Asm. John Lemondes

The Assembly debated A09462, a chapter amendment postponing the effective date of legislation removing the 100-foot rule for new residential gas service hookups from December 2025 to December 2026. Sponsor Assemblywoman Simon argued the delay allows time for implementation while claiming the underlying law will save ratepayers $600 million annually by shifting hookup costs from existing customers to new applicants. Opponents including Assemblyman Lemondes cited detailed opposition letters from National Fuel and the New York State Laborers' PAC warning of increased ratepayer costs, job losses, and grid reliability threats. Assemblyman Palmesano argued the bill makes energy less affordable and eliminates options for customers wanting to convert from oil heating to natural gas, citing a poll showing 71% of New Yorkers oppose a natural gas ban. Acting Speaker Hunter limited debate to the effective date change, ruling questions about the underlying bill's merits out of order, drawing an objection from Assemblywoman Walsh on free speech grounds.

The Assembly passed A00173-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paulin, requiring local development corporations and similar not-for-profit entities engaged in municipal economic development to comply with open meetings and Freedom of Information Laws. Paulin explained the bill clarifies legal obligations based on a 2011 Comptroller report and 2019 public hearing that identified LDCs improperly handling public funds and hiding information from the public. The bill extends public notice periods from 7 to 21 days and shifts LDC approval authority from the Department of State to the Authorities Budget Office. Paulin stated the bill does not change what LDCs can do, only requires transparency. Assemblyman Lemondes opposed the bill, expressing concern it could enable more sole-source contracting with less oversight and citing maintained opposition from the Economic Development Council and Council of Mayors. Paulin noted that the Association of Counties (NYSAC) withdrew its opposition after amendments extended notice periods. The Majority Conference voted in favor; the Minority Conference voted against.

The Assembly debated A09462, a chapter amendment delaying the effective date of legislation eliminating the 100-foot rule for new residential gas service hookups. Sponsor Asm. Simon argued the one-year delay will ultimately save ratepayers $600 million annually by requiring new customers to pay for their own hookups rather than spreading costs across all ratepayers. However, opponents including Asm. Lemondes, Asm. Gray, and Asm. Palmesano raised concerns about increased energy costs and limited consumer choice. Lemondes cited opposition letters from National Fuel and the New York State Laborers' PAC warning of higher ratepayer costs and reduced construction jobs. Palmesano noted the bill will make it more expensive for customers to convert from oil heating to natural gas and cited polling showing 71% of New Yorkers oppose a natural gas ban. The Speaker limited debate to the effective date change, ruling questions about the underlying policy not germane to the chapter amendment.

The Assembly passed A00173-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paulin, subjecting local development corporations and similar not-for-profit entities engaged in municipal economic development to open meetings and Freedom of Information Law requirements. Paulin explained the bill clarifies existing legal obligations following a 2011 Comptroller report and 2019 public hearing documenting LDCs improperly hiding information and circumventing procurement laws with public funds. The bill extends public notice periods from seven to 21 days and requires LDCs to notify the Authorities Budget Office upon formation. Assemblyman Lemondes opposed the measure, citing concerns about sole-source contracting and noting opposition from the Economic Development Council and Council of Mayors, though he acknowledged the bill does not explicitly change contracting authority. Paulin noted that the Association of Counties (NYSAC) withdrew its opposition after the bill was amended to extend lease periods. The Majority Conference voted in favor; the Minority Conference voted against.

The Assembly passed A06766, sponsored by Asm. Vanel, authorizing the Department of Financial Services to establish reasonable limits on ATM transaction fees at casinos and colleges. Vanel argued these venues create captive audiences unable to access alternative ATMs, with average fees of $10 at casinos and exceeding $5 at colleges. The bill requires DFS to set fee caps through rulemaking with stakeholder input and imposes $250 fines for knowing violations. Lemondes opposed the measure, arguing it puts the cart before the horse by mandating reasonableness without specifying fee schedules and warning it could create "ATM deserts" if businesses remove machines rather than comply. He contended that disclosure at the ATM terminal and consumer choice are sufficient protections. The Republican Conference opposed the bill generally, though members could vote affirmatively at their desks. The Majority Party voted affirmatively, with members able to vote negatively if desired. The bill takes effect immediately.

