April 7, 2026 · ALBANY, NEW YORK · 2,644 words · 5 speakers · 135 segments
The Senate will come to order. I ask everyone present to please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
In the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer. (Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
Reading of the Journal.
In Senate, Monday, April 6, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Friday, April 3, 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions. Messages from the Assembly. Messages from the Governor. Reports of standing committees. Reports of select committees. Communications and reports from state officers. Motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Good morning.
On behalf of Senator Mayer, I wish to call up Senate Print 4470A, recalled from the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 275, Senate Print 4470A, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Call the roll on reconsideration. (Laughter.)
I move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed. (Laughter.)
I got a bit ahead of myself. Call the roll on reconsideration. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Ayes, 50.
The bill is restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
I offer the following amendments.
The amendments are received.
There will now be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
There will be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
The Senate stands at ease.
The Senate will stand at ease. (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 11:19 a.m.) (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 11:24 a.m.)
The Senate will return to order. Senator Gianaris.
Mr. President, there's a report of the Rules Committee at the desk. Let's take that up, please.
The Secretary will read.
Senator Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules, reports the following bills: Senate Print 1966, by Senator Ryan, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 2011, by Senator Parker, an act to direct the Department of State and the Public Service Commission to jointly study and report upon the provisions of consumer credit reporting agencies; Senate Print 8963, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 9585, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 9602, by Senator Brouk, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 9612, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 9757, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Executive Law; Senate Print 9758, by Senator Myrie, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law; Senate Print 9818, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government. All bills reported direct to third reading.
Move to accept the report of the Rules Committee.
All those in favor of accepting the report of the Rules Committee please signify by saying aye. (Response of "Aye.")
Opposed, nay. (No response.)
The report of the Rules Committee is accepted. Senator Gianaris.
Let's move on to the supplemental calendar, beginning with Calendar 694, please.
There's a substitution at the desk. The Secretary will read.
Senator Parker moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 9333 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8963, Third Reading Calendar 688. Senator Gounardes moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 10542 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9585, Third Reading Calendar 689. Senator Brouk moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 10539 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9602, Third Reading Calendar 690. Senator Hinchey moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 10541 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9612, Third Reading Calendar 691. Senator Scarcella-Spanton moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 10540 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9757, Third Reading Calendar 692.
So ordered. The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 694, Senate Print 9818, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
Mr. President, is there a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk?
There is a message of necessity and appropriation at the desk.
Move to accept the message.
All those in favor of accepting the message please signify by saying aye. (Response of "Aye.")
Opposed, nay. (Response of "Nay.")
The message is accepted, and the bill is before the house.
Lay it aside.
The bill is laid aside.
Please proceed with the rest of the supplemental calendar, please.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 688, Assembly Bill Number 9333, by Assemblymember Hevesi, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 53.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 689, Assembly Bill Number 10542, by Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 53.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 690, Assembly Bill Number 10539, by Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 690, voting in the negative are Senators Rhoads and Weik. Ayes, 51. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 691, Assembly Bill Number 10541, by Assemblymember Powers, an act to amend the Education Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 53.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 692, Assembly Bill Number 10540, by Assemblymember Cashman, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 692, voting in the negative: Senator Weik. Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 693, Senate Print 9758, by Senator Myrie, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 53.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of today's supplemental calendar.
Let's go to the controversial calendar, please.
The Secretary will ring the bell. The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 694, Senate Print 9818, by Senator Gianaris, an act making appropriations for the support of government.
Senator O'Mara, why do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Is it you, Senator Gianaris --
It's me.
-- to ask questions of?
For Senator Krueger, yes.
Would the Senator yield for a couple of questions on this budget extender bill.
Does the Senator yield?
Yes, I do.
The Senator yields.
Senator, this is our second extender of the budget for this fiscal year, and it extends us till next Tuesday, I believe. How much is the total spending or appropriations in this bill?
Approximately $4 billion.
And this will get us through next Tuesday?
Correct.
Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Senator, can you give us an update on where you feel budget negotiations are? Are any of the remaining nine budget bills locked down yet? And what are the major issues that we're grappling with?
None of the remaining bills are locked down. The remaining issues are the ones that you have seen reported, not much different from the last extender we did.
Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Senator, have there been table targets assigned yet for the remaining open bills?
No.
Through you, Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Senator, are there any scheduled meetings of the joint budget conference committees to work on finalizing these bills?
Nope.
On the bill.
Senator O'Mara on the bill.
Thank you, Senator Gianaris. Just, you know, the concern continues from this side of the aisle of the lack of any urgency to get this budget done. We're now over a week late -- excuse me -- and now New Yorkers, you know, really deserve to know what's going on with the State Budget that now is going to be clearly in excess of $260 billion, probably closer to $270 billion. Just where this legislative body stands in negotiating issues that are open, not even talking about what issues are open, what's holding things up -- it's very concerning. And, you know, it's like a repeat of every year around here, it seems. And it's just not a good way to do business. We should be doing better for the people of New York. You know, because of the significant religious holidays we've had over the past week and into this week, I'm okay with proceeding with the extenders here and supporting that. But we really need to get down to business here and start locking these budget bills down, start letting New Yorkers know what we're looking at for next year, and really where everybody stands on these issues that appear to be holding this budget up. Thank you, Mr. President.
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. Senator Gianaris.
Mr. President, we've agreed to restore this bill to the noncontroversial calendar.
On consent, the bill is restored to the noncontroversial calendar. Read the last section.
Section 14. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 53.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of the controversial calendar.
Is there any further business at the desk?
There is no further business at the desk.
I move to adjourn until Monday, April 13th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative days.
On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative. (Whereupon, at 11:34 a.m., the Senate adjourned.)