TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026 2:25 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES AND GUESTS.

IMAM TAHIR KUKAJ WILL OFFER A PRAYER.

IMAM TAHIR KUKAJ: (SPEAKING UNKNOWN

LANGUAGE). IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL, WE

THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR HIS COUNTLESS BLESSINGS; BLESSINGS OF THIS

CHAMBER, MEMBERS OF THIS GREAT INSTITUTION OF OUR GREAT STATE OF NEW

YORK.

WE GATHER DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN; A TIME

WHEN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FOCUSED ON PRAYER, SELF-REFLECTION AND

ACTS OF SERVICE. WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING THIS HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

ALONG OUR NEIGHBORS; JEWISH NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY WERE CELEBRATING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

PURIM. OUR NEIGHBORS -- CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS CELEBRATING LENT. OUR

HINDU NEIGHBORS, NEW YORKERS CELEBRATING HOLI. SO WE PRAY TO GOD

ALMIGHTY TO DERIVE FROM THE SPIRIT TODAY AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE VITAL

DEMANDING WORK OF THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY. WE ASK FOR A SPECIAL

BLESSING UPON EACH MEMBER PRESENT. GRANT THEM CLARITY OF MIND AS

THEY WEIGH THE COMPLEX ISSUES BEFORE THEM. MAY THEY BE GUIDED BY A

SPIRIT OF GENUINE COOPERATION AND THE COURAGE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE

COMMON GOOD, PUTTING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE

DAY. WE RECOGNIZE THE IMMENSE SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION INHERENT IN

THIS ROLE. WE PRAY THAT YOU GRANT THEM ENDURANCE FOR THEIR LONG HOURS

AND HUMILITY IN THEIR AUTHORITY. MAY THEIR WORDS IN THIS CHAMBER BE

USED TO BUILD BRIDGES, RESOLVE CONFLICTS, AND TO LIFT UP THOSE WHO ARE

MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. MAY THEIR DECISIONS TODAY LEAVE A LASTING

POSITIVE MARK ON OUR GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK, FOSTERING A FUTURE THAT

IS JUST, EQUITABLE AND PROSPEROUS FOR ALL.

GOD ALMIGHTY, BLESS THIS ASSEMBLY, BLESS THEIR

DELIBERATIONS, AND MAY THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE ALWAYS BE

RENEWED. GOD ALMIGHTY, WE BLESS -- WE ASK YOU THAT YOU BLESS OUR

NEW YORK STATE AND OUR COUNTRY, THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IN YOUR NAME WE MAKE THIS PRAYER. AMEN.

MEMBERS: AMEN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: VISITORS ARE INVITED

TO JOIN MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER LED VISITORS AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH 9TH.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE TO DISPENSE

WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH 9TH AND THAT

THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: I HAVE A QUOTE TODAY FROM HARRIET

TUBMAN, AND THE QUOTE IS --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ONE MOMENT, MR.

FALL. CAN WE HAVE QUIET IN THE CHAMBER, PLEASE? TAKE YOUR SEATS,

TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD, MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE QUOTE

THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY IS FROM HARRIET TUBMAN AND IT SAYS, I WISH THE

CONDUCTOR OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR EIGHT YEARS -- I'M SORRY --

I WAS THE CONDUCTOR OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND

I CAN SAY WHAT MOST CONDUCTORS CAN'T SAY: I NEVER RAN MY TRAIN OFF THE

TRACK AND I NEVER LOST A PASSENGER. AND THESE WORDS ARE FROM HARRIET

TUBMAN.

MADAM SPEAKER, MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK AN

A-CALENDAR [SIC]. AFTER ANY HOUSEKEEPING AND/OR INTRODUCTIONS WE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

WILL BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK BY TAKING UP CALENDAR RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3.

WE WILL THEN CONSENT THE FOLLOWING BILLS: CALENDAR NO. 44 BY MS.

TAPIA, AND CALENDAR NO. 47 BY MS. PAULIN. AFTER THAT WE WILL TAKE UP

THE FOLLOWING BILLS ON DEBATE: RULES REPORT NO. 18 BY MS. GLICK, AND

RULES REPORT NO. 29 BY MS. ROSENTHAL. I WILL ANNOUNCE ANY FURTHER

FLOOR ACTIVITY AS WE PROCEED.

SO WITH THAT AS A GENERAL OUTLINE, MISS -- MADAM

SPEAKER, LET US BEGIN WITH ANY HOUSEKEEPING AND/OR INTRODUCTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. WE DO

HAVE A PIECE OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MS. ROSENTHAL, PAGE 14, CALENDAR

NO. 52, BILL NO. A01410, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE WILL START WITH AN INTRODUCTION FROM YOU, MR. FALL,

PLEASE.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT IS A

GREAT HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCE IMAM TAHIR

BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. YOU KNOW, IMAM TAHIR HAS DONE THE

INVOCATION DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN FOR THE LAST EIGHT CONSECUTIVE

YEARS, AND I DO APPRECIATE HIM MAKING THE TRIP TO ALBANY FROM STATEN

ISLAND. AND, YOU KNOW, IMAM TAHIR IS NOT ONLY THE LEADER OF THE

ALBANIAN CULTURAL CENTER ON STATEN ISLAND, BUT HE'S ALSO A CHAPLAIN FOR

THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE SERVES OUR COMMUNITY IN

SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. HE ALWAYS OPENS UP HIS COMMUNITY CENTER TO

THE PUBLIC FOR VARIOUS EVENTS DURING EVERY PART OF THE YEAR. AND HE'S

ALSO A WONDERFUL REFLECTION ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS HOLY MONTH OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

RAMADAN MEANS. YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, GIVING

CHARITY AND A GOOD AMOUNT OF SELF-REFLECTION.

SO IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO WELCOME IMAM TAHIR

TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

FALL, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK, IMAM, TO THE

ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND

HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ANNUAL

VISIT TO ALBANY TO GIVE BLESSINGS TO US FOR THIS HOLY MONTH. THANK YOU

SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU.

IMAM TAHIR KUKAJ: THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU

ALL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. EACHUS THE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. EACHUS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WE

HAVE QUITE A BIT GOING ON IN THE HOUSE TODAY.

ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMAN JONATHAN JACOBSON,

ASSEMBLYWOMAN PAULA KAY AND MYSELF, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF

INTRODUCING NURSING STUDENTS FROM SUNY ORANGE AND CUNY YORK

COLLEGE. IF THEY'D STAND UP. THERE WE GO.

(APPLAUSE)

JOINING -- JOINING US ALONGSIDE THE STUDENTS ARE

PROFESSOR LISA ZYLBERBERG, PAMELA HYLTON, VANESSA CAREW, DR.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MARGARET ALEXANDRE AND DR. PATRICIA BURKE. THESE NURSING STUDENTS

AND FACULTY ARE HERE TODAY MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF

NYSNA. NYSNA IS A UNION THAT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 42,000 NURSES

AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

BEING THE BROTHER OF TWO RNS MYSELF, I HAVE A

PERSONAL CONNECTION TO NURSING. I'M INCREDIBLY INSPIRED TO SEE SO MANY

YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES, PROVIDE LIFESAVING

TREATMENT TO NEW YORKERS, AND JOINING ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS OF

OUR WORKFORCE.

NURSING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES,

ENSURING THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE AND IS DONE

IN A SAFE WAY AND IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. AS A TEACHER OF 40 YEARS, I

KNOW THAT STUDENTS REPRESENT OUR FUTURE. THERE'S OUR FUTURE RIGHT THERE

(INDICATING) -- THANK YOU, FOLKS -- AND THE FUTURE OF NEW YORK AND

SHINING A BRIGHTER FUTURE BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.

WITH THAT I WOULD ASK, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT YOU

PLEASE WELCOME THE SUNY ORANGE AND CUNY YORK COLLEGE NURSING

STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO THE CHAMBER AND EXTEND THEM THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE HOUSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. EACHUS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR SUNY ORANGE AND CUNY YORK COLLEGE

NURSING STUDENTS AS YOU TRAVELED HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT NYSNA AND

ALL THINGS HEALTHCARE. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT

YOU DO AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO IN THIS HEALTHCARE SPACE. WE HOPE YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SANTABARBARA FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SANTABARBARA: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. TODAY I RISE TO INTRODUCE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST JOINING US HERE

IN THE CHAMBER, MY SON MICHAEL. HE -- HE'S JOINING US FOR TODAY'S

DISABILITIES RALLY. AND BEING MICHAEL'S DAD HAS BEEN ONE OF THE

GREATEST BLESSINGS OF MY LIFE. MICHAEL AND I HAVE BEEN ON OUR JOURNEY

TOGETHER AS HE FACED THE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM. HE BRINGS INCREDIBLE

JOY, DETERMINATION AND PERSPECTIVE TO OUR FAMILY AND TO EVERYONE WHO

KNOWS HIM.

BEFORE COMING TO THE ASSEMBLY I WORKED AS A CIVIL

ENGINEER. BUT WHEN MICHAEL WAS BORN, IT CHANGED MY LIFE. MY

PASSION CHANGED AND IT LED ME HERE TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND TO MY

ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. STILL

HELPING PEOPLE, BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY; ADVOCATING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH

DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID HERE TODAY.

MICHAEL AND I TODAY -- TODAY JOINED SELF-ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE

STATE WHO CAME TO THE CAPITOL TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND TO ADVOCATE

FOR SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

MICHAEL HAS MANY INTERESTS. HE LOVES COOKING. HE

EVEN HAS HIS OWN YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE HE'S KNOWN AS "CHEF

MICHAEL." YOU CAN FIND HIM ON YOUTUBE. HE ENJOYS DOING PUZZLES,

AND HE HAS PROBABLY THE LARGEST DVD COLLECTION I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIS

YEAR HE'S ALSO PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH THE SCHENECTADY PATRIOTS SPECIAL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

OLYMPICS TEAM, WHICH WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF. MORE THAN ANYTHING,

THOUGH, MY SON MICHAEL REMINDS ME EVERY DAY WHY INCLUSION, DIGNITY

AND OPPORTUNITY MUST GUIDE THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.

