Sen. Lea Webb

Sponsor argued the bill lifts up veterans and National Guard members injured during 9/11 WTC operations by extending workers' compensation eligibility, correcting a wrong and ensuring official recognition of their sacrifice and right to claim work-related injuries or illnesses.

The bill amends Insurance Law to guarantee coverage for transferring birthing parents to hospitals with specialized care for their newborns, eliminating insurance approval delays that impede care and prevent bonding opportunities.

Argued that nurses are the backbone of healthcare and their voices belong in hospital governance. Stated that including a registered nurse on hospital governing bodies would ensure decisions on staffing, quality of care, and patient safety are grounded in clinical experience, and that this change is long overdue.

The bill addresses barriers to timely, accurate, and culturally competent health information for expecting and new mothers on Medicaid, who experience higher rates of maternal and infant health complications. The mobile app would empower individuals with knowledge during a vulnerable time and help reduce preventable deaths and improve outcomes.

The bill empowers domestic violence survivors by allowing them to revoke pension benefits from beneficiaries convicted of family offenses, correcting an injustice in current law that locks in beneficiary designations for life.

As sponsor and chair of the Senate Committee on Women's Issues representing rural areas, Webb stated the bill protects maternal and infant health by requiring hospital perinatal service changes to undergo Article 28 review, ensuring community awareness and involvement in decisions that impact care access and outcomes.

The bill provides law enforcement with a critical tool to identify victims at high risk of intimate partner homicide, inspired by the tragic loss of Gabby Petito. The assessment enables officers to connect victims with local resources and advocates, and may support filing for extreme risk protection orders.

Webb characterized the legislation as a call to action rather than symbolic gesture, emphasizing that the opioid crisis has devastated both rural and urban communities. She argued that awareness and humanizing the crisis leads to better policy and the need for continued funding of treatment and compassionate systems.

The bill supports New York's farming and agricultural community by establishing regional farmers markets in food deserts, helping farmers access new local markets and ensuring communities have access to locally grown, healthy food.

Webb explained that the bill excludes food sold to students through approved donation programs from sales tax to address food insecurity on college campuses. She argued that many SUNY and CUNY students experience food insecurity and that this legislation is part of a broader commitment to make higher education more equitable and ensure students can learn without being hungry.

The bill creates parity between bed-and-breakfasts and similar establishments like hotels and restaurants by allowing alcohol sales to guests. It supports the B&B economy, boosts agritourism, expands markets for New York farmers, and removes the overnight guest requirement to increase customer base opportunities.

The bill protects Cayuga Lake from potential harm caused by the Cargill Salt Mine by requiring environmental impact statements, updated reclamation plans, and financial security. The lake supports 100,000 residents' drinking water and a $3 billion food, wine, and recreation tourism economy that could be devastated by an accident.

The bill protects both parties fairly during divorce by requiring notification of actions affecting marital assets and preventing asset disposal before case resolution. It also clarifies procedures during court closures caused by emergencies like pandemics.

Webb argued that requiring emergency contraceptive vending machines in SUNY and CUNY institutions addresses a critical access gap for students, citing data that 76 percent of pregnancies among 18-to-19-year-olds and 59 percent among 20-to-24-year-olds are unintended. She noted that one-third of student parents earn degrees within six years, and that campus-based access is essential for students reliant on institutional healthcare.

Webb explained that the bill honors 6,716 members of state military units who provided critical support during 9/11 recovery efforts at multiple locations and would allow them to receive veteran benefits. She characterized it as paying a debt of gratitude to those who risked their lives for extended periods following the attacks.

The bill closes a sales tax loophole that prevents college students from donating unused meal swipes to food-insecure peers. Over 60 New York institutions already participate in Swipe Out Hunger, and removing the tax barrier will increase donations and help address student hunger.

Highlighted the EMS crisis in upstate New York and rural communities, noting that the bill will enable real-time opportunities to save lives and ensure highly trained public servants receive deserved support for timely emergency responses.

Provided historical narrative of Peter Wheeler, emphasizing his escape from slavery with help from abolitionist neighbors and his later achievements as a sea merchant. Noted the Town of Lansing's desire to honor his memory and commit to remembering the community's slavery history while promoting human dignity and respect.

Sponsor explained the bill removes barriers to contraceptive access by allowing pharmacists to administer hormonal injections, addressing the needs of over 25,000 women in contraceptive deserts and benefiting marginalized and rural communities.

