Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Sponsor argued the bill provides self-administered medication for terminally ill patients with six-month prognosis, includes built-in waiting periods through required processes, and follows successful models from 11 other states with no documented cases of medication misuse or coercion over 27 years.

The bill strengthens legal defenses for reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care by protecting sensitive healthcare information from hostile states, ensuring all professionals involved receive protection, and ensuring courts apply New York's shield law. Providers already face legal risk and prosecution from other states for providing care within New York law.

The sponsor argued that PFAS causes serious health effects including cancer and reproductive problems, citing WHO and NCI designations as carcinogens. She emphasized the bill addresses the problem at the source rather than downstream, referencing contamination crises in Hoosick Falls and other New York communities, and noted that the EPA found New York has more dangerous drinking water than any other state.

The bill brings Civil Practice Law and Rules into alignment with New York State Human Rights Law and the Clean Slate law, following recommendations from both the New York State Bar and the City Bar.

Defended Part RR, explaining it decouples the Attorney General's discovery obligations when acting independently on behalf of the people, not on behalf of state agencies. Cited the lawsuit against social media companies as an example of when this provision applies.

The sponsor emphasized that ESCOs engage in deceptive practices, citing $2 million and $1.5 million in Attorney General settlements against ESCOs in 2022. She argued the bill ensures consumers can easily compare ESCO prices with utility prices on their monthly statements rather than having to search for estimates on the PSC website.

Sponsor explained horseshoe crabs are a keystone species in steep decline, with the bill banning both commercial fishing and biomedical harvesting. Noted that synthetic alternatives (rFC) exist and that no current DEC permits authorize biomedical fishing in New York, making the biomedical restriction largely symbolic to encourage synthetic development.

Sponsor argued the bill holds gun manufacturers accountable for knowingly selling products susceptible to illegal conversion. Noted that Glock switches are easily obtainable illegally for $10-$150 and can be downloaded or 3D printed, and that other manufacturers like SIG Sauer and Smith & Wesson have already designed their pistols to prevent conversion.

Sponsor emphasized the bill addresses a crisis in New York's Family Courts, with a 5,000-case backlog growth in 2022. Defended the allocation as a negotiated settlement between the two houses and Office of Court Administration, noting $12 million was allocated in the budget for Family Court judges.

Identified himself as a blood clot survivor who experienced a pulmonary embolism while in Albany. Cited the statistic that up to 30 percent of untreated blood clots result in death and stressed the importance of knowing family history and warning signs.

Explained hate crimes expansion as response to rising attacks on protected groups, noting the 23 crimes included represent careful negotiation among Executive, Senate, and Assembly. Defended exclusion of certain crimes as part of iterative process.

The bill establishes a statewide Parkinson's disease registry requiring reporting by hospitals and physicians while allowing patient opt-outs, enabling researchers to advance treatment of a condition affecting 1 million Americans. The Michael J. Fox Foundation supported the measure and was commemorating Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month with a Capitol lighting.

Pointed to climate change evidence, including projected 13-inch sea level rise in his district by the 2030s, and argued the state must do everything in its power to combat fossil fuel use.

The bill prevents banks, health clubs, and the DMV from charging fees on electronic benefit transfer cards and other government-issued debit cards. Hoylman-Sigal cited pandemic-era hardship when New Yorkers lined up at a single Key Bank ATM to avoid fees on unemployment benefits, arguing legislation is necessary because consumers cannot rely on banks to voluntarily protect them from nuisance fees.

Sponsor emphasized that dyslexia affects a quarter million students statewide and that early screening is critical for remediation. He noted his own daughter was not identified until third grade and cited the need to ensure students of color have equal opportunity to succeed, referencing notable figures with dyslexia like Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein.

The bill's goal is to increase voter turnout and expand voting access. Drop boxes provide another mechanism for returning absentee ballots, and 25 states use them successfully with very few incidents. The bill is permissive and gives counties authority to opt-in, with the Board of Elections authorized to promulgate rules and regulations regarding design, security, hours, and chain of custody.

Sponsor argued neonicotinoids cause neurological, metabolic, and reproductive harm to humans and severe population declines in pollinators. Cited Cornell University research, EPA studies showing negative impacts on 200 endangered species, and studies finding neonicotinoids in 95 percent of pregnant women surveyed, with highest detection rates in Hispanic women. Noted Canada and other jurisdictions have phased out neonicotinoids with diamides as alternatives, and the bill allows time for DEC study before full implementation in 2027.

The bill sponsor emphasized that this is common-sense legislation allowing NYC to set its own speed limits. He noted that a person hit at 35 mph is five times more likely to die than one hit at 20 mph, and praised the advocacy of Families for Safe Streets and Amy Cohen, Sammy's mother.