MADAM SPEAKER, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY SON AND

I'M ALWAYS PLEASED WHEN HE JOINS US HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT HE'S HERE WITH US TODAY. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE

WELCOME HIM AND EXTEND TO HIM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF

ASSEMBLYMEMBER SANTABARBARA -- DAD -- THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK, MICHAEL, TO OUR ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. IT'S SO

WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AGAIN TODAY. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TIME IN OUR

CHAMBER AGAIN, AS YOU ALWAYS DO, AND CONGRATULATIONS AND CONTINUED

SUCCESS, CHEF MICHAEL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, CHEF.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MS. CHANTEL JACKSON FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. JACKSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. GUESS

WHAT? WE ARE BACK, WE ARE BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BECAUSE WE

ARE THE BRONX. AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF LEADERS HERE FROM THE BRONX

I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM STAND UP, BUT YOU MAY KNOW THEY ALREADY, MR.

SPEAKER. WE HAVE OUR BRONX DA. WE HAVE OUR BRONX BOROUGH

PRESIDENT, DA DARCEL CLARK, BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT VANESSA

GIBSON. WE WE ALSO HAVE LISA SORIN FROM BRONX CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE. ROBERT RODRIGUEZ FROM CHASE. WE HAVE SHERLYN SANTANA

FROM BRONX COMMUNITY -- BRONX COMMUNITY MANAGER AT CHASE. WE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

HAVE JENNIFER BERNSTEIN, ALSO PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW YORK

BOTANICAL GARDEN. THESE ARE ALL THINGS IN THE BRONX. MATT EAGLE [SIC],

PRESIDENT, LANGSAM PROPERTY SERVICE CORP.; AND MEG VENTRUDO,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WOODLAWN CONSERVANCY. AND THEY'RE ALL HERE

BECAUSE TODAY IS BRONX DAY. AND WE HAVEN'T HAD BRONX DAY IN OVER

TEN YEARS, BUT LIKE I SAID WE ARE BACK, BIGGER, BETTER THAN EVER, AND I

HOPE THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE -- OH, I'M SORRY, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER

COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATIONS THAT MAKE THE BRONX

WHO IT REALLY IS. AND I WOULD LOVE IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE

CORDIALITY OF THE FLOOR, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: OF COURSE. THANK YOU, MS.

JACKSON. AND OF COURSE I'M HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOU FROM -- NO OFFENSE

TO THE OTHER 61 COUNTIES IN THIS GREAT STATE, BUT YA'LL ALL KNOW MY HEART

IS IN THE BRONX AND THE BRONX WILL ALWAYS BE FIRST AMONGST EQUALS.

AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BROUGHT BRONX DAY

BACK, AND TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE -- AND THE ORGANIZATIONS

THAT HAVE COME BACK. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL LUNCHEON TODAY, AND I'M

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RECEPTION.

SO OF COURSE YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

HOUSE. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD

AS PART OF THAT, ONE OF THE AWARDEES TODAY WHO'S GETTING A

CHANGEMAKER AWARD IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DJS IN ALL OF NEW YORK

CITY WHO HAPPENS TO BE A CONSTITUENT. AND YOU CAN HEAR HIM ON IRIE

JAM, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE CARIBBEAN RADIO STATION. AND IF YOU

COME TO MY SUMMER BARBECUE, ANY EVENT, MY -- MY HOLIDAY PARTY, HE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

IS ALWAYS THE DJ SO I WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DJ MADOUT

AS WELL.

(APPLAUSE)

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING HOW MUCH WE ALL

LOVE THE BRONX, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK DJ MADOUT BECAUSE I CAN'T

EVER GET MY CHIEF-OF-STAFF, JEVONNI BROOKS TO COME UP HERE, BUT SHE

TRAVELED UP WITH -- WITH DJ MADOUT. SO...

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. REYES FOR THE

PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. REYES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. TODAY IT

IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL BLACK NURSES NEW

YORK CHAPTER ASSOCIATION HERE.

THE NEW YORK BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION WAS

FOUNDED IN 1971 AS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER

BLACK NURSES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND

WELL-BEING OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE NURSING PROFESSION. THROUGH

MENTORSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW YORK

BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION HELPS GUIDE AND UPLIFT CURRENT AND FUTURE

NURSES WHILE FOSTERING LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE FIELD.

BEYOND THEIR WORK IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND NURSING

EDUCATION, THE NURSES ARE ALSO DEEPLY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY,

PROVIDING HEALTH EDUCATION, SCREENINGS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES ACROSS THE STATE.

WITH US TODAY WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GREAT

-- GREATER NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER; ROCHESTER, HUDSON VALLEY, SUFFOLK

COUNTY CHAPTERS AS WELL. DR. CATHERINE ALICIA GEORGES, PAST PRESIDENT

OF GREATER NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER; THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, BETTY

BOYLE-DUKE; CAROLYN AUSTIN-MATTISON, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT; DR.

THERESA LUNDY, CURRENT PRESIDENT; YOLANDA WILLIAMS-LEWIS, CURRENT

PRESIDENT; AND BRYANNA PATTERSON, CHAIR OF HEALTH AND POLICY FROM

ROCHESTER.

PLEASE, MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND ALL THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO THEM AND WELCOME OUR DISTINGUISHED

GUESTS TO OUR CHAMBER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MS.

REYES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR MEMBERS OF THE

NEW YORK BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION AND EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES

OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. CONTINUED

SUCCESS, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR BEING

HEALTHCARE CHAMPIONS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. EACHUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. EACHUS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT ONCE AGAIN.

I RISE TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL SOCIAL WORKER

MONTH; A TIME WHEN WE HONOR THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK

EVERY DAY TO STRAIGHTEN -- STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORT FAMILIES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHOSE VOICES TOO OFTEN GO UNHEARD. IF YOU'D

STAND.

TODAY I'M PROUD TO WELCOME THE FLOOR FACULTY AND

STUDENTS FROM THE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM IN DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY,

NEW YORK. JOINING US ARE PROGRAM DIRECTOR MELODY HYPPOLITE AND

PROFESSOR RUBINA SINGH, ALONG WITH A GROUP OF OUTSTANDING SOCIAL

WORK STUDENTS WHO TRAVELED TO ALBANY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL

JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. THESE STUDENTS REPRESENT THE NEXT

GENERATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ONLY LEARNING IN

THE CLASSROOM BUT WHO ARE ALREADY ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY AND POLICY

DISCUSSIONS -- ONE OF THEM HAPPENS TO BE AN INTERN IN MY OFFICE

CURRENTLY -- THAT WILL SHAPE STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES

ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE

SAMANTHA MEHAN (PHONETIC), WHO HAS SERVED AS AN INTERN IN MY

DISTRICT OFFICE OVER THE PAST YEAR. SAMANTHA WILL SOON GRADUATE FROM

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY AND JOIN THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION. HER

COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY MADE A

MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN OUR OFFICE, AND I KNOW SHE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE

A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY NEW YORKERS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE DOMINICAN

UNIVERSITY NEW YORK SOCIAL WORK FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO THE STATE

ASSEMBLY, AND IN RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF SOCIAL WORKERS

ACROSS OUR STATE DURING NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH. THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

EACHUS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR GUESTS FROM

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, ON

YOUR LOBBY DAY TODAY. WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER, SO WE ARE SO

VERY GLAD TO SEE YOU TODAY, EXTENDING TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.

HOPING YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. WE HOPE YOU HAD

MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS ON YOUR VISIT TODAY. CONTINUED SUCCESS TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SLATER FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I AM

THRILLED TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF

NORTHERN WESTCHESTER WHO IS JOINING US TODAY, UP ABOVE. THIS IS AN

HISTORIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE

1939. AND WE HAVE WITH US TODAY CHRIS, MARSHALL, WHO ARE OUR

PROGRAM DIRECTORS. AND WE HAVE AS WELL TEN WONDERFUL MEMBERS, TEN

YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE TO LEARN ABOUT STATE

GOVERNMENT, TOUR THE CAPITOL AND SEE GOVERNMENT IN ACTION. THEY ARE

OUR FUTURE, IT'S FANTASTIC TO HAVE THEM HERE, AND I'D JUST REQUEST THAT YOU

PLEASE WELCOME THEM AND PROVIDE THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

SLATER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME, OUR NORTHERN

WESTCHESTER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE TODAY TO OUR ASSEMBLY

CHAMBER. I CANNOT SEE YOU UP THERE, BUT WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

THE FLOOR TO YOU AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. I LOVE,

LOVE, LOVE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND SO VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ALL ARE

PARTICIPANT MEMBERS, OUR FUTURE LEADERS. IT'S JUST VERY EXCITING TO SEE

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB MEMBERS HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU UP IN OUR

BALCONY FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1023, MS.

BARRETT.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 1-7, 2026, AS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK

WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF

NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1024, MR.

LAVINE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2026, AS READING MONTH IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1025, MR.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

CONRAD.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 9-13, 2026, AS CIVIC LEARNING WEEK

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1026, MR.

DESTEFANO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2026, AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS

MONTH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. DESTEFANO ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. DESTEFANO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE RESOLUTIONS, MUSIC

EDUCATION [SIC] IN OUR SCHOOLS [SIC]. THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE

DEVELOPMENT IN STUDENTS AND SHOULD REMAIN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY

SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

MUSIC IS MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT; IT IS A POWERFUL

EDUCATIONAL TOOL THAT SUPPORTS ACADEMIC SUCCESS, EMOTIONAL GROWTH,

AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. FIRST, MUSIC HELPS IMPROVE COGNITIVE SKILLS.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC PROGRAMS

ALWAYS PERFORMED BETTER IN SUBJECTS SUCH AS MATH, READING AND SCIENCE.