The bill addresses recruitment challenges for volunteer fire companies by waiving the 40 percent nonresident membership cap, allowing the Varna Volunteer Fire Company to expand partnerships with Cornell University and Ithaca College. This initiative has successfully rebuilt fire company ranks with young, active responders essential for providing critical first response services in rural districts.

Sponsor of the bill who praised the SUNY leadership initiative to increase diverse representation at senior levels across campuses. She noted funding has been allocated and highlighted the program's seven-member cohort as part of broader efforts to advance inclusion and equity in the SUNY system.

Sponsor of the bill. Emphasized that lethality assessments save lives by helping officers identify at-risk victims and referring them to domestic violence services. Cited data showing one-third of female murder victims are killed by intimate partners and noted the tool reduces female homicides by 40 percent.

Highlighted that Cayuga Lake in her district provides drinking water to over 100,000 people and is impacted by climate change and warming temperatures. The legislation will standardize data collection, establish an interagency HABs fund and grant program, and support municipalities in monitoring and mitigating harmful algal blooms.

Noted that 40 percent of Black mothers experience maternal mental health symptoms at nearly twice the rate of all women, yet 75 percent of women never receive treatment due to lack of screening, maternal care deserts, or shame. Stated awareness efforts can help ensure more women receive care.

Highlighted support for maternal and reproductive healthcare expansion, nursing home and hospital support, and COLA increases while expressing concerns about CDPAP changes.

Praised $19.5 million for Cornell veterinary diagnostic lab expansion, $400 million Environmental Protection Fund, $500 million clean water funding restoration, and $34 million for road infrastructure in her district.

Sponsor Webb characterized the bill as a commonsense measure to regulate laser hair removal technicians alongside other appearance enhancement professionals already regulated by the state, ensuring public safety while allowing minority and women-owned businesses to continue operating under a more structured regulatory framework.

Sponsor argued the bill closes a loophole in the existing hydrofracking ban by addressing supercritical CO2 extraction. Emphasized that CO2 is volatile and corrosive, converting to carbonic acid in moisture, and that research demonstrates environmental and health hazards from hydrofracking in any form.

Noted that overdose deaths have nearly doubled since 2019, with rural upstate communities hit hard. Cited data from Tompkins County showing all 105 drug samples tested contained fentanyl and 74 percent contained xylazine, making the bill critical.

The bill will provide financial assistance to supermarkets in underserved communities like those in her district, improving access to fresh produce and healthy foods while supporting local economic development and farmers. Webb noted the legislation addresses social determinants of health and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through local food production.

The bill expands existing transparency requirements to provide expectant mothers with more comprehensive information about racial disparities in pregnancy and birth outcomes, empowering women in BIPOC and rural communities to make informed decisions about their care. Webb emphasized that Black women face significantly higher rates of pregnancy-related mortality and complications due to systemic policies and practices.

Sponsor of the bill who explained that the legislation addresses maternal health outcomes through a mobile app for Medicaid patients. The app would provide consolidated, vetted information on prenatal and postpartum care, help close awareness gaps for low-income and rural women, and support improved maternal and infant health outcomes.

Emphasized that maternal healthcare responsibility is collective across the chamber. Highlighted the maternal and infant mortality crisis and explained the workgroup would comprehensively review standards, examine best practices, and complement Governor Hochul's and the Biden administration's maternal health initiatives.

Sponsor who emphasized that BIPOC missing and murdered women and girls face disproportionate resource allocation and mischaracterization as runaways. The bill creates a task force to address this gap and provide justice and support for victims and families.

Sponsor of the bill who explained that it will allow nonprofit car-sharing organizations to obtain insurance coverage, enabling services like Ithaca Car Share to resume operations in underserved areas and provide equitable, eco-friendly transportation access.

Stated the bill will improve health outcomes, save the state millions in Emergency Medicaid costs, and use federal dollars to expand coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured New Yorkers.

The bill honors 6,716 members of New York's armed forces who participated in 9/11 recovery operations and affords them veteran status. Webb emphasized that Air National Guardsmen were first to respond by scrambling aircraft, and all branches provided critical security and logistics support to recovery workers and city agencies.

Explained that the bill expands protections by requiring human trafficking victim services information in truck stop lactation rooms. Emphasized that truck stops are ideal locations to reach trafficking victims due to isolation and concentration of clients, and noted that New York is a major gateway state for human trafficking.