The Assembly debated A04716-D, the Washing Machine Microfiber Filtration Act, sponsored by Assemblywoman Kelles, which would require washing machines sold in New York State after January 1, 2030 to include microfiber filtration systems. Kelles argued that microplastics from washing machines contribute approximately 30 percent of ocean microplastics and have been found in human brains and tissues, causing inflammation and health risks. She noted that filter technology already exists and is used in Europe, with some filters capturing up to 98 percent of microfibers. However, multiple Assembly members raised significant concerns. Assemblyman Mikulin questioned why washing machines are regulated rather than the textile industry and noted that no U.S. states have yet implemented such requirements. Assemblyman Manktelow expressed concern that the bill simply moves microplastics from water systems to landfills, potentially contaminating New York's freshwater resources including Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes. Assemblyman Lemondes questioned whether alternative disposal methods like incineration were explored and warned the microfibers could eventually be classified as hazardous waste. Assemblyman Bologna raised concerns about consumer compliance with filter maintenance and questioned the actual cost increase to consumers. The bill had not been voted on at the conclusion of this transcript segment.

The Assembly passed A02237, sponsored by Assemblywoman Rajkumar, which prohibits state and municipal procurement of certain technology that poses security threats. Assemblyman Lemondes, speaking in support, characterized electronic espionage as China's primary goal against the United States and argued the bill is necessary to prevent data leakage to the Chinese Communist Party. He emphasized that the state must take all possible measures to deny adversaries electronic espionage capabilities that undermine national defense and economic livelihoods.

The Assembly debated A08662-A, sponsored by Assemblywoman Gallagher, which modifies LLC Law definitions of beneficial owner, reporting company, and exempt company by removing Federal Corporate Transparency Act cross-references and providing state-specific definitions. Gallagher characterized the measure as a technical fix clarifying existing law. However, the bill faced significant opposition. Assemblyman Lemondes argued it imposes $5 billion in compliance costs on small businesses, invades privacy, increases cyber security risks, and worsens out-migration—New York already ranks 50th nationally in business climate. Assemblyman Blumencranz questioned why the state would adopt language Federal courts found unconstitutional and the Federal Government abandoned after FinCEN rescinded the beneficial ownership reporting requirement in March 2025. He argued the bill creates two different compliance standards and lacks empirical evidence of crime deterrence. Gallagher maintained the bill is purely technical and does not change existing law.

The Assembly passed Francesco's Law (A08463), sponsored by Asm. Khaleel Anderson, which strengthens safe firearm storage requirements and mandates data collection on unsafe storage incidents. The bill clarifies existing law to ensure firearms not in immediate control are secured, directs the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct public education campaigns, and requires DCJS to collect data on violations. The legislation was inspired by Francesco, a 17-year-old Long Island resident who died by suicide in 2021 using an unsecured family firearm after experiencing bullying. Supporters cited statistics showing suicides account for 36% of firearm deaths among children ages 10-19 and that 66% of unintentional fatal shootings involving children occur when firearms are handled by someone else. Asm. Lunsford noted that 80% of gun owners support safe storage laws. Opponents, including Asm. Lemondes, raised Second Amendment concerns and questioned whether the law could impede self-defense during home invasions. Asm. Gallahan advocated for education over legislation. Francesco's mother and godmother attended the session. The bill passed with strong support from the Majority Conference.

The Assembly debated A06766, which would authorize the Department of Financial Services to establish reasonable limits on ATM transaction fees at casinos and colleges. Sponsor Assemblymember Vanel argued that casinos and college campuses are captive audiences where ATM fees often exceed $10, far above industry norms, and that DFS should protect students and casino patrons from predatory fees. Assemblymember Lemondes questioned the bill's approach, arguing it defines excessive fees without evidence and that DFS will establish definitions later. Lemondes contended that ATM users see fee disclosures and can decline to withdraw cash, and that casinos are not truly captive audiences since patrons enter willingly. The bill applies to casinos licensed by the gaming commission under Section 1301 of the Racing and Wagering Law but excludes casino operations on reservations.

The Assembly engaged in extensive debate on the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act (A08148-A/S07694-A), sponsored by Assemblywoman Rozic, which would restrict minors' access to algorithmic social media feeds without parental consent. The bill prohibits platforms from sending notifications from addictive feeds to users under 18 between midnight and 6 a.m. without verifiable parental consent and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce compliance with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Assemblymember Blumencranz raised significant concerns about the bill's broad definition of "addictive feed"—any platform using algorithms to recommend content based on user data—arguing it could capture music streaming services, news apps, and book recommendation platforms like Goodreads. He questioned whether the bill adequately addresses advertising and marketplace features, and expressed concern about delegating definitional clarity to the Attorney General without legislative oversight. Rozic countered that the definition applies specifically to social media platforms and that the bill is content-neutral, targeting only the delivery mechanism. She emphasized the bill addresses a documented crisis: social media use is ten times more dangerous for children than other screen time, with studies showing direct correlation to rising rates of self-harm, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Supporters including Assemblywoman Walsh and Assemblymember Lemondes acknowledged the bill's imperfections but backed it as a necessary first step to protect children from algorithmic manipulation. The debate continued as the transcript segment ended.