LEARNING RHYTHM PATTERNS AND TIMING STRENGTHENS BRAIN FUNCTIONS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

RELATED TO -- AND PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CRITICAL THINKING. PLAYING AN

INSTRUMENT OR READING MUSIC ALSO REQUIRES DISCIPLINE, FOCUS AND

PRACTICE; SKILLS THAT BENEFIT STUDENTS IN ALL AREAS OF LEARNING.

SECOND, MUSIC ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES

CREATIVELY IN ALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS WHERE MANY SUBJECTS RELY ON

MEMORIZATION AND TESTING. MUSIC PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR IMAGINATION

AND PERSONAL EXPRESSION. WHETHER THROUGH SINGING, PLAYING AN

INSTRUMENT OR COMPOSING, STUDENTS CAN COMMUNICATE EMOTIONS AND

IDEAS THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS IN WORDS.

MUSIC ALSO HELPS BUILD TEAMWORK AND COMRADERY IN

THE COMMUNITY. BAND, ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR PRO -- PROGRAMS TEACH

STUDENTS HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL. EACH MUSICIAN

PLAYS A UNIQUE PART, BUT SUCCESS DEPENDS ON LISTENING TO OTHERS AND

COOPERATING AS A GROUP. THESE EXPERIENCES FOSTER RESPECT,

RESPONSIBILITY AND COLLABORATION; SKILLS THAT STUDENTS CARRY INTO

ADULTHOOD.

FINALLY, MUSIC ENRICHES SCHOOL CULTURE. PERFORMANCES

AT CONCERTS, ASSEMBLIES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS BRINGS STUDENTS,

FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TOGETHER. THESE MOMENTS CREATE PRIDE, SCHOOL

SPIRIT AND SHARED EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHEN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

IN CONCLUSION, MUSIC EDUCATION SUPPORTS ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT, ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY, BUILDS TEAMWORK, AND ENHANCES

THE OVERALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. BY INVESTING IN MUSIC PROGRAMS,

SCHOOLS HELP STUDENTS GROW NOT ONLY AS LEARNERS, BUT ALSO AS WELL-

ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1027, MR.

DURSO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2026, AS YOUTH ART MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

PAGE 13, CALENDAR NO. 44, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01248-C, CALENDAR

NO. 44, TAPIA, ZACCARO, ALVAREZ, LAVINE, DE LOS SANTOS, SIMONE,

FORREST, SHIMSKY, LUCAS, CUNNINGHAM, CRUZ, SIMON, SAYEGH, BICHOTTE

HERMELYN, BORES, K. BROWN, CHANG, GIGLIO, PIROZZOLO, DESTEFANO,

PHEFFER AMATO, WEPRIN, SANTABARBARA, WALSH, REYES, SEMPOLINSKI.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING

THE SALE, OFFER FOR SALE, OR DELIVERY OF XYLAZINE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01296-B, CALENDAR

NO. 47, PAULIN, SAYEGH, LUCAS, DESTEFANO, MCDONALD, OTIS, WEPRIN,

PIROZZOLO, NORBER, NOVAKHOV, CHANG, ALVAREZ, DINOWITZ, DILAN,

ROSENTHAL, WEIDER, MANKTELOW, MORINELLO, ANGELINO, KASSAY, COLTON,

LEMONDES, GRIFFIN, SEMPOLINSKI, STIRPE, DURSO, MIKULIN, SHIMSKY.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING THE

RARE DISEASE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

PAULIN, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 30TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. SO THIS THIRD READING AMENDMENT MAKE CHANGES TO THE BILL-

IN-CHIEF TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE RARE DISEASE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THAT AMENDMENT PROVIDES APPOINTMENTS TO THE

MINORITY LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. SO THIS -- THIS STARTED BACK IN

2020 WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED THE NEW YORK STATE RARE

DISEASE WORKING GROUP, AND NOW THIS BILL WOULD SERVE TO MAKE

PERMANENT THE WORKING GROUP FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 2020 BY CREATING A

STANDING COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THE OVERSIGHT, AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY

WORK OF THE RARE DISEASE ADVISORY WORKING GROUP AND NOW THAT WILL

BE A COUNCIL.

SO A KEY CHANGE WAS ALLOWING THE MINORITY LEADER OF

THE ASSEMBLY AND MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE TO HAVE APPOINTMENTS

ON THIS, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE

CONCERNS WHEN WE DON'T GET ANY APPOINTMENTS ONTO SOME OF THESE

BOARDS, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT THE SPONSOR AMENDED HER BILL

IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

WITH THAT CHANGE, MY PREVIOUS RESERVATIONS ARE GONE.

I WILL VERY HAPPILY SUPPORT THIS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RARE DISEASE

ADVISORY COUNCIL. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST NOTE THAT THE ALS

ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THIS BILL, AND THAT MADE ME THINK OF MY GOOD

ANDY GILPIN, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAPTAIN CHS IN MY

DISTRICT WHO IS BATTLING WITH ALS RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT WORKING

GROUPS LIKE THIS WILL REALLY HOPEFULLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, ADVISORY

COUNCILS LIKE THIS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT AND I WILL BE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. WALSH IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 4, RULES REPORT NO. 18, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09511, RULES REPORT

NO. 18, GLICK, COLTON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSERVATION LAW, RELATING TO CERTAIN LEASES RELATING TO THE

EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF GAS OR OIL IN STATE FORESTS,

REFORESTATION AREAS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

GLICK, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

MS. GLICK, AN EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. GLICK: CERTAINLY. THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT JUST

CLARIFIES SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION LEASES ON

STATE FORESTS, REFORESTATION AREAS, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND

UNIQUE AREAS. AND WHILE IT ALLOWS FOR THE MODIFICATION, TRANSFER OR

ASSIGNMENT OF EXISTING OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THESE AREAS, IT PROHIBITS

INCREASING THE ACREAGE OR EXPANDING THE EXISTING WELLS OR DRILLING NEW

WELLS. AND THE EXISTING WELLS ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE 'TIL THEY ARE --

UNTIL THE LEASE EXPIRES, AND PROHIBITS RENEWALS IN THOSE AREAS, BUT

ALLOWS THE CONTINUATION AND EVEN MODIFICATION AND TRANSFER, BUT NOT

EXPANSION OF THE AREA OR DRILLING NEW LEASES ON THAT AREA.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SIMPSON.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MR. SIMPSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. GLICK: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. SIMPSON: THANK YOU. AND I THINK YOU JUST

MENTIONED THAT THIS ALLOWS FOR MODIFICATION -- IT DOESN'T ALLOW OR IT

DOES ALLOW FOR MODIFICATION OF THE EXISTING LEASES?

MS. GLICK: IT ALLOWS FOR MODIFICATION, TRANSFER

ASSIGNMENT WHILE THE LEASES ARE STILL CURRENT. IT WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR IT

TO GO BEYOND THE TIME OF THE LEASE.

MR. SIMPSON: DOES -- WOULD THIS ALLOW FOR A

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP?

MS. GLICK: WELL, I -- I THINK THAT'S -- THAT IS WHAT IS

INTENDED, YES. BUT THE TRANSFER --

MR. SIMPSON: YOU THINK -- I'M UNCLEAR. YOU THINK

IT ALLOWS --

MS. GLICK: YES. THE TRANSFER, BUT THE TRANSFER

WOULD NOT RESTART THE LEASE TERMS.

MR. SIMPSON: THE LEASE TERMS. OKAY. DO YOU

KNOW -- HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE TERMS OF THE LEASE? HOW LONG THE

VARIED -- VARIED WELLS --

MS. GLICK: WE DID NOT GET A COMPLETE RUNDOWN OF

ALL OF THE LEASES. SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE LANGUAGE ALSO WAS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

INTENDED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS WOULD NOT PREVENT PLUGGING OF OLD LEASE --

OLD WELLS BECAUSE THAT IS A PROBLEM. BUT WE -- IN SOME INSTANCES THERE

ARE LOTS OF ABANDONED WELLS AND WE DON'T HAVE LEASES THAT RELATE TO

WHERE THEY -- THEY ARE. SO KNOWING THE LEASES THAT EXIST, I'M SURE THERE

IS -- THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER TODAY FOR YOU -- BUT THERE ARE

MANY ABANDONED WELLS ALL OVER THE STATE AND THEY ARE PROBABLY IN THE

THOUSANDS. THEY'RE NOT ACTIVE, BUT THEY NEED TO BE PLUGGED. SO PART OF

OUR LANGUAGE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED UP SO THAT THERE COULD CONTINUE TO

BE ACTIVITY THAT WOULD BE PLUGGING THOSE OLD WELLS.

MR. SIMPSON: WOULD THIS AFFECT -- WOULD THIS BILL

AFFECT THE ABILITY FOR MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY,

THERE'S -- FOR SOME REASON -- I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN

LANDMAN, BUT THEY'VE GONE IN ON ABANDONED WELLS AND GONE IN AND HIT

IT BIG. AND IS THAT -- WOULD THIS BILL ALLOW FOR THAT OR IS THIS THE END OF

THOSE --

MS. GLICK: NOT IN THESE AREAS. IF YOU -- AS I'M SURE

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 30X30. AND THESE ARE STATE FORESTLANDS,

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS, AREAS OF UNIQUE SIGNIFICANCE. AND

CURRENTLY, LIKE REFORESTATION AREAS ARE DEFINED AS LANDS DEVOTED TO

WATERSHED PROTECTION, THE PRODUCTION OF TIMBER AND OTHER FOREST

PRODUCTS AND FOR RECREATION AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. SO IT'S NOT

NECESSARILY CONSISTENT WITH THAT TO HAVE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, WHICH

REQUIRES MORE INFRASTRUCTURE THEN WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THESE USES.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE

LAST REQUEST FOR A MODIFICATION OR EXPANSION OF ONE OF THESE WELLS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

WERE?

