New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker 0]: The senate will come to order. 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 journal.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: In senate, Monday, 03/30/2026, the senate met the sword to adjournment. The journal on Friday, 03/27/2026 is read and approved. A motion to senate adjourn.

[Speaker 0]: 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 report from state offices, motions of resolution, senator Generis.

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

[Speaker 0]: Immediate meeting of the rules committee in Room 332. Senator Stantonese. Senator Stantonese.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The senate will return to order. Senator Gineris.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Madam president, there's a report of the rules committee at the desk. Can we take that up, please?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Senator Stewart Cousins from the committee on rules reports the following bills. Senate print ninety five ninety eight by senator Savicki, enactment of public health law. Senate print ninety five ninety nine by senator Bailey, enactment of the insurance law. Senate print ninety six thirty by senator Krueger, enact making appropriations for government. Senate print ninety six thirty one by senator Krueger, act to amend part u one of chapter 62 of the laws of 2023. All those report towards the third reading.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Move to accept the report of the rules committee.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: 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)]: Please take out the supplemental calendar.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Calendar number 660, senate print ninety six thirty by senator Kruger, not making appropriations to support of government.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Is there a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: There's a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Move to accept the message.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: All those in favor of accepting the message, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Aye. The message is accepted, the bill is before the house.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Layed aside.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The bill is laid aside.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Childhood number six sixty one, senate print ninety six thirty one by senator Kruger enact to amend part u one of chapter 62 of the laws of thousand twenty three.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Is there a message of necessity at the desk?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: There is a message of necessity at the desk. Message. All those in favor of accepting the message, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The message is accepted in the bills before the house. The bill is laid aside. Senator Generis, that is the end of the supplemental calendar.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Please go to the controversial calendar.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The secretary will ring the bell. The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Calendar number 660, senate print ninety six thirty by senator Kruger. And that make an appropriation for the support of government.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator O'Meara, why do you rise?

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, madam president. I just have a few questions, on this, this extender bill that we have, if the senator would yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: Senator Kruger, do you yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Absolutely. Senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. Good morning.

[Senator Liz Krueger]: Good morning.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: This is our first extender, of what has been a pattern of late budgets, in recent years. Can you just explain to us what and I think we'll if we can talk about both of these bills on this debate rather than calling up the second one, if that's okay with you?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: I'm happy to, but I'm just double checking one thing. Were we intentionally doing this bill and then the other bill later because of the timeline? Correct. So do you mind if I answer on both bills at the same time or should I wait and only answer on this bill now?

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: No. President, I think we're taking up the extender bill first because of the time constraints, and then we'll be happy to take up questions on

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: the other

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: bill. Alright?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: So you just get to ask me twice.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Okay. Lovely.

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: Thank you. So on this bill?

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Yeah. On this bill, senator, what is what is actually being extended here today? How much is is the the dollar value of what's being extended? And and once it being extended through?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: Thank you. Happy to answer that, madam president. This is an extender that totals approximately $1,000,000,000 and it is to meet our payroll costs to allow certain payments of the department of health, medical assistance administration program, the Department of Law, the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Veterans Services. This will go through next Tuesday morning, the day after Easter Monday. And I will tell you the date as soon as I seventh. There we go. April 7. And I have more specifics of what items within that, but that's pretty much the explanation.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. Madam president, senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield? Of course. Senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Senator, this being the last day, of the fiscal year, and doing our first extender here, can you enlighten us on where the legislature and the governor are in the process of these negotiations and what's left open to to get a final budget here?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: For you, madam president, quite a few things are left open. Approximately the same number that we discussed last week, when we did the budget debt budget debt bill. So I don't know how long it's going to be. I don't know how many more extenders there will be. I do want to make sure everyone understands that the governor decides what the extenders are that is not negotiated. So only she knows what extenders she will put forward, whether she will keep them as what we call clean extenders, just continuing payments that are already due. Because she technically has the ability to put pretty much anything she decides in extenders, which becomes a concern certainly for us when she goes beyond just doing clean extenders to make sure people continue to get paid and our bills continue to get paid. But for now, we are where we are. We are hoping negotiations continue. I do know that senior staff are having three way discussions, and leadership is having three way discussions on a variety of topics. But I don't have any details of finalization on anything major.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. For you, madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield? Yes.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Senator, we had the first and only joint conference committees on the budget about three weeks ago, I think. There's been no meeting since then. Are there any meetings of the joint budget conference committees scheduled, at this point?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: No. I don't believe there have been any announced follow-up meetings.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Through you, madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Yes. Senator yield.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Have there been any table targets, put out there yet for any of the tables that are, undecided? No. Through you, madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Sorry. So,

