebody, to the rainbow coalition that, yes, senator Tedesco, you and senator Parker, I was amused to hear that you and senator Parker could solve all our problems. Little did we know. Wow. But but Jesse Jackson, you know, was was that guy that created this rainbow coalition of saying, you know, we all can do better, but we have to do better with each other. And we can't decide that people are unworthy because of the color of their skin or because of their poverty or because of their lack of education or dis or whatever it is. What an amazing energy to bring to the stage in the forefront in 1984, which was also the year that senator Velmonette Montgomery won. Mhmm. I had a chance to talk to Velmonette today. She called me, and I was like, I know you must have been involved with Jesse Jackson's campaign. She said, yeah. She said she remembered standing in the housing project waiting for Jesse Jackson to come and it was as though they were waiting, you know, for for, you know, the savior. She said, you could hear a pin drop. Nobody moved. Nobody dared breathe waiting for Jesse. And he came and he delivered the promise of hope. And the same year, Velmanette Montgomery, who'd been involved with childcare and daycare, raised her hand and said, I'm gonna run. She's the longest serving senator. And when she left, she's still not she's still active, but her commitment to to the criminal justice system, reforming it into our children never wavered because of the example that a Jesse Jackson laid for her. And in Jesse's campaign, a million new voters signed up. People who had been sitting on the sidelines thinking that it didn't matter what they did signed up and became involved in a political process that has, I'm sure, resulted in the diversity of this chamber and the commitment to things that Jesse had the courage to bring up and sustain over these decades of service. When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, people did not understand all of them and are probably beginning to understand now how Jesse's campaign and changing the way the delegate process was. It used to be a winner take all. So if you won a state, you got all the delegates and it was Jesse Jackson's campaign. They said, no. You're entitled to the delegates you won even if you didn't win the whole seat. You're entitled to your delegates. And it laid the pathway for a Barack Obama to become the first black president in 2008, just twenty years after his election campaign. We have a lot to be thankful for when we have the opportunity to see the embodiment of public servants in the full panoply of life. I'm not gonna say that Jesse Jackson was perfect because none of us are. But I certainly will say that his influence in our lives, in our opportunity to stand in this chamber fighting for people is a legacy of his that I'm really, really proud to be able to carry forward. We can't all have the impact that Jesse Jackson had, but what we can do is make sure that none of us forget that we are all somebody. And in times like this, which is challenging for so many, his life and his legacy really, really demands that we indeed keep hope alive. Thank you so much.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: You, madam president. Senator Sanders on the resolution.

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: Thank you for the resolution, madam leader, madam president. A tall tree has fell in our forest. You can't get around that. A tall tree has fell. Let me tell you some quick Jesse Jackson moments, that I had with him. When he decided to run back in '84, I ended up being the secretary, I don't know how, of the rainbow in my district. And we brought him out to the the Rockaways, Queens, the edge of the earth. And we found a place and we filled it with 3,000 people inside. The most curious thing, a big noise was happening outside. It was getting so scary. It was another 2,000 people trying to get into the space. We almost had a political riot of people trying to get in. Jesse actually had to go to the door and calm everybody down so that he could speak on the inside. Then he was speaking and he said something that changed my life. Now you have to remember, eighty four to eighties was the height of the crack epidemic. It was a bad time to be in New York. With my luck, I find myself at the epicenter. I'm in the South Bronx. There's no worse place at the time that you could be at the time. Thank God he just chased. But I'll be at the South Bronx. And so Jesse spoke and he said he drove through the Bronx to get down here and he said, you know what I saw. And I'm saying to myself, yeah, I know what you saw. My God, it looks like a war zone. I'm just coming out the Marine Corps and I understand that. Then he said, I thought he was gonna speak of broken buildings. It's He said, I saw jobs. I saw bricklayers and electricians and plumbers. I saw the need for jobs. I said, Oh my God, the man is right. I never even thought of that. His vision was something that way beyond what what people could speak of. Then, of course, I had the the pleasure of working with him over the Wall Street when he would go to Wall Street periodically and try to get Wall Street to get right. We're still that's a work in progress. My final thing that I wanna tell you about Jesse Jackson came when, 2009, 2000 actually, 2007. The, predatory lending meltdown where the banks were seizing the mortgage companies, everybody feeding on these four people. And I'm trying to organize around there. I said, can who can we get? I reached out to Jesse Jackson and we led a march of around 300 people through Southeast Queens with him. I actually brought him to my brother Leroy was chairing. We we brought him to a a meeting of the of the city council where we were working on these things. I can speak many more things, but but time won't permit. A tall tree has fallen in the community. This tree gave us comfort. This tree sheltered us. This tree protected us. We were protected from many winds. A tall tree has fallen. You can't get around that. But one thing about a tall tree falling, madam president, in order for the young trees to grow, a tall tree must get out the way. If the tall tree does not get out the way, the young trees will die. Jesse Jackson, one of the tallest trees, has fallen. Now comes a time when these young trees need to get up there, need to take their natural place in the world and say that I am somebody that we have value in spite of. And so I am very grateful for this resolution, for this moment, for Jesse Jackson and him letting everyone know that regardless of where you were born, he used to say, you could be born in the projects. And I and I was. I was born in the Hamill's houses. Very proud to say it. Born in the Hamill's houses. I was not born in a hospital. I was born in the Hamill's houses. No midwife. No man, black or white, slapped me. My mother made up for it, but that's a different story for a different day. One story at a time. I am somebody, and Jesse Jackson helped make it popular. Thank thank god for him. Thank you, madam.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator Sanders. Senator Bailey on the resolution.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, madam president. We are somebody. Thank you, madam leader for this resolution. 84, I was two. 88, I was six.