MS. GLICK: NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

MR. SIMPSON: DO YOU KNOW OF ANYTHING RECENT

OR...

MS. GLICK: I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY

APPLICATIONS PENDING?

MS. GLICK: I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

MR. SIMPSON: DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY

APPLICATIONS PENDING RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY?

MS. GLICK: NO. THERE ARE NO -- AND THE LEASE TERMS

ARE 10-YEAR TERMS, SO CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPLICATIONS.

MR. SIMPSON: THEY'RE ALL 10-YEAR LEASE TERMS?

MS. GLICK: YES. BUT IN THE PAST THEY WERE

RENEWALS, AND THIS WOULD AT THAT -- AT THE END OF THE LEASE TERM IN THESE

AREAS, NOT EVERYWHERE BUT IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS, ONCE THE LEASE TERM

IS EXPIRED, THEN THERE WOULD NOT BE A RENEWAL ALLOWED.

MR. SIMPSON: IS -- IS -- CAN THE SAME THING BE

ACQUIRED THROUGH CURRENT REGULATION FROM DEC OR AGENCY GUIDANCE?

IN OTHER WORDS, DEC HAS THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A PERMIT OR NOT ISSUE A

PERMIT, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN LEGISLATION IN THE PAST THAT HAS

BANNED CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, FRACKING BEING ONE OF THEM. SO ESSENTIALLY,

MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS ALREADY BANNED UNDER THE --

MS. GLICK: NO.

MR. SIMPSON: -- PRIOR LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. GLICK: NO. IT -- IT -- IT'S NOT -- THERE ARE NO --

THERE'S NO STATUTE THAT BANS IT. WE ARE DOING THAT IN THIS BILL. THERE IS

NO, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, ANY RESTRICTION THAT WOULD PREVENT DEC FROM

-- IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS. REMEMBER, THIS IS JUST WITHIN REFORESTATION,

STATE FOREST OR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS. IT'S THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.

DEC IS STILL OPEN TO MAKING LEASES IN OTHER AREAS.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO IN THESE LEASES, DO YOU

KNOW IF THERE WERE -- THERE WAS LANGUAGE THAT WAS CONTAINED WITHIN

THOSE LEASES THAT REQUIRED REMEDIATION?

MS. GLICK: I THINK ALL -- (CONFERENCING). I'M -- I'M

MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE ABSOLUTE MINING REGULATIONS THAT DO REQUIRE IT.

BUT APPARENTLY, YES. IN THESE THERE ARE RECLAMATION. AND PROBABLY ONE

WOULD THINK THAT THERE ARE ALSO PLUGGING OF WELLS. IT'S JUST THAT LOTS OF

WELLS WERE ABANDONED LONG BEFORE THERE WERE REGULATIONS REQUIRING

RECLAMATION.

MR. SIMPSON: SO I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE

PLUGGING. THERE -- THEY -- THERE ARE WELLS THAT ARE NOT PLUGGED THAT ARE

JUST SITTING THERE NOT BEING USED, OR...

MS. GLICK: OH, YES. OH, YES. IT IS A DECIDED

PROBLEM. THERE -- WE HAD SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS -- AND THESE ARE --

THESE ARE WELLS FROM, YOU KNOW, DECADES AGO. SO THE RECORDS ARE A

LITTLE UNCLEAR AND THEY ARE -- THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOPOGRAPHY.

SO WHAT -- THERE'S NO SPECIFIC AMOUNT THAT, OH, IT ONLY COSTS X-AMOUNT

TO PLUG A WELL. IT REQUIRES FINDING THEM, AND THEN THE TOPOGRAPHY

MIGHT MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE IN ONE AREA FROM ANOTHER. AND SO IT'S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION. AND DEC HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS, AND WE

DID HAVE, FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, SOME RESOURCES SO THAT IT

WASN'T COMING OUT OF STATE DOLLARS. BUT IT -- AND THEY'RE FINDING IT

BASICALLY BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME WELLS BACK

OUT THERE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. BUT WITH OLD

RECORDS OR NON-EXISTENT VERY OLD RECORDS, IT'S A BIG JOB AND THERE ARE A

LOT OF THEM.

MR. SIMPSON: SO -- AND THIS IS --

MS. GLICK: AND SOME -- AND LET ME JUST CLARIFY.

SOME MAY ACTUALLY BE EMITTING METHANE. SOME MAY JUST BE ADMITTING

BRINE. BUT IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, NEAR SOMEONE'S -- NOT FAR FROM A WELL

THAT SOMEBODY HAS DRILLED FOR THEIR WATER AND THERE'S BRINE SEEPING OUT

OF AN OLD WELL, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR THOSE FOLKS.

MR. SIMPSON: THIS IS -- JUST SO I AM CLEAR. THIS

BILL IS -- IS DOING TWO THINGS: IT'S EFFECTIVELY ENDING ANY FUTURE USE OF

WELLS THAT ARE PRODUCING GAS AND OIL, GAS OR OIL, AND ALSO ATTEMPTING TO

IDENTIFY UNCAPPED, UNPLUGGED --

MS. GLICK: IT'S NOT TO IDENTIFY. IT'S TO -- IT WAS

CLEANING UP LANGUAGE THAT WOULD NOT -- THAT MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED --

INADVERTENTLY MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THE CAPPING OF WELLS. SO THAT IS --

IT'S NOT IDENTIFYING THEM. THAT IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THIS. IT WAS JUST

CLEANING UP LANGUAGE TO ENSURE THAT WE DID NOT INADVERTENTLY MAKE IT

MORE COMPLICATED TO CAP WELLS.

MR. SIMPSON: SO I COULD REASONABLY ASSUME THAT

WITHIN TEN YEARS OR LESS THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR GAS EXTRACTION

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

FROM ANY WELLS IN THESE AREAS IDENTIFIED IN THIS BILL?

MS. GLICK: YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S FAIR.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. THANK YOU.

ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. SIMPSON: MADAM SPEAKER, WE'RE IN THE MIDST

OF AN ENERGY CRISIS IN NEW YORK, AND YES, IT BEGAN BEFORE THE IRAN

CONFLICT. RESIDENTS ARE SEEING UTILITY BILLS SKYROCKET INTO THOUSANDS OF

DOLLARS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. I SPOKE TO A BUSINESS JUST OUTSIDE OF

MY DISTRICT THAT GOT A $15,000 INCREASE IN THEIR ENERGY BILL FROM THE

MONTH PRIOR TO THIS MONTH. OUR GOVERNOR HAS SPOKEN ABOUT EMBRACING

WHAT MANY OF US IN THE MINORITY CONFERENCE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING

FOR: AN ALL-AND-ABOVE APPROACH TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR CLIMATE GOALS.

GOALS BORNE BOTH ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND WHAT WE WERE

TOLD SINCE THE BEGINNING PASSAGE OF THE CLCPA, IN THE NAME OF

AFFORDABILITY. I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN AFFORDABILITY AT ALL.

THIS BILL TYPIFIES THE CONTRADICTORY APPROACH THIS STATE

HAS HAD WITH ITS CONFLICTING POLICY GOALS. WE HAVE MASSIVE PROVEN

RESERVES OF NATURAL GAS BENEATH OUR FEET IN THE SOUTHERN TIER THAT IS

DISPATCHABLE. WE PROVIDE JOBS, GENERATE WEALTH AND ENERGY SECURITY IN

NEW YORK WHILE ENABLING NEW YORK RESIDENTS LOWER ENERGY COSTS. IN

PENNSYLVANIA JUST ACROSS THE BORDER WHICH, BY THE WAY, WE PURCHASE

GAS AND ELECTRIC FROM, THEY'RE SEEING A 40 PERCENT LESS COST IN THEIR

ENERGY. INSTEAD, WE'RE GONNA CONTRADICT THESE GOALS WITH RENEWABLE

ENERGY SITING ON OUR FARMS, OUR FIELDS, ECOLOGICALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

IGNORING CONSERVATION GOALS, INCREASING COSTS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,

IGNORING COMMUNITIES WHO DO NOT WANT BATTERY STORAGE, INDUSTRIAL

SOLAR ARRAYS AND WINDMILLS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS SEEMINGLY

BENIGN BILL IS ONE MORE ROADBLOCK THAT RESTRICTS OPPORTUNITIES AND

PUSHES MORE AGENDA POLICIES ON OUR HURTING RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. ARI BROWN.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. GLICK: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I THINK WE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE WE CAN ALL AGREE

THERE'S AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY IN THIS

STATE. SO I ASK, IF A GAS WELL FALLS IN THE FOREST AND NO ONE'S ALLOWED TO

DRILL IT, DOES IT STILL REDUCE HEATING COSTS?

