S8823
An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law — 2026-01-13 · Calendar #42
The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Harckham to amend the Environmental Conservation Law and regulate horseshoe crabs, with a vote of 44-14 on Tuesday. The bill restricts the use of horseshoe crabs, drawing opposition from 14 senators who cited concerns about limiting biomedical research. Sen. Rhoads, voting against the measure, said he supported horseshoe crab restrictions generally but believed the bill should have carved out an exception for biomedical research. "I think you're inhibiting New York State being an innovator with respect to biomedical research by restricting horseshoe crabs from being used for that purpose," Rhoads said. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Passed Senate
Ayes: 44
· Nays: 14
Debate Summary
The bill regulates horseshoe crabs under Environmental Conservation Law. Sen. Rhoads opposed the measure, arguing that while he supports restrictions on horseshoe crab use generally, the bill should have carved out an exception for biomedical research to preserve New York's position as an innovator in that field.
Roll Call — Official API Data
Full roll call from the Open Legislation API. Every senator's recorded vote is shown.
| Senator | Vote | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADDABBO | AYE | ||
| BAILEY | AYE | ||
| BASKIN | AYE | ||
| BRISPORT | AYE | ||
| BYNOE | AYE | ||
| CHAN | AYE | ||
| CLEARE | AYE | ||
| COMRIE | AYE | ||
| COONEY | AYE | ||
| FAHY | AYE | ||
| FERNANDEZ | AYE | ||
| GIANARIS | AYE | ||
| GONZALEZ | AYE | ||
| GOUNARDES | AYE | ||
| HARCKHAM | AYE | ||
| HINCHEY | AYE | ||
| JACKSON | AYE | ||
| KAVANAGH | AYE | ||
| KRUEGER | AYE | ||
| LANZA | AYE | ||
| LIU | AYE | ||
| MARTINEZ | AYE | ||
| MARTINS | AYE | ||
| MATTERA | AYE | ||
| MAY | AYE | ||
| MAYER | AYE | ||
| MURRAY | AYE | ||
| MYRIE | AYE | ||
| OBERACKER | AYE | ||
| PARKER | AYE | ||
| PERSAUD | AYE | ||
| RAMOS | AYE | ||
| RIVERA | AYE | ||
| ROLISON | AYE | ||
| RYAN C | AYE | ||
| SALAZAR | AYE | ||
| SANDERS | AYE | ||
| SCARCELLA-SPANTON | AYE | ||
| SEPULVEDA | AYE | ||
| STAVISKY | AYE | ||
| STEWART-COUSINS | AYE | ||
| SUTTON | AYE | ||
| WEBB | AYE | ||
| WEBER | AYE | ||
| WEIK | AYE | ||
| BROUK | EXC | ||
| SERRANO | EXC | ||
| ASHBY | NAY | ||
| BORRELLO | NAY | ||
| CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK | NAY | ||
| GALLIVAN | NAY | ||
| GRIFFO | NAY | ||
| HELMING | NAY | ||
| O'MARA | NAY | ||
| ORTT | NAY | ||
| PALUMBO | NAY | ||
| RHOADS | NAY | ||
| SKOUFIS | NAY | ||
| STEC | NAY | ||
| TEDISCO | NAY | ||
| WALCZYK | NAY |
Transcript Mentions
These votes were extracted from the floor transcript by AI. NYS Senate roll calls are read in full, but AI extraction may not capture every senator — so this list is incomplete and skews toward named dissenting votes. Use the Official API Data table above for the complete roll call.
| Senator | Vote | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Ashby | nay | Republican |
| Borrello | nay | Republican |
| Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick | nay | Republican |
| Gallivan | nay | Republican |
| Griffo | nay | Republican |
| Helming | nay | Republican |
| O'Mara | nay | Republican |
| Ortt | nay | Republican |
| Palumbo | nay | Republican |
| Rhoads | nay | Republican |
| Skoufis | nay | Democrat |
| Stec | nay | Republican |
| Tedisco | nay | Republican |
| Walczyk | nay | Republican |