[Senator Jamaal T. Bailey]: But Jesse Jackson loomed large in my life. See, when you were growing up young and black, there weren't Andre Stewart cousins to look up to. We didn't even have mayor Dinkins till '89. We didn't have Obama. We didn't have Speaker Hasey. We didn't have a Tish James. We didn't have a Hakim Jeffries. We had Jesse Jackson. I used to think that he was one of the Jackson five back in the day. It was a similar last name. My dad said, no, this is a different Jackson. He's doing different things for our community. There's always a sports hook for me, madam president. When he went to University of Illinois on a football scholarship, much like the backward racist thinking of the past, they thought that blacks were inferior and couldn't play quarterback. So he transferred to North Carolina A and T where he got to play football but he got to ingrain himself with the HBCUs, the black college experience. He did so many more, you can read his bio, so many more things you can read his bio. I'm gonna talk about the impact that he had on me. The national convention speeches were incredible. But in 1989, when I was seven years old, he appeared on a show that I've often cited in on this chamber called A Different World. There was an episode called Citizen Way and I didn't realize the gravity of it at that time. In 1989, Jesse Jackson had just run for president and he was on that show. That is the functional equivalent of having like a Taylor Swift or somebody like that on a sitcom right now. That's how hot Jesse was. That's how important he was. How crucial and critical he was to the black community. In the in the episode, one of the main characters, Dwayne Wayne, was running for president And he didn't feel that his issues were being heard. And he was on the verge of dropping out. And he spoke to Jesse Jackson and Jesse Jackson reminded him that one man can make a difference. That one person should not be counted out. That you can make a difference. This is pre apartheid resolution in South Africa and he was talking about how you can make a difference. At the time, 12,000,000 people were registered on college campuses. They could make a difference. He spoke about the value of voting. And at the conclusion of his speech, he said, let's vote about it. If you go back and look at that and rewatch that like I have, so on streaming services now, it hits even different. That speech that Jesse Jackson gave in 1989 on a TV show could have been given today. About the power of the youth vote. About the necessity for us to make sure that we know that we are someone. There was a The funniest moment in that episode, Madam President, is that Dwayne Wayne's good friend Ron Johnson made a poster, those of us who watched the episode, and it said three winners. And it showed Dwayne Wayne, Ron Johnson, and Jesse Jackson in the middle. And on the bottom it said, I am somebody. Seven years old, if I took nothing else from that episode, I am somebody. It meant something. You've heard the 1988 speech. And I'm gonna give you one excerpt before I close, madam president. Take New York, the dynamic metropolis, what makes New York so special? It is the invitation of the Statue Of Liberty. Give me your tired, poor, your huddled masses who yearn to breathe free, not restricted to English only. Many people, many cultures, many languages with one thing in common, they yearn to breathe free, common ground. That could have been given today. Frankly, madam president, that message is needed even more today than it probably was in '88. We must remember that we must keep hope alive. Thank you, madam president.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator Bailey. Senator Comrie on the resolution.