MS. GLICK: THE -- AS NEAR AS WE COULD TELL, THERE'S

LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION THAT COMES OUT OF ALL OF THESE WELLS,

AS BEST AS WE COULD GATHER FROM DEC. SO THIS IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT

CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GAS PRODUCTION. AND IT IS -- IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO

EVERYONE THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY IS ACTUALLY NOW COSTING LESS THAN FOSSIL

FUELS AND CREATING LESS POLLUTION. SO THIS IS A -- NOT JUST A MINOR BILL,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

BUT A TRULY BENIGN BILL IN THAT VERY, VERY LITTLE PRODUCTION COMES OUT OF

THESE EXISTING SITES. AND WE ARE MAKING A DECISION THAT OUR STATE

FORESTS, OUR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS WHICH INCLUDE, YOU KNOW,

WATERSHED PROTECTION AREAS, SHOULD NOT BE THE SITE OF INDUSTRIAL OIL AND

GAS PRODUCTION. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT RESTRICTING OPPORTUNITY IN OTHER

PLACES. THIS IS JUST THOSE TYPES OF AREAS THAT THE STATE IS TRYING TO

PRESERVE FOR THE PURPOSES I PREVIOUSLY STATED.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPONSOR. I --

I WAS TRYING TO READ THE BILL AND TRY TO SEE WHAT WAS ALLOWED AND NOT

ALLOWED. SO LET ME JUST TRY TO GET THIS STRAIGHT. WE'RE ALLOWED TO PLANT

NEW WINDMILLS ON THESE STATE LANDS, BUT NOT DRILL FOR NEW GAS WELLS.

SO DOES THAT MEAN THIS ENERGY POLICY NOW DEPENDS ON HOW THE WIND

BLOWS?

MS. GLICK: I WOULD SAY THAT IN SOME OF THESE

INSTANCES THERE MAY BE AN EDGE -- I MEAN, WIND HAS TO BE -- YOU'RE

GENERALLY ON A RIDGE. YOU'RE NOT STICKING A WINDMILL IN THE MIDDLE OF

TREES BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. SO SOME OF THAT'S A LITTLE BIT

OF A SPECIOUS ARGUMENT.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPONSOR.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. A. BROWN: SO THE WAY I SEE IT, THIS BILL IS

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ALBANY POTENTIALLY SAYING NO TO THE VERY RESOURCES

THAT KEEP OUR HOME WARM AND OUR ECONOMY RUNNING. WE SEEM TO

THINK THAT IF WE BAN DRILLING IN NEW YORK THE FUEL WILL MAGICALLY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

APPEAR FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, CLEANER, CHEAPER AND GUILT-FREE. AND IF,

IN FACT, A GAS WELL DOES FALL IN THE FOREST AND NO ONE'S ALLOWED TO DRILL

IT, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT STILL COULD HAVE LOWERED THE HEATING COSTS OF

HARDWORKING AMERICAN FAMILIES.

NEW YORK SHOULD BE LEADING WITH BALANCE, NOT BANS.

CONSERVATION SHOULD BE SMART STEWARDSHIP, NOT SHUTTING THE DOORS TO

AMERICAN ENERGY. CONSERVATION SHOULDN'T MEAN CONFISCATION OF

OPPORTUNITY.

MADAM SPEAKER, NEW YORK CAN PROTECT ITS FORESTS

AND FUEL ITS FUTURE. WE DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER. AND

FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE VOTING NEGATIVE ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR PLEASE YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. GLICK: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU, MS. GLICK. OUT OF

CURIOSITY, ARE YOU ABLE TO THEN GUARANTEE THAT ORES IS NOT SITING WIND

AND SOLAR ON ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED IN YOUR LEGISLATION?

MS. GLICK: I CAN'T GUARANTEE A WHOLE A LOT MORE

THAN WHAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH. I BELIEVE THAT, AS I SAID BEFORE, THAT

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A RIDGE LINE THAT IS WITHIN THE STATE FORESTLAND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION BECAUSE IT IS THE RIDGE LINE WHERE THERE

IS WIND AND WHERE THERE ARE NO TREES. SO I DON'T WANT TO CATEGORICALLY

SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO RENEWABLE ENERGY ON A RIDGE LINE AND THAT

THAT LAND IS NOT STATE FOREST LAND. SO I -- I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT. BUT I

WOULD SAY THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR MOST OF THESE AREAS, WHICH

ARE LARGELY FORESTED OR REFORESTED, TO HAVE EITHER OIL AND GAS OR

RENEWABLES BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT EITHER. BUT

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A RIDGE LINE THAT IS STATE FOREST LAND THAT IS

APPROPRIATE FOR A -- FOR WINDMILLS.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO IN THE INTEREST OF THAT GOAL, YOU

KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT IT'S

IMPORTANT THAT ORES IS FORTHCOMING AND TRANSPARENT IN OBVIOUSLY

SITING AND TELLING US WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING RENEWABLES. AND I

UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE ACTUAL CHAPTER THAT

WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS WE'RE

TALKING ABOUT ENERGY AS A WHOLE, I DO THINK THAT THE PUBLIC -- YOU

KNOW, AS WE'RE DOING HERE WITH -- WITH GAS AND OIL -- KNOW SPECIFICALLY

WHERE RENEWABLES ARE GOING AND IF THEY ARE IN CONTRARY TO ANY OF THE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT WE IN THIS BUILDING CLAIM TO BE TRYING TO

SAVE.

MS. GLICK: I AGREE THAT ORES, WHICH HAS TO GO

THROUGH A SITING PROCESS, SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE.

MR. BOLOGNA: GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR -- FOR THE -- ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL. THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. BOLOGNA: YOU KNOW, FOR THE BETTER PART OF A

DECADE AS A STAFFER FOR A LONG TIME OF IT, I HAVE WATCHED THIS BODY

SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCE OUR ENERGY SUPPLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND THEN ON THE EXACT SAME TOKEN WE HAVE INCREASED OUR ELECTRIC

DEMAND WHEN 50 PERCENT OF OUR ELECTRICITY STILL COMES FROM NATURAL

GAS.

PEOPLE, WHEN YOU DECREASE SUPPLY AND INCREASE

DEMAND, PRICES SKYROCKET AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT

NOW. THAT'S NOT POLITICS, THAT'S BASIC ECONOMICS. SO I WOULD URGE

EVERYONE AS WE CONTINUE TO ACTUALLY HEED THE WORDS OF THE GOVERNOR

AND ACTUALLY TRULY EMBRACE AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE PLATFORM. BECAUSE THE

ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST DECADE IS SYSTEMATICALLY

REDUCE AND ELIMINATE NATURAL GAS FROM OUR ENERGY PORTFOLIO AND CHIP

AWAY AT IT PIECE BY PIECE BY PIECE WHILE GIVING ORGAN -- AGENCIES LIKE

ORES CARTE BLANCHE TO SITE THINGS WHEREVER THEY WANT.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK

YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. GLICK ON THE BILL.

MS. GLICK: JUST TO CLOSE, I -- I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT

THE AREAS THAT ARE COVERED BY THE BILL ARE STATE FORESTLANDS AND OUR

FORESTS WHICH ARE CONTAINED AND SEQUESTER CARBON ARE IMPORTANT, AND

YET UNDER THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE STRESSING A LOT OF DIFFERENT

SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND THAT THERE ARE, BECAUSE OF CLIMATE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

CHANGE, MORE INVASIVES. SO THE STATE FORESTLANDS, WHICH ARE REALLY

IMPORTANT TO PRODUCE OXYGEN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY ARE

SEQUESTERING CARBON, WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING THEM AND THAT'S THE

PURPOSE OF THIS. AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND REFORESTATION

AREAS, THOSE AREAS ARE ABOUT PROTECTING WATERSHED. THERE IS -- YOU

KNOW, WE ARE BLESSED IN THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FRESH WATER WHICH MOST

OF THE OTHER STATES ENVY. AND YET, WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING THOSE

RESOURCES FROM WHAT IS A MINIMAL, A DE MINIMUS AMOUNT OF OIL AND GAS

PRODUCTION. TO ARGUE THAT SOMEHOW ENDING THESE LEASES OVER THE NEXT

NUMBER OF YEARS IS IN ANY WAY A PART OF UNDERMINING OUR ALL-OF-THE-

ABOVE AGENDA IS, A, RIDICULOUS, AND B, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD NOT

SEE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

WHICH IS CHEAPER, PRODUCES LESS EMISSIONS, AND IS SAFE. THE ARGUMENT

IT'S NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE BECAUSE IT RAINS SOMETIMES OR IT'S -- THE WIND

ISN'T BLOWING. SO NOW THE ARGUMENT IS WE CAN'T HAVE ANY BATTERY

STORAGE, WHICH WOULD ANSWER THE RELIABILITY ISSUE, AND THAT, AS -- AS IF

GAS NEVER CATCHES ON FIRE OR BLOWS UP A HOUSE, WHERE BATTERY STORAGE

HAS VERY, VERY DEFINED PROTECTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THOSE

FACILITIES.

SO I -- I HOPE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS TRULY

JUST A MINOR FIX AND A MINOR BILL THAT PROTECTS KEY AREAS OF THE STATE

AND DOES NOT UNDERMINE ENERGY PRODUCTION IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL, GENERALLY SPEAKING, BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON

THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BUT IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WHO WISH TO VOTE

YES, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO AT THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. FOR

THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO VOTE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THEY CAN DO SO AT

THEIR DESKS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. SO, I

APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE AND THE DEBATE THAT OCCURRED. I JUST WANT TO

MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF -- OF US ALL.

LAST YEAR WHEN WE TOOK UP THE BILL-IN-CHIEF WE HAD

BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION. WE HAD 48 NO VOTES. THIS WAS A CHAPTER

AMENDMENT THAT WAS INSISTED UPON BY THE GOVERNOR AS A CONDITION TO

HER SIGNING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. SO I DO TAKE IT -- I -- I DID THINK IT

WAS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNALED THAT SHE'S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

LOOKING FOR AN ALL-OF-THE ABOVE APPROACH, THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT

DOES THE OPPOSITE. IT -- IT DOES NOT -- IT -- IT CURTAILS ANY DEVELOPMENT

OF A CERTAIN KIND OF ENERGY THAT -- SO IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT LOOKING AT AN ALL-

OF-THE-ABOVE APPROACH. IT'S ACTUALLY LIMITING PRODUCTION.