Sponsor argued the bill would require social media companies to submit standardized reports on content moderation to the Attorney General, providing data to combat rising online hate speech. He cited a 38 percent increase in online hate since March 2020 and noted that Twitter failed to act on 99 percent of reported hateful tweets, generating $6.4 million in ad revenue from hateful posts.

Sponsor thanked colleagues for bipartisan support and explained the bill reforms an 1875 wrongful death statute that only accounts for earning potential, devaluing the lives of infants, seniors, disabled individuals, and lower-income workers. He expressed hope the Governor would sign the bill this year after previously vetoing it.

Argued that LLC transparency is necessary to prevent property buyers from masking identity and to hold them accountable. Noted that LLCs currently require less disclosure than a library card and that the measure addresses concerns about shadowy ownership structures used to evade legal scrutiny.

Argued the bill protects transgender youth and families by ensuring access to gender-affirming care based on science and medicine. Noted that 18 states have banned such care and cited high suicide rates among transgender youth, positioning New York as a refuge state for families seeking these services.

The bill corrects a fundamental injustice where non-vaginal sexual assault is not legally defined as rape. The legislation is framed around Lydia Cuomo's case, where an off-duty police officer was not convicted of rape despite overwhelming evidence of forcible sexual assault because the penetration requirement was not met.

Emphasized that sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate are readily available online and have been used in suicide attempts, with 47 cases reported to the National Poison Data System from 2019-2022 and 23 deaths in Canada. Argued the bill restricts access only for vulnerable young people while preserving adult access, and noted major online platforms have already taken steps to limit sales after recognizing the connection to suicide deaths.

The bill protects families and children seeking gender-affirming care by preventing judges from considering gender identity or reassignment in custody cases. He noted this is particularly important given the nationwide campaign targeting transgender youth and families, with dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills already passed into law.

The bill would enable Medicaid reimbursement for community violence prevention programs that place social workers and trained community members in hospital emergency rooms to deescalate conflict and interrupt cycles of violence. Such programs have proven effective, reducing gun violence by 60 percent in New York and succeeding in over 30 jurisdictions across 19 states.

Stated that rap and hip-hop are fundamentally political speech deserving protection in a democratic society. He cited scholarship identifying 500-700 cases nationally and 28 cases in New York since 2017 where rap lyrics were used as evidence, and characterized the bill as resisting racism that has targeted hip-hop music.

The bill makes technical but necessary amendments to the Adult Survivors Act. Its passage should be celebrated as it provides survivors access to justice, as demonstrated by the E. Jean Carroll case.

Praised $7.35 million in capital funding for the LGBTQ American History Museum on the Upper West Side, calling it an important statement of support for LGBTQ+ and transgender New Yorkers.

Emphasized the $1 billion mental health investment, 850 new mental health beds, and comprehensive mental health services expansion as addressing a statewide crisis.

Praised the expansion of Broadway tax credits to include off-Broadway theaters, noting the critical role of smaller venues as incubators for playwrights and performers. Cited significant economic impact of off-Broadway theaters and pandemic recovery needs.

Argued that dyslexia and dysgraphia affect 20 percent of schoolchildren but lack adequate screening and proven intervention methods in New York schools. Characterized the issue as an education equity and social justice matter with significant downstream effects including higher dropout rates and incarceration rates.

The sponsor explained this is a gubernatorial program bill that expands the Governor's options without compelling her to use the associate judge list. She noted the bill only takes effect upon confirmation of an associate judge to chief judge, and the Governor can always request a new list if desired.

Sponsor explained the bill creates a small business seed funding grant program for independent arts contractors and touring musicians to help the pandemic-affected arts community. He highlighted that arts and culture contribute $119 billion annually to New York State's economy and thanked colleagues, advocates, and state officials who worked on the legislation.

Hoylman-Sigal cited national data showing 434 anti-LGBTQ bills in statehouses, noting that nine out of 10 LGBTQ students reported harassment and over a third reported physical assault, with 45 percent of LGBTQ youth and half of transgender and nonbinary youth in New York seriously considering suicide.

The bill removes outdated language from the definition of sexual orientation in state statute. Since no law makes sexual orientation illegal, the current protective clause is unnecessary and should be removed as a statement of principle.

The amendment codifies protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression that were passed decades ago through SONDA and GENDA, providing crucial constitutional safeguards for LGBTQ people, particularly young transgender individuals facing attacks across the country.

Sponsor of the bill. Clarified that the legislation permits boards of elections to divide compensation for split-shift work by election inspectors or poll workers, addressing concerns about increased costs.