[Senator Leroy Comrie]: I am somebody. I am somebody. I am somebody. I am somebody. Those words still affect so many of us today. The opportunities that I had to interact with Jesse Jackson, thanks to senator Sanders back in the day, working as a young person to try to impact politics, which was my chosen desire, not having a role model, Jesse Jackson was somebody. Jesse Jackson pulled so many of us up and gave us the put the batteries in our back, put the energy in our souls, put the desire in our feet. He created so many opportunities. There would be no mayor Dinkins, there would be no Chicago mayor, there would be no Atlanta mayor without Jesse Jackson. There are so many people that got involved in politics and government, so many people that got involved in civic life because he took the time to try to impart in clear tones what it meant to be important. Not important in a live sense, but in a real sense. Important because you were putting the time and work in, you were doing the research, you were making sure that when you spoke, you knew what you were talking about, and that you were able to be factual and go point by point with anybody to try to dispute your reflections or your desires or the things that we needed to improve our country. Jesse Jackson, moreover, was a healer. He was a unifier. He tried to bring a big tent together before there was a big tent. He tried to try he tried to make sure that people understood that he was about the entire country and not just some. He was willing to go to all parts of the world to dedicate his fight for justice, to make sure that people understood that wherever you are, whatever you were doing, you were somebody. There's so many things that could be said, so many things that have been said, and so many things that will be said, but I just wanna say we need to keep hope alive. We need to try to instill in each other the tenants of Jesse Jackson to impart to everyone that you are somebody, that you're somebody relevant, that you're somebody that should be listened to and respected, that you should respect others around you so that we can make this world a better place. Keep hope alive.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator Comrie. Senator Fahey on the resolution.

[Senator Patricia A. Fahy]: Thank you, madam president. This is hard to follow, but I just have to stand today because I'm a very proud Chicago native. I'm also a little older than a few people that spoke, and, the loss of, the passing of reverend Jesse Jackson last week sent me way down memory lane. I'm afraid in my instance, it was back to 1968. At some of my earliest memories in watching the TV, reading the news, hearing about the news, and, the relentless presence of, at first, MLK, all that happened in 1968. But then two of his most prominent lieutenants that carried forth and Jesse Jackson stayed and built his career in Chicago. He now he was one of two, the only lieutenant, if you will, of that inner circle of MLK that, is now still alive as Andrew Young. But Jesse Jackson not only witnessed history at the longest time, he really made history. He was truly at the crossroads in my formative years, of some of the most defining moments. His groundbreaking run for president in 1984 and 1988, really changed so much and taught us all about the power of the ballot box where he had 7,000,000 votes in 1988. It completely expanded voter turnout, something that is now we see and fast forward to today, something that we see threatened again at the national level, and we see pushback regarding access to the ballot. But it it truly is one of the most remarkable tributes of what he did along with the creation of rainbow push, the strides and the relentless push for economic justice, civil rights, and making sure that democracy works for all. It truly took courage, something we all need to continue to take a lessons from as well as persistence. He believed in lifting up people, to protecting civil rights, and creating the pathways. In his memory and then in honor of black Americans everywhere, I think we all need to remember the words and his beliefs of justice, dignity, and inclusion. And I think that, in honor of his his legacy, we have to be reminded that these are more than just words. We have to continue to follow through on those those words with action, and thank you for the time.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator Fey. Senator Parker on the resolution.