NOW, WE KNOW THAT FRACKING IS ALREADY BANNED IN

NEW YORK, AND SOME INDUSTRY FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT EVEN IF IT WASN'T,

INDUSTRY WOULD NOT LEASE IN THESE PARTICULAR AREAS. BUT STILL, JUST BASED

ON JUST THE PRINCIPLE OF IT, I THINK THAT TO BASICALLY ALLOW AN

ORGANIZATION LIKE ORES TO TRAMPLE ON LOCAL CONTROL AND TO PUT SOLAR

AND WIND IN SENSITIVE AREAS IF IT'S THEIR IDEA, BUT THEN AT THE SAME TOKEN

ON THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT FURTHER RESTRICT WHERE OTHER KINDS OF ENERGY

DEVELOPMENT CAN OCCUR JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I MEAN, IF YOU

JUST LOOK AT THE ADIRONDACK PARK, IT'S NOT JUST A STATE FOREST. IT'S A SIX

MILLION-ACRE PATCHWORK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND. AND I -- I CAN'T SAY

THAT IN THAT ENTIRE AREA OF OVER SIX MILLION ACRES YOU COULDN'T

RESPONSIBLY HAVE SOME KIND OF DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING SOME PLACE AT

SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

SO I -- I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. AND I REALLY THINK THAT

THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO KIND OF GET HER STORY STRAIGHT IF SHE'S FOR IT OR

AGAINST IT. I'LL BE VOTING NO.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH IN THE NEGATIVE.

MR. NOVAKHOV TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

FIRST OF ALL, I -- I CAN'T SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT MAKES

THE LIVES OF NEW YORKERS LESS AFFORDABLE. NEW YORK IS FACING A

GROWING ENERGY CRISIS. TOO MANY NEW YORKERS ARE PAYING HUNDREDS,

SOMETIMES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER MONTH JUST TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON

AND THEIR HOMES WARM. NATURAL GAS REMAINS THE CLEANEST AND MOST

RELIABLE LARGE-SCALE ENERGY OPTION AVAILABLE TO OUR STATE TODAY. IT

PRODUCES FAR FEWER EMISSIONS THAN COAL AND OIL, AND IT CAN POWER OUR

HOMES AND BUSINESSES AT A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE RATE. WHILE WE

CONTINUE DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY -- AND NO ONE IS AGAINST IT --

NATURAL GAS MUST REMAIN PART OF THE SOLUTION TO KEEP ENERGY RELIABLE

AND AFFORDABLE FOR NEW YORKERS.

ONCE AGAIN, I CANNOT SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT MAKES

THE LIVES OF NEW YORKERS LESS AFFORDABLE. THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. NOVAKHOV IN

THE NEGATIVE.

MR. CHANG TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. CHANG: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I'D LIKE

TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE AS A NEGATIVE. YOU NEVER KNOW, NEW TECHNOLOGIES

MIGHT MATURE THAT MIGHT MAKE IT EVEN MORE EFFICIENT. EVEN THOUGH

FRACKING HAS BEEN IN THE TECHNOLOGY FOR DECADES, BUT EVEN PRIOR TO THAT

A USELESS WELL BECAME VERY, VERY USEFUL. AND -- AND YOU NEVER KNOW

THAT WE HAVE THERM -- GEOTHERMAL ENERGY THAT MIGHT BE IN THOSE -- IN

THOSE LEASED LAND THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT.

UNTIL WE GET COMMERCIALLY-GRADE [SIC] FUSION ENERGY,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

WE MUST MAINTAIN ALL SOURCES OF ALTERNATE ENERGY, ALL SOURCES, TO KEEP

OUR ENERGY AFFORDABLE. AND MY CONSTITUENTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT

WHY OUR ELECTRIC RATES IS [SIC] UP, AND ARE ALSO QUESTIONING ABOUT

RENEWABLE ENERGY AS BEING AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TAX

CREDITS, A LOT OF ENERGY -- RENEWABLES ENERGY COMPANY ALWAYS ASKS FOR

THE STATE FOR SOME SUBSIDIES. SO REALLY, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF

ACCOUNTING TRICKS THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR AFFORDABLE. GAS AND -- AND

FOSSIL FUEL IS A MATURE INDUSTRY, OVER 100 YEARS OLD. DO YOU KNOW

WHAT THE PRICING WOULD BE AND DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THAT?

SO I REALLY QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S AFFORDABILITY ON

RENEWABLE ENERGY. LET THE MARKET FORCES DICTATE. LET THE MARKET FORCE

UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WANT -- WHERE WE NEED OUR ENERGY. AND I

EXPLAIN MY VOTE AS NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. CHANG IN THE NEGATIVE.

MR. TAGUE TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. TAGUE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I JUST

CANNOT BELIEVE THE HYPOCRITICAL NATURE OF THIS BILL. WHILE WE ARE USING

UP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTIVE, TILLABLE PRIME FARMLAND IN

UPSTATE NEW YORK, PEOPLE IN THIS BODY SUPPORTED THAT. TODAY WE'RE

TAKING UP A BILL NOT TO USE PROPERTY FOR NATURAL GAS. I -- I JUST DO NOT GET

IT. I JUST DO NOT GET IT. WHILE PEOPLE AT HOME HAVE WENT FROM $150

ELECTRIC BILLS UP TO $500 IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE

POLICIES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS CHAMBER, THAT CHAMBER, AND THE

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OUR PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING. IT'S REALLY A SHAME WHEN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

WE HAVE THESE RESOURCES RIGHT HERE AT HOME IN NEW YORK STATE TO TAKE

CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT AND MAKE THEIR LIVES MORE

AFFORDABLE, AND WE DO THIS.

AGAIN, I VOTE NO.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. TAGUE IN THE

NEGATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 4, RULES REPORT NO. 29, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A09460, RULES REPORT

NO. 29, ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN

RELATION TO ACTIONS INVOLVING COERCED DEBTS; AND TO AMEND A CHAPTER OF

THE LAWS OF 2025 AMENDING THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW RELATING TO

ESTABLISHING A RIGHT OF ACTION FOR CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF COERCED DEBTS, AS

PROPOSED IN LEGISLATIVE BILLS NUMBERS S.1353-B AND A.3038-B, IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

ROSENTHAL, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

MS. ROSENTHAL, AN EXPLANATION AS BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THIS BILL IS A CHAPTER

AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 710 OF THE LAWS OF 2025 WHICH ESTABLISHES

PROCEDURES FOR VICTIMS OF COERCED DEBT TO DISPUTE SUCH COERCED DEBT

WITH CREDITORS AND HOLD THEIR ABUSERS LIABLE FOR DEBTS INCURRED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BOLOGNA.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU, MS. ROSENTHAL. SO

BEFORE I BEGIN I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR ABOUT MY

INTENT HERE. AS RANKING MEMBER ON BANKS, I'M RAISING THESE

QUESTIONS SOLELY TO SEEK CLARITY FOR CREDITORS AND ENSURE THE PRACTICAL

IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LEGISLATION IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD. NOTHING IN MY

QUESTION AND/OR REMARKS SHOULD BE INTERPRET -- INTERPRETED AS

DIMINISHING THE SERIOUSNESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE IN ANY

WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM OR VICTIMS. SO I JUST WANT TO GET THAT OUT OF THE

WAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

SO AS FAR AS THE CHAPTER IS CONCERNED, JUST SO WE'RE

CLEAR ABOUT THE AMENDED BILL BEFORE US, WHEN A DEBTOR CLAIMS THAT A

DEBT WAS INCURRED THROUGH COERCION WITHIN ONE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS

DEFINED IN THE BILL, THE CREDITOR MUST STOP COLLECTING REVIEW OF THAT

CLAIM; IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, THERE'S A -- THERE'S A WHOLE

PROCESS, YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. BUT FOR -- FOR THE PURPOSES

OF THIS, DURING THAT REVIEW PROCESS --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: -- THE CREDITOR MUST PAUSE ACTIVITY

ON THAT DEBT, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, WITHIN TEN DAYS OF

RECEIVING NOTICE FROM THE DEBTOR.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO, YES.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT JUST GAVE YOU MORE DETAIL.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO IN THAT ONE FORM OF

DOCUMENTATION ALLOWED UNDER -- UNDER THE BILL, IS A SWORN STATEMENT

FROM A QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY; IS THAT -- IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. AND JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, IS

THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO IS THE QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY, DO THEY -- IS THERE A

REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR THE COERCED DEBT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO IT'S JUST A WRITTEN

STATEMENT. IT COULD BE A WRITTEN STATEMENT OR HEARSAY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES. IT'S -- IT'S NOT BASED ON

SOME CASUAL CONVERSATION THAT SOMEONE HAD WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR WHO

HAPPENS TO BE A LAWYER. IT HAD TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH THE -- THE

THIRD-PARTY ACTING IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. BUT AGAIN, TO CLARIFY, THEY

DID NOT HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT FOR THE COERCION?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. AND IF I'M READING THE BILL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

CORRECTLY, DURING THE CREDITOR'S REVIEW OF THE CLAIM, THE BILL RESTRICTS THE

CREDITOR FROM CONTACTING THE INDIVIDUAL ACCUSED OF THE COERCED ACT; IS

THAT ACCURATE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, THAT IS.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO NOW WE HAVE THE

CREDITOR THAT HAS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF COERCED DEBT WITHOUT

NECESSARILY HAVING BEEN THERE OR TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN

THERE, IN ADDITION TO WHICH NOW THEY CAN'T TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT

THEY'RE INVESTIGATING.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, GENERALLY IT TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN THE -- THE VICTIM AND THE ABUSER. SO...