Webb expressed enthusiasm for the legislation, noting it codifies a long-awaited initiative to support Black leaders in higher education and foster an inclusive environment within SUNY campuses.

Sponsor of the bill who argued it addresses the need for transparency in freight rail safety following the East Palestine derailment. The central database would make Department of Transportation reports, audits, and inspections publicly available to help communities understand rail safety risks.

Domestic violence is pervasive and abusers should not collect pension benefits from their victims. The bill allows retired state employees to change beneficiaries within 180 days if convicted of domestic violence, empowering survivors to decide their course of action.

The bill is fundamentally about communication, allowing residents to prepare for minor inconveniences or brief service interruptions. It balances the need for utilities to conduct necessary maintenance and repairs with customers' reasonable expectation of timely notice, including details about duration, location, contact information, and any road closures or detours.

The bill supports small businesses in hospitality and agritourism by allowing breweries, distilleries, wineries and cideries to operate bed-and-breakfasts and sell alcohol to non-overnight guests, creating parity with hotels and restaurants while boosting New York's tourism economy.

The bill facilitates data-driven solutions to hate crimes on campuses and helps students, faculty, and families access information about safety, addressing barriers to reporting such as fear of retaliation.

Webb, the bill sponsor, argued the legislation equips new parents with critical education tools by adding a drowning safety video to existing hospital discharge requirements. She emphasized that drowning is the top accidental cause of death for children under five and can occur in as little as 2 inches of water.

Sponsor Webb argued the bill ensures laser hair removal technicians receive state-approved training and follow the same licensing regulations as other appearance enhancement professionals, protecting public safety while allowing minority- and women-owned med spas and small businesses to continue operating under a more regulated framework.

As chair of the Women's Issues Committee, Webb emphasized that menstrual products disproportionately impact low-income women, noting that in her Broome County district women comprise the largest demographic living in poverty, and that government assistance programs like SNAP do not cover hygiene products.

Highlighted reproductive healthcare protections including abortion drug coverage, maternal mental health workgroup addressing disparities for Black mothers, and mental health service investments.

The bill supports farmers by creating new markets in parks, addresses food deserts in rural districts, and helps ensure New York families consume food produced in New York soil.

As a former SUNY educator, she emphasized that many low-to-moderate-income students at public institutions have limited healthcare options; the bill expands reproductive care access and addresses barriers to reproductive justice in underinvested communities.

Chair of Women's Issues Committee noted the bill will improve postpartum outcomes and strengthen capacity to diagnose and treat women, especially underrepresented populations. Highlighted that Black and brown mothers are most likely to experience postpartum depression but least likely to receive treatment.

Sponsor who presented statistics showing approximately 75,000 missing Black women and girls nationally, over 2,306 missing Indigenous women and girls, and that 40 percent of sex trafficked women are Black. Emphasized that BIPOC girls are often categorized as runaways, causing their cases to be deprioritized, and that the task force will develop policy changes, ensure transparency, and educate communities on prevention and protection.

Supported the bill as a mechanism to measure whether state policies reach historically marginalized communities and to ensure equitable outcomes across New York's diverse population.

Argued the bill provides a much-needed update to state websites by removing gender-based biased terminology and replacing it with gender-neutral language, acknowledging the full spectrum of gender identity and same-sex relationships in New York.

Honored Verdelle Louis Payne, a native Ithacan and one of the first Black licensed pilots from upstate New York who served in the 99th Fighter Squadron. Noted that the Tuskegee Airmen completed over 15,000 missions and called for continued commitment to advancing policies rooted in justice and human dignity.

Webb, chair of the Women's Issues Committee, praised the bill for advancing menstrual equity by removing stigmatizing language from law. She argued that words like "feminine hygiene" and "sanitary products" perpetuate shame around menstruation and that the bill represents a continuation of New York's efforts to normalize discussion of this natural biological process.

As chair of the Women's Issues Committee, Webb praised the bill for commemorating women's contributions and noted New York's historic role in the suffrage movement at Seneca Falls. She emphasized the continued need to advance equity for all women, especially those historically marginalized, and highlighted women's representation in the current Senate.

As chair of the Senate Women's Issues Committee, expressed pride that her first bill to pass the Senate will implement a statewide electronic tracking system for rape kits, and encouraged colleagues to vote in support.

Argued the bill will make it easier for MWBEs to access critical resources during state disaster emergencies, strengthening the economy and supporting New York's leadership in economic empowerment for minority- and women-owned businesses.