[Senator Kevin S. Parker]: Thank you, madam president. First, let me thank Andre Stewart Cousins, our leader, for bringing this important resolution to the floor. And let me add my voice to my colleagues who are honoring this really important figure, just in African American life, but in American life. That the life of Jesse Lewis Jackson is one in which all Americans should be thankful and reminiscent about the impact on our community. Jesse Jackson was a Baptist minister, an activist, Someone who was protege to the Reverend Doctor. Martin Luther King Junior. He was a civil rights leader, founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition. And that coalition, people should understand, wasn't a coalition of black people, was a coalition of people. That he understood and taught the community that our struggle wasn't a singular struggle. And I think you heard one of my colleagues talk about him creating a big tent before there was a big tent. Right? And that's exactly what he did. But Jesse Jackson's life is a stop in the continuum of black prophetic vision and activism that we see, not just in this country but that comes through African life. As I have talked about other times during Black History Month, that the history of African people in America doesn't start in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia, but you have to go back to Africa. And when you look, madam president, in West African societies, you have a joining of leadership that is both civil and prophetic. That that oftentimes leaders are both politician and preacher. That they are president and pope. And Jesse Jackson comes out of that tradition. Because oftentimes people wonder why this man who is this, again, Baptist minister rises to do this. Right? If you look out at at at major people groups in West Africa, like the Icon in in Ghana, you see the Ashanti Hena. The Ashanti Hena is both president and pope for the for the Akan people. Amongst the Yoruba and Nigeria, you'll see Kabiesi, the the king. So if you would, right? And Kabiesi also stands as both the cultural leader and also the religious leader. That is a dynamic in which African people brought over with them. And so oftentimes, you'll read things and people will say, oh, black people organized in a black church because that was the only thing that that the white slave masters would allow them to to do is get together on Sunday, and that's simply just not true. That they brought with them a spiritual epistemology. That is they understood truth and knowledge vis a vis their relationship to the spirit world. And so when you look at early resistance movements of Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosta, Denmark Vesey, all prophetic visionaries. Preachers, as you would call them. And as you move through time, you'll see people like Marcus Garvey. The first thing that Garvey creates after he creates the Universal Negro Improvement Association, the UNIA, is the African Orthodox Church. One of the people who comes out of the UNIA is the honorable Elijah Muhammad, who then creates the Nation of Islam. And out of the Nation of Islam is birthed Malcolm X. And then you have out of that movement for civil rights that is born out of two cradles, one in the South out of Atlanta, but one out of Harlem with Garvey, you then have a combination of people who see themselves as, yes, prophetic voices, but also understanding that they have to be involved in the civil life of their communities. And so you see it with Adam Clayton Powell. And I mean senior. I'm not even got to junior yet. Right? You see it with Adam Clayton Powell senior. You see it with Adam Clayton Powell junior. You see it amongst Gardner Taylor, is the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn, who baptized me. You see it with Jean Bartard at a Stede, the first democratically elected president of Haiti. He's a Catholic priest. Those things don't come. Those things aren't born in isolation. And of course, you see King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Right? And people like Ralph Abernathy and others who are all ordained ministers. It is out of that tradition in which Jesse Jackson is born into. And so that because that we come from this lineage of people who have prophetic vision but then also are grounded in the real world realities that people are dealing with, he creates an organization that is not just a moral call for America to change, but also a social and economic and people call for this country to change. And you see within the context of both the things that he was involved in connected also to King. People forget that King essentially gets killed going to a labor rally. And that that cry for justice is one that is connected to personhood. Remember that when King is killed in Tennessee, what's the call that those sanitation workers were saying? I'm a man. I'm a man. Just real simple things. Simple at length. And then you evolve into Black Lives Matter, but it begins with I'm a man.

[Senator Jabari Brisport]: Like I'm a

[Senator Kevin S. Parker]: person. Right? And Jesse had his take on it, of saying I am somebody. And more importantly got other people to understand that they were somebody. Senator Belly makes a really critical point that what we see now, that we can't afford historically to be prisoners of the moment. Right? And I often tell people that in New York, we're lucky that we live in kind of a political Wakanda. Right? With people people like Tish James and, you know, Carl Hastien, our own senator, Andre Stewart Cousins, and African American lieutenant governor, African American chief judge in the state of New York. Right? In this moment, we have more African American women elected to a state legislature than any other place in the history of The United States right here in the state of New York. And it's important not just for our communities but for all communities to see that because you can't be what you don't see. And Jesse Jackson understood that. And in the moments in which he is pleading with us to say to ourselves, I am somebody, it is at a time in which white America is in fact telling everybody that unless you are a straight white man that you are no one. That you do not exist. That you are epiphenomenal. And that you have not contributed anything to the development of this country, which we all know was a lie before God. And so you can't weigh what he's done lightly. It is it is a load. It is a lot. Just in in in the the rhetoric that he's left us with. And then when you take that in account to the way that he taught, not just black America, but but the Democratic Party to organize is critical. And again, my colleagues have have wax poetic about the fact that you would not have Harold Washington, who is one of my political heroes, Right? And others. Right? Well, even Barack Obama, if you don't have Jesse Jackson, you wouldn't have David Dinkins. Right? And part also because behind the scenes what people don't know is that the same people were running all the same campaigns. Right? And supporting each other. That I remember that the first time I met Jesse Jackson was actually on the campaign of David Dinkins in which I worked. And so that these movements, although local, were also national and international. Because Jesse Jackson was very, very involved with the anti apartheid movement and very present with the election of Nelson Mandela. And so in this moment, we don't mourn. We have not come to bury Jesse Jackson. We have come to celebrate his life And to say I thank you for all that you have done. That you have run the race, you have finished the course, And with a job well done, we all remember that we are someone and that we are the people who were here the day before yesterday. And that we will be the people who will be here the day after tomorrow as we continue to love one another and work one another like senator Tedesco and I to make the state of New York as great as it can be. Thank you, madam president.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Parker. Senator Webb on the resolution.