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO THE CREDITOR HAS TO MAKE

A DETERMINATION BASED ON -- BASED ON LEGALLY-DEFINED RELATIONSHIPS

FROM WITNESS TRANSACTIONS, AND THEY'RE PROHIBITED FROM CONTACTING

PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCUSED OF COERCING THE DEBT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO HOW -- HOW CAN A CREDITOR BE

RELIABLY EXPECTED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THAT DEBT WAS

ACTUALLY COERCED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, BECAUSE THE -- THE -- THE

VICTIM PRESENTS DOCUMENTATION IN EVIDENCE OF THE DEBT HAVING BEEN

COERCED.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO RESPECTFULLY, WE'RE

ASKING A PRIVATE CREDITOR TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY

BE MADE BY A COURT OR A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY IN PRETTY MUCH ANY OTHER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

CIRCUMSTANCE, RIGHT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT COULD BE.

MR. BOLOGNA: I MEAN, DO YOU SEE ANY FLAW IN

THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: DO I SEE ANY WHAT?

MR. BOLOGNA: FLAW IN THAT THINKING.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THIS -- THIS BILL IS INTENDED TO

PROVIDE A PATHWAY WHERE NONE EXISTED BEFORE FOR VICTIMS OF COERCED

DEBT.

MR. BOLOGNA: AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY REFUTING

THE -- THE PATHWAY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE. I'M TRYING TO POINT OUT

-- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A CHAPTER AMENDMENT AND THESE THINGS WERE

NOT NECESSARILY AMENDED IN THIS CHAPTER. SO FROM A PRACTICALITY

STANDPOINT, I'M JUST TRYING TO GAIN CLARITY ON WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING

TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK -- I THINK YOU'RE

QUESTIONING THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE BILL AND THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT.

MR. BOLOGNA: I WOULD DISAGREE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: HOWEVER -- HOWEVER, THERE --

THERE ARE ALREADY INTERACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE BETWEEN CREDITORS AND

WHO THEY THINK OWE THE MONEY.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. IF -- SO IF THE CREDITOR

SUSPENDS COLLECTION UPON RECEIVING DOCUMENTATION BUT THEY CAN'T FULLY

INVESTIGATE THE CLAIM, ARE THERE ANY SAFEGUARDS THAT EXIST TO PREVENT THE

MISUSE BY INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO AVOID LEGITIMATE DEBTS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. SO, I HAVE NOT HEARD OF

ANY CASES WHERE SOMEONE WHO'S A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR

EXAMPLE, OR SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TRAFFICKED OR A SENIOR WHO'S BEEN

TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A CAREGIVER MAKING UP SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY

SOMETHING. MAKING THINGS UP. THAT -- THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

MR. BOLOGNA: I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU. DID

YOU SAY THAT NEVER HAPPENED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I SAY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT

SURVIVORS OF THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS MAKE THINGS UP; HOWEVER, THERE

ARE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR PERJURY BUILT INTO THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT.

MR. BOLOGNA: ALL RIGHT. SO ASIDE FROM GENERAL

PERJURY LAWS, THE BILL ITSELF DOES NOT CREATE ANY TYPE OF NEW -- NEW LAWS

OR CONSEQUENCES FOR SOMEBODY WHO WOULD FABRICATE A CLAIM, CORRECT?

OUTSIDE OF GENERAL PERJURY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, A GENERAL PERJURY IS -- IS A

SERIOUS CLAIM. SECONDLY, THE CREDITOR MAY DECIDE BASED ON WHAT

THEY'VE SEEN SUBMITTED THAT IT'S NOT A COERCED DEBT. THEY HAVE THAT

OPTION AS WELL.

MR. BOLOGNA: WELL, WE'LL GET THERE. I'M STILL

FOCUSING ON THE POTENTIAL OF FRAUDULENT CLAIMS AND WHAT IS -- WHAT IS

BEING DONE IN THIS LEGISLATION TO PREVENT THAT. BECAUSE I'M NOT AN

ATTORNEY, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING PERJURY CHARGES IN A CIVIL CASE ARE

VERY RARE. SO AGAIN, I ASK JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS

LEGISLATION OUTSIDE OF THE RELIANCE ON PERJURY TO PREVENT DISHONEST

BEHAVIOR, CORRECT? THERE'S NO EXTRA PUNISHMENT, NO OTHER CRIMES?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE SAME AS FOR ANY OTHER

FRAUDULENT CLAIM. AND -- AND MY PREMISE HERE IS THAT THE SURVIVOR OF

ABUSE IS NOT GOING TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT AND DEALING WITH WHAT

THEIR ABUSER DID TO THEM, TO GET OUT OF A DEBT. THAT'S MY PREMISE, THAT

THEY WILL NOT BE LYING AND CHEATING ON THIS. BUT THERE IS THE PERJURY

HANGING OVER THEIR HEAD.

MR. BOLOGNA: TO BE VERY CLEAR, I AM NOT TALKING

ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR COERCED

DEBT. I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VICTIMS OF ANY OF THOSE

CRIMES OR ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHO WOULD USE NOW THIS MECHANISM

TO GET OUT OF A PERFECTLY REAL AND, YOU KNOW, A LEGITIMATE DEBT THAT THEY

OWE. SO THERE'S NO SCENARIO IN WHICH YOU COULD SEE THAT SOMEONE

WOULD EVER ABUSE THIS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, AS -- AS I SAID, THERE ARE

INTERNAL PROCESSES BY WHICH THE CREDITOR EXAMINES THE SUBMISSION BY

THE DEBTOR, AND IF THEY DECIDE THAT THEY ARE NOT VALID THEN THEY CAN SAY,

SORRY, YOU OWE THE MONEY.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO WITH THAT PREMISE, THEN,

UNDER SECTION 604-EE OF THE BILL, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ALLEGEDLY CAUSED

THE COERCED DEBT IS HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DEBT; IS THAT

ACCURATE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: ALL RIGHT. SO THAT MEANS THAT A

CREDITOR, AND POSSIBLY THE DEBTOR IF THEY'VE ALREADY MADE THE PAYMENTS,

COULD FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL TO RECOVER THAT MONEY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ASSUMING IT'S WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. IS THAT ALSO AN ACCURATE

STATEMENT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO TO PUT THIS IN REAL LIFE

TERMS, IF I'M A LENDER AND I MAKE A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE IF

IT'S CHEAPER FOR ME TO JUST EAT THE COST OF A -- A DEBT THAT I LENT OUT

BECAUSE SOMEONE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY IT BACK. AND MY OTHER

OPTION IS GOING TO COURT, FILING LITIGATION; COURT FEES, LEGAL FEES. IS IT

NOT POSSIBLE THAT AS A LENDER MY RESPONSE TO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION

COULD BE TIGHTENING MY CREDIT STANDARDS AND LIMITING MY WILLINGNESS TO

-- TO MAKE LOANS OR MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET LOANS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, THAT IS -- THAT IS NOT PART

OF THIS BILL AND IT'S NOT PART OF THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT.

MR. BOLOGNA: WELL, I -- I GUESS WHAT I'M TALKING

ABOUT IS THE IMPLEMENT -- IM -- THE IMPLEMENTS -- THE IMPLICATIONS OF

THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT. IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO CONCEIVE THAT LENDERS,

BASED ON THIS IN THE SCENARIO THAT I JUST LAID OUT, WOULD -- WOULD NOT

MAKE CREDIT HARDER TO COME BY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I HAVE NO IDEA. YOU COULD

MAKE UP ANY KIND OF HYPOTHETICAL AND THEN THEORIZE THE CONSEQUENCES.

MR. BOLOGNA: MS. ROSENTHAL --

MS. ROSENTHAL: (INDISCERNIBLE/CROSSTALK.)

MR. BOLOGNA: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS ISN'T A

HYPOTHETICAL.

(INDISCERNIBLE/CROSSTALK)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE ARE ASKING AND

ANSWERING QUESTIONS, PLEASE. OKAY? THANK YOU. FOR BOTH OF YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT DOES

NOT ADDRESS THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF A CREDITOR. BUT THIS IS SIMILAR TO

PROTECTIONS THAT OTHER STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED. SO THE -- YOU KNOW,

THE LENDING COMMUNITY IS SIMILAR AND THIS IS NOT UNFAMILIAR TO THEM.

MR. BOLOGNA: AGAIN, RESPECTFULLY, IS IT NOT OUR

JOB IN THIS BUILDING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE

LEGISLATION THAT WE PASS ARE GOING TO BE? IS IT NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO

ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE MARKET? IS THAT

NOT LITERALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I ALREADY ANSWERED.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. WELL, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE

-- AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME. I'M HOPING YOU MIGHT BE

ABLE TO CLARIFY TWO PROVISIONS THAT APPEAR VERY CONFUSING IN THIS. SO, AT

THE TOP OF PAGE 6, SECTION 604-BB --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: SUBSECTION 4 IT SAYS THAT

SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE CREDITOR IS NOT REQUIRED

BEFORE BRINGING LEGAL ACTION. BUT THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 6, TOP OF

PAGE 7, SECTION 604-CC IT SAYS THAT LAWSUITS CANNOT BE STARTED UNLESS

THE DEBTOR HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION. THESE TWO

STATEMENTS LITERALLY SAY OPPOSITE THINGS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. SO THERE HAVE BEEN

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ADDRESSING AFTER THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING MAKING A

CHAPTER TO THE CHAPTER?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, IT WOULD BE A NEW BILL.

MR. BOLOGNA: A NEW BILL. BUT YOU'RE AGREEING

THAT THESE TWO THINGS SAY EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE, RIGHT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S INCONSISTENT, YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: IT'S INCONSISTENT. OKAY. SO IF IT'S

INCONSISTENT HERE AND WE'VE MADE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND MAYBE STAFF

HAS MADE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, MAYBE FOLKS WHO THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT

UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S LITERALLY OPPOSING LANGUAGE IN THE ACTUAL BILL,

HOW IS THE LENDER SUPPOSED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHAT THEIR

RESPONSIBILITY IS? I MEAN, THE -- THE TEXT IS WRONG.