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: senator, without table targets, then a lot of these issues that may be less controversial and really more about how much you're gonna spend on them as as opposed to what exactly your is the the the subject is, they can't even be negotiated or talked about at this point really. If they don't have a table target, they've got no numbers to work with. Isn't that right?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: That is technically correct. And it is my observation after twenty five years here that governors choose to not discuss the smaller and perhaps more likely actions until they finish negotiations on the larger more controversial. So it might not be what I would do if I was the governor, but I haven't been the governor. So that seems to be a consistent pattern of executives.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: For you, madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield? Yes. Senator,

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Senator, one of the major issues as we understand it is the, the climate law, the CLCPA, and some modifications, I I think primarily to the timeline on that. Can you tell us, what, the proposals are at this point of the governor as far as trying to push this thing out?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: So we still don't think we have full language from the governor of what she's actually proposing. We have some language. We have an op ed she put out about a week and a few days before that, guess, Thursday a week ago. But that's not really a budget proposal. It's an op ed. We have rumored proposals. We have changes in plans by the governor starting out with her original argument that CLCPA was increasing people's utility bills, and then an admission that CLCPA had nothing to do with the increased cost of our utility bills. Although now that we're in week four of the war in The Middle East, that seems to be having quite a bit of an impact on cost of oil and natural gas. So I wish I could tell you there was a specific proposal in writing to share with everyone, but we don't have one.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: You. Madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield? Yes. Senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Senator, you mentioned utility bills and people's concerns over them. I think we're all hearing it from our constituents on that. What proposals are out there that are being negotiated to help lower people's utility bills?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: So our one house proposal had quite a few suggestion changes that we do believe would lower our utility bills. Actually, the current president upfront has a number of proposals that would specifically lower utility bills, senator mayor's bills. We included in our one house. I have bills that would put moratoriums on the building of energy plant excuse me, not of energy plants, of AI plants and cryptocurrency plants because they are using up an enormous amount of energy. They get discounts and even tax exemptions because of the sort of as of right categories they fall under. So that they are skyrocketing use of energy at lower cost requiring us all as rate payers to pay more because they are using so much. And once their factories are built, they basically have nobody who works in them. It's all computer. So they don't create jobs even though they eat up our energy at huge discounted cost. And if we just stop them from going forward, we would significantly reduce the rate of growth of utility costs. And quite a few other states are going down the same road. We would like to go down that road also, but we need bills passed or included in the budget package. We are seeing that the states that are doing the most successfully with moving to green energy are actually seeing lowering of their utility costs. So wind, hype excuse me, hydro energy hydro electric energy, solar. These are the models that are working very effectively. And perhaps the most promising, but we need legislation to move it forward, is battery storage that is basically creating a revolution around the world for improved access to and use of and cost of sustainable energy. So we think there are quite a few proposals we could be speeding along within our budget that would immediately offer reductions in cost. We also have called for increased money being spent for discount cost for low income and middle income utility rate payers. So there's I'm gonna say a good 10 proposals that we could see going into effect immediately that could have significant impact on our utility costs for rate payers, particularly individual consumers.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. Madam president, if the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Yes. Senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: So is it the position of the senate majority, that, the state should be, opposed, to the development of AI, data storage facilities and risk gonna let other states run with it?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: So our recommendation is a moratorium for three years to allow the state time to create and evaluate standards for when things are approved or not approved. And again, to remind people that quite a few states are making the same decision because they don't create jobs. AI would still be manufactured somewhere and be used here in New York. So there's no loss of our use of AI or honestly crypto, although personally I advise against anyone using crypto. And it will not impact the jobs or the economic activity from AI. We just wouldn't be blowing up our energy demand and sort of doing damage to our natural resources, water, as well as our energy grid by not using it up on these yet to be even justified plants. But it would not end it per se. It would be a moratorium so that the state could come up with a mechanism to evaluate and to decide which have justification, which don't, what areas might make more or less sense to build them in. Right now, there's almost no one making any determination in planning for the state or in answering the questions how much energy are they using, where will we get that energy, and how much more will it continue to drive up our utility costs.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. Madam president, the senator will continue to yield.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: You continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Yes. The senator yield.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Senator, you mentioned several, proposals that your side of the aisle has on potential ways to help people with the utility bills. We have several many proposals on this side of the aisle, a couple of which would provide immediate relief to utility payers in returning unspent clean energy surcharges that have been on the bills for CLCPA. And those those surcharges that are held by, both NYSERDA and, the utilities themselves, because NYSERDA hasn't asked them to send it over yet, of about 3,000,000,000,000, that could go $3,000,000,000, excuse me, that could go back to the ratepayers. I don't hear you discussing that. And there's a proposal for, a tax holiday on utility bills for the taxes, and those surcharges I mentioned. Are those under consideration, by your side of the aisle?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: I don't think either of those proposals, were included in our one house. You know, I will point out part of the catch of saying you're going to give back money that has been collected from rate payers for specific purposes, as we know particularly on anything capital, those monies often get built in to be spent over an extended period of time. So one of the debates I think both sides of this aisle have had is the money that is raised through utility taxes, will it be used for green energy or continuation of fossil fuel infrastructure. The truth is, our infrastructure for fossil fuel is very old, quite damaged, needs replacement either with green energy or a continued replacement of the fossil fuel infrastructure, the money cost show it's much more expensive to rebuild our fossil fuel infrastructure versus building a new green infrastructure. So I would make the case, you have real costs for going either direction. We're far better off and it's cheaper and it's much safer to go with green infrastructure. But it doesn't mean that you get off free and you can't excuse me. And you can possibly give back every dollar you've been raising into a twenty first century infrastructure and grid expansion. We need all that. I just personally hope that we spend that money much more effectively on green infrastructure, not rebuilding a failed model of fossil fuels.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. On the bill, madam president.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator Romero, on the bill.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: This is the, first extender bill, of this budget season, to get us through the next week. I I will be supporting, this bill, as we're early in the process, and I certainly understand the significance of the religious holidays that we have over this coming weekend, and the impact of those on individuals' lives. But there's very concerning to me, a lack of urgency, in moving this budget forward. In fact, if there's no, specific proposals by the governor to the legislature on changes to, the climate, laws that are in place. No specific language from the governor on on how utility bills are are are gonna be lowered, so that individuals, in their homes could pay those, particularly senior citizens. We have AARP out in the hallway right now lobbying on efforts to lower utility bills, and it's a primary importance, to our constituents that we provide some relief, on the expensive cost of living, in New York. It just seems, to me that while everybody talks about affordability, everything that comes out of this legislature makes everything more expensive. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Thank you, senator O'Mara. Are there any other senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The secretary will ring the bell. There's a substitution at the desk. The secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Senator Kruger moved to discharge from the committee on rules of Assembly Bill number ten seven sixty and substituted for the identical Senate Bill ninety six thirty. Third reading calendar, six sixty.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Read the last section. Substitution so ordered, the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Calendar number six sixty, assembly number ten seven sixty by assembly member Pretlow, and that make it appropriation for the support of government.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Section 12 is asked for the defect immediately.