[Senator Lea Webb]: Thank you, madam president. I too want to thank, our senate majority leader for, this resolution mourning the death of the great reverend Jesse Jackson and for honoring his lifetime of service, leadership, and advocacy for civil rights and for social justice. You know, there's a song by a a group we may be familiar with, Salt and Pepper. It goes, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man. Some people may know it, but I I think most certainly, reverend Jesse Jackson was absolutely a mighty man. He was a mighty human, a public servant, an orator. He was more than a leader. He was a moral compass and a voice for the voiceless. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he dedicated his life to the ideals of freedom and fairness for all. I have, some memories of him, similar to, senator Bailey. My father, back in the the late eighties, brought myself and my my sisters to campus at Binghamton University where Jesse Jackson was speaking about his it was a big rally, and I was a little kid talking about, his, campaign for president. And then I had the opportunity to meet him, many years later in Washington DC at a, public policy conference, a national one, talking about the importance of fully funding our schools and having more equitable policies for our public schools. And so, having those memories, of him and also just thinking about his legacy that he not only built on the foundation laid by doctor Martin Luther King Junior, he carried forward the work of the civil rights movement with courage, conviction, and an unshakable belief in the inherent worth of every person. He championed voter registration, economic opportunity, and justice long before it was easy and most certainly before it was popular to do so. He was an instrumental organizer in efforts like the black political convention that happened in Gary, Indiana in 1972 at a time that was shortly after the deaths of both Malcolm x and doctor Martin Luther King junior, and also at the same time, very important policies like the civil rights act and, voting rights act. And so, all of his his work, his body of work, as the founder of things like Operation PUSH, just the name of loan for PUSH, people united to save humanity. And I have to tell you, that message not only was true then, it most certainly is resoundingly needed now. He is someone that we all know had historical presidential campaign, and I won't go further into that as my colleagues have already done an eloquent job in in doing so. But he reminded us again and again that we are somebody, and those weren't just a a slogan. It was an affirmation of dignity that helped countless Americans see ourselves even in times when there have been consistent, still present efforts to, push towards our erasure, that clarion call to action, I am somebody, is a reminder that we have to demand to be greater, to demand for justice, especially for those who are rendered powerless. Mister president, he was a diplomat, a mentor to many, and most certainly an inspiration to countless others. And so today, we remember a true champion for equality, excellence, equity, humanity, and I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who were touched by his extraordinary work. May his life's work as a public servant remind us all that the true test of a public servant is not just in the words that we speak, whether it's in a chamber or out in the community, that is really a testament to the indelible positive mark that we leave behind on those who are committed to our collective progress, that we all are inspired to really create equitable change in this chamber and beyond. So I want to continue to urge my colleagues to not only join me in supporting this resolution, but also in honoring his legacy by continuing to push for more equity through the policies that we create here in this chamber and beyond, that we all continue to embody hope, and that we all may continue to advance equity, and that we also embody his work by continuing to be what he was, a true servant of the people. Thank you, mister president.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Palumbo on the resolution.

[Senator Anthony H. Palumbo]: Thank you, mister president. And just a few quick brief comments, along the lines of what all of my colleagues have mentioned that, my condolences to the Jackson family and Reverend Jackson carried the mantle of peace and humanity that, was emulated by Martin Luther King. And throughout his career, he, I think, was clear about the way that we should make a difference. We should do so at the ballot box. We should do so peacefully and appropriately. It's not meant to be done, by burning down cities and violence, but do it smartly and with dignity and humanity. So, he will certainly be missed. The world is a better place because of the work that reverend Jackson accomplished in this state and in in this great nation, and a rising tide does raise all ships. So thank you, mister president.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Brisport on the resolution.