The Assembly engaged in extensive debate on the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act (A08148-A/S07694-A), sponsored by Assemblywoman Rozic, which would restrict algorithmic feeds to minors without parental consent. The bill prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications to users under 18 from addictive feeds between midnight and 6 a.m. without verifiable parental consent, and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce compliance with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Sponsor Rozic argued the bill addresses a documented public health crisis, citing studies linking social media to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among minors. She emphasized the bill's content-neutral approach, targeting only the algorithmic delivery mechanism rather than speech itself. Assemblymember Blumencranz raised significant concerns about the bill's definition of "addictive feed," arguing it is overly broad and could capture platforms like Spotify, Apple News, Netflix, Goodreads, and podcast applications that use algorithms to recommend content. He questioned whether the bill adequately addresses advertising and marketplace features, and expressed concern about delegating definitional authority to the Attorney General without legislative oversight. Assemblywoman Walsh acknowledged concerns but supported the bill as a necessary first step, though she cautioned against vesting excessive discretion in the Attorney General's office. Assemblymember Lemondes supported the bill as addressing a real crisis affecting child development and national security. The debate remained ongoing at the end of the transcript segment.

The Assembly engaged in extensive debate on the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act (A08148-A/S07694-A), sponsored by Assemblywoman Rozic, which would restrict algorithmic feeds to minors without parental consent. The bill prohibits social media platforms from sending addictive feed notifications to users under 18 between midnight and 6 a.m. without verifiable parental consent and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce compliance with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Sponsor Rozic emphasized the bill targets the root cause of social media's harmful effects on children—algorithmic feeds designed to maximize engagement—in a content-neutral manner. She cited studies linking social media to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among minors, and noted the 2000 COPPA law is outdated for today's digital landscape. Assemblywoman Walsh expressed support despite concerns about concentrating regulatory authority in the Attorney General's Office, noting the broad bipartisan sponsorship reflects the bill's importance. However, Assemblymember Blumencranz raised significant concerns about the definition of "addictive feed," arguing it is so broad it could capture music streaming services, news aggregators like Apple News, book recommendation platforms like Goodreads, and podcast apps—none of which are social media platforms. He questioned whether the Attorney General has the technical expertise to implement vague standards like "commercially reasonable and technically feasible" methods for age verification, and expressed concern that the Legislature would have no oversight of future regulations. Rozic countered that the definition applies only to platforms where algorithmic feeds are a significant part of services, and that the Attorney General's office includes respected lawyers and technologists capable of crafting appropriate rules. The debate highlighted tensions between addressing a genuine public health concern and concerns about regulatory overreach and definitional ambiguity.

The Assembly passed A07264-A, legislation establishing procurement preferences for food purchases by municipalities and school districts that meet value-based standards including local economy, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and valued workforce criteria. The bill allows contracts to be awarded to qualified bidders whose bids are not more than 10 percent above the lowest responsible bidder if they meet certain standards. Asm. Tague voted against the measure, raising extensive concerns that it inadequately protects New York farmers by allowing procurement preference for out-of-state products within 100-200 miles, effectively mandates unionization of family farms through labor peace agreement requirements, excludes dairy from nutrition standards, and was written by advocacy groups rather than farmers. He argued the bill will cause more family farms to fail in a state that has already lost 3,000 farms. Asm. Lemondes also expressed concerns the bill is not comprehensive. Despite opposition, the bill passed.

The Assembly passed legislation modifying procurement laws to allow municipalities and school districts to purchase from local farms without requiring the lowest bid, enabling smaller agricultural operations to compete with larger conglomerates. Sponsor Mrs. Peoples-Stokes argued the bill addresses 50 years of procurement laws that eliminated small farmers from competing, allowing local farmers to supply quality, sustainable products to schools and municipalities while supporting New York's agricultural economy. She noted the bill is optional for farmers and represents a win-win opportunity following supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, opponents including Asm. Goodell, Tague, Lemondes, DiPietro, and Manktelow contended the bill violates fair bidding principles by allowing farms to charge up to 10 percent more based on union status, minority ownership, or women ownership, unfairly burdening taxpayers and disadvantaging non-certified family farms. DiPietro warned that prior government interventions in agriculture have failed, citing the loss of 3,000 farms in recent years. The Democratic majority supported the measure while Republicans generally opposed it.