[Acting President (desk/presiding prompts)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Adabo, Genaris Krueger, Ort, Sukadan Zoner.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Ayes, 59.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The bill is passed. There's a substitution at the desk the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Senator Kruger moves to discharge from the committee on rules assembly bill number ten seven sixty one, a substitute for the identical senate bill ninety six thirty one third reading calendar six sixty one.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Substitution so ordered. The the secretary will read.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Calendar number June, assembly number seven sixty one by assembly member Pretlow. And that to amend chapter u one of part 60 of chapter pardon me. An act to amend part u one of chapter 62 of the laws of 2003.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator O'Meara, why do you rise?

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: If the senator, would yield for a question, madam president.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator Cooper, do you yield? I do. The senator yields.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: I just have one one question on on this extender here for, the DMV continuing their operations and able to collect our fees that, our constituents so love to pay. That this extender is going out for two years. Why not just for the period of this extension?

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: Through you, madam president, I believe that the governor's request for a two year extender is because we've been doing this at two years, at a time. And that if you're going to establish fees or this doesn't create any new fees, it continues existing fees that you don't necessarily want to tell people, we're continuing fees for another week and a half and then stay tuned. Usually, these kinds of fees are charged on an annual basis or at the time you're buying or re reregistering or reinspecting your vehicle. So I think it would probably just be a bit of a nightmare if we set up a moving target perhaps of a week or two at a time. And it just is practically more efficient and fair to everyone to just tell them, okay, usually, these are charged at a annual or biannual basis, and this is gonna be the amount for the next two years. Just get it done that way.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: Thank you, senator. On the bill.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator O'Meara, on the bill.

[Senator Thomas F. O'Mara]: You know, it's it's concerning to me that we are putting this out two years, while the budget isn't set. It it you know, the explanation of that's the way we've always done it is far too common of an explanation, around this place. And we should be, putting things out at this point with no budget in place and no specific policy in writing is my take on this that, nothing should be extended further than the length of, the other extender we did.