[Senator Jabari Brisport]: Thank you, mister president, and thank you to our majority leader, Andrea Stewart Cousins, for introducing this resolution. I rise today to honor a man who didn't just witness history, he rewrote the rules of what was possible in American politics. Last week, we lost Reverend Jesse Jackson. While the world remembers him as a titan of civil rights, we in this chamber must recognize him as the architect of the multiracial working class rainbow coalition that brought many of us here today. As noted earlier, Reverend Jackson's influence was the spark for so many who dedicated their lives to New York, including my predecessor, Velma Montgomery. Inspired by his eighties campaign, senator Montgomery carried his moral center in this body for thirty six years, and I'm honored to carry the torch that was lit by Jackson and passed through her hands to mine. Reverend Jackson's legacy is a living blueprint for our current legislative battles. On health care, he was a prophet decades ahead of the curve, challenging us to dream of doctors who are concerned more about public health than private wealth. He understood that as long as health care is a commodity, those who wipe the bodies of those who are sick will never be able to afford a bed in the very hospitals where they work. In this session, we can carry that mantle forward to the New York Health Act, finally fulfilling his mandate for universal single payer health care. On economic justice, he was the first to fearlessly call for taxing the wealthy to fund the disinherited. He saw exactly how the neoliberal consensus of Reaganomics was gutting our communities, famously declaring, they engaged in reverse Robin Hood, took from the poor and gave to the rich, paid for by the middle class. He knew that racial battlegrounds could only be won by finding economic common ground, and he achieved this through his inside outside strategy. He famously taught us that you need a hand on the outside to pull and a hand on the inside to push. He showed us that a campaign is a vehicle to build a movement that survives past election day, holding power inside these halls while remaining accountable to the power in the streets. That strategy will be on full display tomorrow. Thousands of organizers from across the state are descending on this capital tomorrow for a massive tax the rich mobilization. These are the patches Reverend Jackson spent his life stitching together. Tenants, workers, and students who are the the hand on the outside demanding a budget that prioritizes people over profits. Reverend Jackson would have welcomed their advocacy. He would have been right there on the steps with them telling them to keep hope alive. We honor him today not with our words but by answering the call of those organizers tomorrow and legislating with the same courage as he showed the world. Thank you.

[Presiding Officer (Acting 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. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Please, open the resolutions we took up today for cosponsorship.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: The resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you should you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Let's take up the reading of the calendar.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Secretary, we'll read. Calendar number January, senate print 40 September by senator Martinez enactment of general municipal law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section two, this action is expected immediately. Call the roll. Adabo. GNR Spooker, Orks, store cutting zoner.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: In relation to the count of one seventy nine voted in negative r, senators Ashby, Barela, Kensetha, Fitzpatrick, Chan, Helming, Martins, Murray, Obraker, O'Meara, Ort, Roles, Rolls, and Stack, Tedisco, Walzik, and Weber. Ayes, 40, nay, 16. Bills passed. Councilman number 210, center print forty nine fifty by senator Harkin, enactment of mental hygiene law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section two, this action take effect on the ninetieth day if travel come along. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR Scruger, Ort, Sukad, and Zelman.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Ayes, 56. The bill is passed. Calendar number February, center print 1892 b by senator Jackson, enactment of correction law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section two, this action took effect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR Skruger, Hort, Stewart Cuddings, Zone. Announce the results. In relation to counter two eighty eight, voting in the negative are senators Barrelo, Chan, Helman, Amara, Ort, Columbo, Rose, Rawson, and Walzik. Ayes, 47 a's, nine. The votes passed. Charter number two eighty nine, center print twenty two eighty b by senator Webb. Annot, too many executive law. Later, sir. Charter number two ninety three, center print sixteen eighteen by senator Rivera. Annotment of public health law.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section four of this action taken effect on the January 1. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR's Cooper, Ortz, Wilkinson, Zelna. Announce the results. In relation to calendar two ninety three, voting in the negative are senators Ashby, Barello, Hellman, Obrak, O'Mara, Ort, Colombo, Steck and Walzik. Eyes forty seven days nine. Bills passed. Calendar number 302, center print 371 by Senator Schoofus, enactment of the public health law. Forgive me. Account number 296, senate print 438 by senator Myrie, annex from the insurance law. Read the last section. Section four, this action taken figure on one hundred and fifty day and try to become a law. Call the roll. Dabo, GNR, Spruger, Ort, Zukan, Zellner.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Myrie to explain his vote.