The Assembly debated A07264-A, legislation establishing procurement preferences for food purchases meeting value-based standards including local economy, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and valued workforce criteria. Asm. Tague raised extensive concerns that the bill allows out-of-state products within 100-200 miles to receive preference, disadvantaging New York farmers already facing higher production and labor costs. He criticized the valued workforce standard requiring labor peace agreements as effectively mandating unionization of family farms, 98 percent of which are family-owned. Tague also expressed concerns about vague language on environmental and animal welfare standards that could impose costly certifications, and argued advocacy groups rather than farmers wrote the bill. Asm. Lemondes added that the bill fails to account for wind turbine impacts on birds of prey. Tague announced he would vote against the measure, encouraging colleagues to do the same.

The Assembly passed legislation modifying procurement laws to allow municipalities and school districts to purchase from local farms without requiring the lowest bid, enabling smaller agricultural operations to compete with larger out-of-state conglomerates. Sponsor Mrs. Peoples-Stokes argued the bill addresses 50-year-old procurement restrictions that prevent small farmers from selling quality, locally-sourced products to schools and municipalities. She emphasized the bill is optional for farmers and supports New York's agricultural community while ensuring healthier food for families. Opponents, including Asm. Goodell, Tague, Lemondes, DiPietro, and Manktelow, contended the bill violates fair bidding principles by allowing farms to charge up to 10 percent more based on union status, minority ownership, or women ownership. They argued it unfairly disadvantages law-abiding farmers and family farms that don't meet these criteria, and criticized government agricultural policies for failing to help farmers despite past promises. The bill passed with Democratic support, though several Republicans and some Democrats voted against it.

The Assembly debated A01745-A, sponsored by Asm. Dinowitz, which would require utilities to provide written responses to consumer complaints within 15 business days and expand complaint handling procedures to commercial and industrial customers. Opponents raised concerns about the tight timeline and potential costs. Asm. Lemondes questioned whether 15 days is realistic during emergencies, noting the bill imposes $100-per-day fines per customer that could drive utility rates higher. Asm. Palmesano argued the bill improperly removes Public Service Commission discretion and creates rigid deadlines without flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. He also expressed concern about expanding requirements to commercial and industrial customers, which involve more complex rate structures. Dinowitz defended the timeline as reasonable for large utilities and emphasized the importance of written responses to protect consumers. The debate did not conclude with a vote in this transcript segment.

The New York State Assembly passed the omnibus budget bill (A08808-C) on April 18, 2024, after extensive floor debate over multiple policy provisions. The bill includes significant public safety measures, including the SMOKEOUT Act to enforce against illegal cannabis shops, expanded hate crimes protections, and retail theft provisions addressing organized retail crime. However, the measure proved contentious over provisions to close up to five state prisons with only 90 days' notice to affected corrections officers and communities. Supporters, including Assemblymembers Rajkumar, Epstein, Lee, and Zaccaro, celebrated the cannabis enforcement provisions, with Rajkumar announcing plans to raid and padlock illegal smoke shops across New York City. Opponents, including Assemblymembers Palmesano, Manktelow, Maher, and Lemondes, criticized the prison closures as unconscionable given the corrections workforce crisis and economic impact on rural communities. Assemblymember Lavine defended bail reform provisions, explaining that judges retain authority to set bail for repeat offenders. The bill also extends alcohol-to-go sales for five additional years, drawing criticism from members including Glick and Peoples-Stokes who questioned the policy's appropriateness.

The New York State Assembly passed a comprehensive budget bill (A08808-C) on April 18 that includes major provisions on illegal cannabis enforcement, retail theft penalties, hate crimes statute expansion, and prison closures. The bill generated significant floor debate, with broad bipartisan support for cannabis enforcement measures including the SMOKEOUT Act to padlock illegal smoke shops and revoke business licenses. Members also supported retail theft provisions addressing organized retail crime and hate crimes statute modernization. However, the bill's prison closure provisions—allowing up to five facility closures with only 90 days notice—drew substantial opposition from members representing rural districts where prisons are major employers. Opponents cited workforce impacts on corrections officers and their families, increased violence in facilities, and insufficient alternative public safety measures. Supporters of closures argued prisons should reform people, not serve as permanent employment, and that resources should be redirected to community-based solutions. The bill passed with members from both parties voting affirmatively despite reservations on specific provisions.