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

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

[Senator Liz Krueger (Finance Chair)]: Call to roll.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Adabo, GNR Skruger or Zellner.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: And now it's your result.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: In relation to counter six sixty one, voting in a negative r, Senators Kansan and Fitzpatrick, Galvin, Grifle, Helming, Lanza Martins, O'Meara, Ort, Rhodes, Steck, Walzik, and White, eyes forty seven. Also, senator Todisco, eyes forty six and age 13.

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

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Thank you, madam president. We're gonna return to motions and resolutions at this time. I move to adopt the resolution calendar with the exception of resolutions eighteen twenty one and eighteen twenty three.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: All those in favor of adopting the resolution calendar with the exception of resolutions eighteen twenty one and eighteen twenty three, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution calendar is adopted. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Let's begin with resolution eighteen twenty one by senator Ramos. Have its title read and call on senator Ramos, please.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator Ramos on the resolution.

[Senator Jessica Ramos]: Thank you, madam president. You know, before any of us woke up this morning, there were already people across New York doing very important work. Those people are farm workers. These men and women rise before dawn. They work through heat and cold. They bend, they lift, they harvest, and they carry the food that ends up on every one of our tables. Their work isn't just essential, it's foundational. There is no food system without farm workers. There's no economy without farm workers. There's no daily life in this state without farm workers. And yet, for generations, they were excluded from the most basic protections that other workers in New York State sometimes take for granted, not by accident, but by design. But farm workers didn't accept that quietly. They organized. They spoke up. They demanded to be seen. And there's some history here, of course, from Chicano organizers like Dolores Huerta to feel Filipino organizers like Larry Itliong, who built the foundation of the farm worker movement, they showed us what dignity in action looks like. And that movement is still very much alive today in the work of the United Farm Workers and RWDSU, who continue to organize and raise standards for farm workers here in New York State. Farm workers carried this fight for decades, and I'm proud to have been part of the moment when Albany finally listened in in 2019 and passed the Farm Worker Fair Labor Practices Act. That law finally recognized what should have always been true, that farm workers are workers and that their dignity is not negotiable. But passing a law is not the end of the story because having rights on paper only matter if they are real in practice. If wages are fair, if conditions are safe, if workers can speak up without fear, and we also have to be honest about something else. We talk a lot about the cost of food in this state, but we don't talk enough about the cost of labor behind that food. You can't have cheap food and exploited workers at the same time and call that a fair system. If we if we want affordability, it can't come on the backs of the very people who feed us. And today, many of those workers are immigrants, people who come here to work to provide, to build a better life, and who too often live with fear. They feel fear of speaking up, fear of retaliation, fear of being targeted simply for showing up to do their jobs. We've seen how far that fear can show up in our communities across our state, and that should be of concern to all of us because the food system that depends on fear is not a stable system. It's not a just system, and it's not worthy of New York. So today, as we recognize farm workers day, we do more than honor their labor. We acknowledge our responsibility because the people who feed us should never be invisible. They should never be exploited, and they should never feel like they've been left behind. If we value the people who sustain us, then our laws, our enforcement, and our priorities must reflect that. Today, we honor farm workers across New York and recommit ourselves to making sure that dignity, fairness, and respect are not promises, but guarantees. And today, madam president, we are joined by Maria Martinez and pre Jeanette Flores. They are both organizers who are carrying on the legacy of Dolores Huerta out in the fields of New York and are here representing all farm workers and organizers. I ask that you welcome them to our house. And with that, I vote aye, madam president.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Thank you, senator Ramos. Senator May on the resolution.

[Senator Rachel May]: President, I wanna thank senator Ramos for this resolution and for recognizing the very important work that farm workers do for all of us. We would not have affordable food to put on our tables if it wasn't for the farm workers doing this work. I proudly represent Cayuga County, which has the most dairy production of any county in the state, and dairy workers in particular work year round, day in and day out. It's hard work and often dangerous work being around large animals, and, I have been I visited a lot of the farms in my district and seen how hard they work and how what good care they take of the animals, but year round workers often don't have the kind of protections that, h two a visas give to temporary workers who come here. And so we're hearing from farmers in my district who are terrified about deportations or trying to track what has happened to some of the farm workers that they really value very highly. I think one of the reasons we're seeing food prices go up is because we are seeing labor becoming more scarce and, some of the farm workers, frankly, afraid to show up for work or the farmers holding church services and that kind of thing in their own homes so their farmers don't have to leave the farms. It's a terrifying time for farm workers and for the employers who care about them in my district. And so I think it's doubly important at this moment in history that we lift our farm workers up and and give them the respect they deserve. I vote aye. Thank you, senator May.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: To our guests who are here on behalf of Farm Workers Day, we welcome you on behalf of the senate. We extend you the privileges and courtesies of the house. Please rise and be recognized. Senator Generis. Oh, 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 Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: And let's move on to resolution eighteen twenty three by senator Zellner, Jeremy Zellner. Read that resolution's title and recognize senator Zellner, please.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Secretary Wu Reed.