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Thank you, mister president. I reserved my comments on the reverend Jesse Jackson because my colleagues spoke much more eloquently than I could and wanted to speak it on this bill, that we are passing because Jesse Jackson said that poverty is a moral disgrace, that it is not a personal failing but a failing of the system. And we live in a system right now here in New York where if you are prescribed a lifesaving drug and you walk into the pharmacy to fill that prescription, that you have no idea whether that pharmacy and the organization meant to represent the pharmacy is owned by the same company as the drug manufacturer that they're trying to negotiate with. You have no idea whether the switch company that ensures that your claim gets to the insurer is also owned by that same company and you don't know whether the rebate aggregator that is meant to give the pharmacy rebates for generic medication that is meant to drive down the cost of drugs for you is also owned by that same company. We have a corporate consolidation driving up prices for everyday New Yorkers and poor New Yorkers who are having to choose between putting food on the table and getting life saving drugs. That is a system that none of us should accept. And this bill aims to insert transparency and sunlight into a system right now that is ripping off New Yorkers every single day. So I proudly vote I and urge my colleagues to do the same.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Mirey to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Barello to explain this vote.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Thank you, mister president. First of I wanna thank senator Mirey for this. You know, last year, I voted no on this bill. I had some issues with, you know, where it should be coming from and some of, some of the language could be cleaned up a little bit. But in principle, I agree with what this bill does. We have seen the impact of these pharmacy benefit managers. Their job originally was to make sure that they could unwind the complicated, I guess, paperwork and bureaucracy of filing for all of these rebates, right? It was supposed to make it easier for people, for companies in particular, to be able to pass those rebates along. Instead, they became a parasite that gobbled up all of those rebates. And they've now created this massive organization of folks that are taking money that is supposed to be going in the end so to make sure that people can afford these drugs and they are profiting as a as a result of it. And we may see we may differ on some some things on many times, but at the end of the day, I've listened to small pharmacies across my district who are struggling. We've seen pharmacies close. We have pharmacy deserts, particularly in the rural areas that I represent. And as pharmacy benefit managers, their practices that are contributing to that decline. So I've changed my vote to yes, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: Thank you.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Barela, to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: In relation to calendar February, vote in the negative are Senators Oberecker and Walzwick. Ayes, 54 nays two. Votes passed. Calendar number February, center print six thirty four b by senator Lu, enactment of insurance law.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section four, this action is expected immediately.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Dabo, GNR Spooker, Ort, Sukun, Zellner. Announce the results. Relations two, counter two ninety seven, voting negative. Senator Walzwick. Ayes 55, nays one. Those pass. Counter number 298, senate print two twelve pardon me, twenty one twenty eight by senator Jackson, enactment of insurance law. Read the last section. Section four, this action will take effect immediately.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Ndabo, GNR, Swiggler, Ort, Swiggler, Zama. Senator Jackson to explain his vote.

[Senator Robert Jackson]: Thank you, mister president. My colleagues, I arrived today in order to support this bill. At its core, this legislation affirms a simple principle. If a rebate is negotiated in a patient's name, it must reach that patient. I cannot remain buried in the shadows of a supply chain with while family stands at the pharmacy counter, calculating whether they can afford the medicine their doctor prescribed. And we know the numbers, billions of dollars in rebates from through this system each year. Yet too often, patients with chronic and complex conditions pay cost sharing based on inflated list pricing. Even as insurers and pharmacy benefit managers secure substantial discounts behind the scenes. That is not risk sharing. That is cost shifting. Insurance was designed to spread burden, not concentrate it on the sickest among us. S 2128 requires that more than 85% of the prescription drug rebates be delivered directly to patients at the point of sale. It strikes a responsible balance, allowing plans to stabilize premiums while ensuring the meaningful saving, reach the place that matters most, the pharmacy counter. And this is about fairness, this is about transparency, and this is about restoring integrity to a system that should never profit from a patient's vulnerability. Colleagues, when a senior is on fixed income approaches the counter, when a parent fills their prescription for a child, they should feel the benefit of every dollar negotiated in their name. And for those reasons, I proudly vote aye and ask you to do the same.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Jackson, it will recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: In relation to calendar February, voting in the negative, senator Walz. I 55, names one. Votes passed. Number two ninety nine, Center print fifty forty nine, miss Senator Bailey, an action in the insurance law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section two, this action will defect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, Gina R. Scruger, or Soucot and Zeldner. Announce the results. Ayes 56. Votes passed. Calendar number 3 2002, center print 371 by center school for his enactment of public health law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section three, this action take effect eighteen months after the shall become a law. Call the roll. Adabo, JNR speaker, Ortz, Wilkinson.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: For real law?

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Announce the results. Relations calendar 03/2002 voting in negative r, senators Barrelo, O'Meara, and Walzik, ayes 53, and ayes three. Bills passed. Calendar number 304, senate print thirty two zero three by senator Fernandez, an enactment of public health law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section three, this action taken effect on the sixtieth day. Shall we come along? Call the roll. Nadabo, GNR Spooker, Ort, Suka, and Zona.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Fernandez, to explain a vote.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez]: Thank you, mister president. We know very well that prescription drugs are just too high. And for many New Yorkers, they are just simply unaffordable, not because of innovation, but because of supply, because of corporate deals designed to block competition and keep coats or costs inflated. That's why we have this bill. As you see on the description, it preserves access to affordable drugs. Why does anybody want to oppose that? This bill, takes direct aim at pay for play delays where brand name drug manufacturers provide incentives to keep lower cost generics off the market. These agreements do not serve patients. They do not strengthen our health care system. They do they they serve only to protect, profits where families, seniors, and taxpayers foot the bill. These agreements well, the impact is clear. Life saving medication remains out of reach, costs continue to rise, our health care systems bears the burden. By treating these anti competitive agreements as unlawful and strengthening enforcement, this bill ensures that drug companies can no longer hide behind legal loopholes while New Yorkers struggle to afford their prescriptions. Accountability is essential and accountability leads to real change, mister president. It is time to put patients before profits, curb these harmful practices, and ensure that every New Yorker has access to affordable medication. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I proudly vote aye.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Fernandez, it is recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: In relation to counter three zero four voted in negative are senators Ashby, Borrello, Kansas Avery Fitzpatrick Chan, Hellman, Terre, Murray, Obrak O'Meara, Ork Palumbo, Rose, Rollins, Stack, Tedisco, Walzwick, and Weber. Ayes 39 a 17. The bill is passed. Calendar number 305, center print 5939 b by senator Scufus, an act of public health law.

[Reading Clerk]: Read the last section.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Section five is action taken effect 01/01/2026. Call the roll. Davo, GNR, Super, Ort, Sukha, and Zelner. Announce the results. In relation to calendar three zero five, voting negative, senator Wawson, aye 55, aye is one. The bill is passed.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Generis, that completes the reading of today's calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Let's move on to the controversial calendar, please.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Secretary, ring the bell. Secretary Reed.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Child number 289, senate print 22 80 b by senator Webb, that too many to amend the executive law.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Palumbo, why do you rise?

[Senator Anthony H. Palumbo]: Mister president, I believe there's an amendment at the desk. I waive a reading of that amendment, and I ask that you recognize senator Kanzanari Fitzpatrick.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: You, senator Palumbo. Upon review of the amendment in accordance rule six section four b, I rule a non germane, out of order at this time.

[Senator Anthony H. Palumbo]: Accordingly, mister president, I appeal the ruling of the chair and I ask that you recognize senator Kanzanari Fitzpatrick for purposes of that appeal.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: The appeal has been made and recognized as senator Kanzanari Fitzpatrick may be heard.

[Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick]: Thank you, mister president. I rise to appeal the ruling of the chair. The proposed amendment is germane to the bill at hand because the bill at hand, according to the sponsor's memo, empowers victims of domestic violence with information potentially saving lives. And my amendment would do exactly that as well, creating a persistent domestic violence registry to empower the victims of domestic violence with information potentially saving lives. According to the public policy of California, three fifths of domestic violence offenders are rearrested in under two years, most of whom are rearrested for another domestic violence offense. Further, the Rockefeller Institute of Government found that two thirds of more, or more of female intimate partner homicide victims were abused by their partners before being killed. These staggering and disturbing numbers highlight the need to take action to help women before they become a victim or worse, a statistic. This amendment would be a critical step forward in protecting and empowering women and is modeled after legislation that recently took effect in Tennessee and after bills that my colleague, senator Matera, and I have introduced here to bring this legislation to New York. This legislation, similar to the sex offender registry, would require individuals to register as a persistent domestic violence offender if they are convicted of a domestic violence offense after already having been convicted of another domestic violence offense prior. The registry would have safeguards for sensitive information but would be available to the public to serve as a tool to equip women with the power of knowledge of who they are potentially getting involved with. As a mother of three young women, this legislation would help me sleep better at night as I'm sure it would help other parents, knowing that my daughters and all New Yorkers can arm themselves with information so that they can hopefully never fall prey to abusers. For these reasons, mister president, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of advancing this amendment. Thank you.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Thank you, senator. I'd like to remind the house that the vote this vote is on the procedures of the house and the ruling of the chair. Those in favor of overruling the chair, please signify by saying I.

[Senator Anthony H. Palumbo]: I. To show of hands.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Show of hands has been requested and so awarded. Announce the results.

[Senator Jabari Brisport]: Ayes, 18. The ruling of

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: the chair stands and the bill in chief is before the house. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Mister president, we've agreed to restore this bill to the non controversial calendar. Let's take it up that way, please.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Upon consent, the bill has been restored to the non non controversial calendar. Read the last section.

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

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: Dabo, GNR, Schuylkill, or Sukadan Zona. Announce the results. Aye. 56. The bill's passed.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: Senator Generics, that completes the reading of today's controversial calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Is there any further business at the desk?

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: There is no further business at

[Secretary Reed (Secretary of the Senate)]: the desk.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I move to adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 25 at 3PM.

[Presiding Officer (Acting President of the Senate)]: On motion to send it states adjourn until Wednesday, February at three p. M.