[Secretary of the Senate (Clerk)]: Resolution eighteen twenty three by senator Zellner, memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim 03/20/2026 as behavior analysis day in the state of New York in conjunction with the observance of World Behavior Analysis Day.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator Zelner on the resolution.

[Senator Jeremy Zellner]: Thank you, madam president, and thank you, senator Gianaris, for clarifying which, Jeremy, we were talking about here. I rise today to recognize March 20 as World Behavior Analysis Day and to highlight the important role that applied behavior analysis plays in improving our lives and our communities. Applied behavior analysis or ABA is a research based approach grounded in the science of human behavior. It helps individuals build new skills, strengthen positive behaviors, and navigate challenges in ways that improve quality of life. While ABA is widely recognized for its impact on individuals with developmental disabilities, including many diagnosed with autism, its reach extends far beyond that into education, health care, human services, rehabilitation and even the workplace. For many children and families, ABA has made a meaningful and lasting difference, opening doors, creating opportunities and providing support rooted in compassion and evidence based care. Today, I offer this resolution in recognition of the children and families whose lives have been positively impacted, the professionals who provide this critical support, the parents who provide this critical support, the parents and the other family members and the dedicated educators at Damon University in my district who are preparing the next generation of leaders in this field. Thank you, madam president.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Thank you, senator Zellner. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Madam president, the sponsors of today's resolutions, we'd like to open them for cosponsorship.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Please call on senator Comrie for an introduction.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Senator Comrie for an introduction.

[Senator Leroy Comrie]: Thank you, madam president. We are again this year joined as we've done for the last couple of years, assembly member Hyman, assembly member Anderson, Assembly Member Mr. Biskey, John Liu. We have young children from our presidents of the different schools in District 29 are here today to visit Auburn. They are moving into both sides of the gallery to be greeted. They have come up in the rain, so they're a little delayed and we are earlier than expected today. So, they're moving a little faster, but they are adjusting as we all are today. We've been proud for the last couple of years to bring these young people up. These young people are actually the presidents or civic leaders in their schools. They're interested in government and politics. They're interested in how the world works. They're going to be moving around today to visit different locations in the capital and our offices. They're gonna be on the 3rd Floor Terrace. If anybody would like to stop by and say hello and introduce yourselves to them if you have a minute. Since we all have a little extra time today, I hope some of you can find it in your hearts to stop by and, say hello to them. Now it's important that as legislators, we try to impact children as much as possible, Give you something to understand and appreciate. I want to welcome to them to this beautiful set, beautiful chambers. In this session, we have both here and here. So they're they're everywhere, so it's all good. I'm not sure what teachers came today because I was running to make it here, for conference, but as I look and see the faces of our young children, Was that a different school? Anyhow, there are young people on both sides of the gallery. And whatever we do as legislators, we should make sure that our young people understand, appreciate, and, civics and government. As some of you know, I've been trying to get, civics back in our schools. It's important that we teach civics, important that we teach, history, it's important that our young people understand, all aspects of our great state. So thank you, madam president, for allowing me to take a minute to recognize him. And if everyone could please give them the privileges of the house, thank you young people for coming up in the rain today, and I hope you have a great day. Thank you.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Thank you, senator Comrie. I'm going to wait till every one of our students has the opportunity to come into the gallery so they can be acknowledged and appreciated. Is that the end of the line, mister sergeant at arms?

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Yes?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: Okay. To all of our students who are visiting today from Queens, we welcome you on behalf of the senate. We're so pleased you're here to watch the, privileges and see the, operations of the senate and to see how government works here in Albany. Please be, you're given all the privileges and cordialities of the house. Please rise and be recognized. Please stand and be recognized. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: Madam president, should note that there were other members, from Queens particularly that also wanted to share a welcome message for, this group of students, our practice here in the senate only allows one member per introduction. So just know that you are loved by by more than senator Conroy, but he's also a great a great representative. Is there any further business at the desk?

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: There is no further business at the desk.

[Senator Michael Gianaris (Deputy Majority Leader)]: I move to adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1 at 11AM.

[Acting President of the Senate (presiding officer)]: The senate is adjourned till tomorrow, April 1 at 11AM. On motion, the senate stands adjourned till tomorrow at 11AM.