MS. ROSENTHAL: AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS

THAT, AND -- YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: MS. ROSENTHAL, IN ALL DUE RESPECT, I

-- I'M NOT IN A POSITION HERE TO BE VOTING ON PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT

ARE LITERALLY CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER. I -- I -- I CAN'T IN GOOD

CONSCIENCE END THIS DEBATE WITHOUT ASKING WHY ARE -- WHY ARE WE

CONSIDERING VOTING ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE KNOW IS WRONG

WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF AMEN -- AMENDMENT TO IT GOING FORWARD? THERE'S

NO GUARANTEE OF AN AMENDMENT. NOTHING IS GUARANTEED. SO WHY

WOULD I SIT HERE AND LET MY COLLEAGUES VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT IS

KNOWINGLY WRONG?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW. YOU VOTED FOR IT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

IN COMMITTEE.

MR. BOLOGNA: BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS VERY

IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW TO BRING TO LIGHT SOME OF

THE ISSUES IN THIS BILL. BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS

KNOW AND HAVE A VISIBLE RECORD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING. THAT IS WHY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK YOU'RE LOSING SIGHT OF

WHAT THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT DOES. I ALREADY SAID IT'S INCONSISTENT.

WE WILL FIX IT AND THAT REMAINS MY ANSWER.

MR. BOLOGNA: AND I AM NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MR. BOLOGNA: -- ON THE BASIS OF THE CHAPTER

AMENDMENT. WHAT I AM DISAGREEING WITH YOU ON IS THE FACT THAT THIS --

THIS WAS AN OVERSIGHT THAT WAS NOT FIXED, AND YET WE ARE STILL HERE

EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MR. BOLOGNA: FAIR ENOUGH.

MADAM -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. ROSENTHAL.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. BOLOGNA: FINANCIAL COERCION AND

EXPLOITATION IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND VICTIMS ABSOLUTELY DESERVE

PROTECTION. HOWEVER, THIS BILL PLACES CREDITORS IN A VERY DIFFICULT

POSITION. A, IT'S WRONG. BUT, B, IT ASKS LENDERS TO DETERMINE WHETHER

COERCION OCCURRED WITHIN COMPLEX FAMILY AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

DEFINED ACROSS MULTIPLE STATUTES. WE ARE ASKING LENDERS AND CREDITORS

TO ESSENTIALLY BE A COURT SYSTEM AND A SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM. AT THE

SAME TIME, CREDITORS HAVE TO RELY ON DOCUMENTATION THAT MAY NOT RELATE

TO THE TRANSACTION ITSELF, AND ARE RESTRICTED FROM HAVING THE ABILITY TO

INVESTIGATE THOSE CLAIMS.

THESE DETERMINATIONS ARE TYPICALLY MADE BY COURTS

AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, NOT BY CREDITORS. AND FOR THAT REASON

-- AND AGAIN, IT'S WRONG -- I WILL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I JUST WANT TO

JUST RUN THROUGH -- I FEEL LIKE IT HELPS ME TO UNDERSTAND THE BILL A LITTLE

BIT BETTER BY RUNNING THROUGH AN ACTUAL CONCRETE EXAMPLE. SO LET'S SAY

THAT THERE -- I GUESS -- LET ME START -- BEFORE I GET INTO THAT I JUST WANT TO

CLARIFY THAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT IS INVOLVED COULD BE THE RESULT

OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS, CORRECT? SO IT COULD BE

CHILD/PARENT, IT COULD BE ELDERLY PERSON/CAREGIVER.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES. AS -- AS I -- I THINK I SAID

EARLIER IN RESPONSE, THAT IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

BETWEEN A PARTNER -- BUT BETWEEN TWO PARTNERS, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE A

TRAFFICKING. IT COULD ALSO BE A PARENT/CHILD.

MS. WALSH: YEAH. AND THE GENDER IS IRRELEVANT,

TOO.

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: SO LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL

WHO GOES TO A MEMBER OF THEIR CLERGY AND SITS DOWN WITH CLERGY AND

SAYS, I WAS COERCED INTO APPLYING FOR A CREDIT CARD.

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MS. WALSH: AND I WAS COERCED INTO USING THAT

CREDIT CARD AND I RACKED UP A LOT OF CHARGES ON THAT CREDIT CARD, BUT I

WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT HAD I NOT BEEN COERCED INTO DOING IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY? AND THEN AT THAT POINT THE --

THE -- THAT PERSON WHO IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A CASE THAT -- THAT THE

DEBT WAS COERCED, AND THAT MEMBER OF THE CLERGY WOULD THEN DO SOME

KIND OF A SWORN AFFIDAVIT SAYING -- AND WHAT WOULD THAT AFFIDAVIT SAY?

LIKE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROOF IN THAT AFFIDAVIT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, WE'RE NOT -- WE DON'T --

WE DON'T SPECIFY THE LANGUAGE, BUT BASICALLY AFFIRMING THAT THE VICTIM

HAD TOLD THEM IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY THAT THEY WERE COERCED. AND SO

IT'S A STATEMENT BASICALLY SAYING THAT.

MS. WALSH: AND -- AND UNDER THE BILL, IF THE -- THEY

ONLY HAVE TO -- THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED IN SUPPORT

OF THE IDEA THAT IT'S COERCED. ONLY ONE IS REQUIRED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: SO THAT -- THAT AFFIDAVIT BY THAT CLERGY

MEMBER COULD BE THE ONLY PIECE OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTED TO DOCUMENT

THE COERCIVE DEBT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT. BUT THE DEBTOR ALSO HAS

TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE DEBT WAS

COERCED.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO LET ME JUST DIRECT YOU

BECAUSE I DO WANNA CLEAR THIS UP FOR MYSELF. ON PAGE 4 OF THE BILL,

STARTING AT AROUND LINE 9... OKAY. SO I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO A

SWORN OR NOTARIZED STATEMENT BY YOU, THE ALLEGED DEBTOR --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: -- UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY, THAT'S REQUIRED. AND THEN -- AND

THEN IT SAYS,"... PROVIDE ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COERCED DEBT -- I'M

ON LINE 13 -- ONE -- "... PROVIDE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS", BUT

YOU MAY PROVIDE MORE. AND THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT IS A NOTARIZED

STATEMENT, LINE 21, FROM A QUALIFIED THIRD-PARTY THAT YOU REPORTED THE

COERCED DEBT TO.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: SO THOSE ARE THE TWO AFFIDAVITS THAT

YOU'RE REFERRING TO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: -- THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

DOCUMENT THE -- OR POTENTIALLY SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE COERCED DEBT.

OKAY. BUT ISN'T THAT CLERGY MEMBER -- JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THE

EXAMPLE -- ISN'T THAT CLERGY MEMBER JUST REPORTING HEARSAY? AREN'T

THEY JUST SAYING, THE DEBTOR TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS COERCED DEBT?

AREN'T -- ISN'T THAT PERSON JUST REPORTING HEARSAY FROM THE -- FROM THE

ALLEGE -- FROM THE DEBTOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, WE -- AND THEN THERE ARE

EXAMPLES HERE OF SOCIAL WORKERS, ATTORNEYS, DOCTORS, NURSES, THERAPISTS,

EMPLOYEES FROM GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH

SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY, LAW ENFORCEMENT

OFFICERS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO OCCUPY IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN SOCIETY.

MS. WALSH: SURE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: AND -- AND SO IT'S REALLY THEIR

REPUTATION ON THE LINE AS WELL.

MS. WALSH: BUT -- AND I'M NOT IMPUGNING ANY OF

THEIR REPUTATION AT ALL, BUT ALL THEY -- YOU'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED FROM

PRIOR DEBATE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S PROVIDING THAT AFFIDAVIT DIDN'T

HAVE TO BE THERE AND ACTUALLY BE A WITNESS TO THE COERCION. ALL THEY

HAVE TO BE A WITNESS TO IS THAT THE DEBTOR WENT TO THEM AND SAID, THIS

DEBT WAS COERCED. THEY'RE JUST REPORTING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD,

WHICH IS WHAT HEARSAY IS. IS -- ISN'T IT BEING -- IS IT -- HOW IS IT BEING

OFFERED? IS IT BEING OFFERED FOR THE TRUTH THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY COERCED

DEBT? I MEAN, THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF HEARSAY. WHY ARE WE EVEN

ALLOWING THAT TO BOLSTER A CLAIM BY -- BY A DEBTOR THAT THIS WAS COERCED

DEBT?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, PART OF THE PROBLEM

IS THAT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THEY ARE BATTERED PHYSICALLY,

EMOTIONALLY, AND OFTEN THE SURVIVORS DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GO TO THE

POLICE. THEY FEEL LIKE THE ONLY PERSON THEY CAN CONFIDE IN IS A MEMBER

OF THE CLERGY. AND THAT'S WHY WE ADDED -- WE CHOSE THEM TO BE PART OF

THE LIST BECAUSE THEY ARE TRUSTED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

MS. WALSH: AND -- AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION

THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU NAMED ARE ALL IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE

COMMUNITY WHO COULD PROVIDE WONDERFUL SUPPORT TO A PERSON WHO WAS

A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I DON'T QUESTION

THAT IN THE LEAST. WHAT I'M QUESTIONING, THOUGH, IS WHY WE WOULD

ALLOW -- OR ACTUALLY REQUIRE A -- A STATEMENT, A HEARSAY STATEMENT FROM

ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BOLSTER WHAT THE PERSON IS ALLEGING AS THE

DEBTOR? WHY DO WE EVEN -- WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT IN COURT. WE

WOULDN'T -- WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT. SO WHY DO WE -- WHY DO WE ALLOW

THAT HERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: AS I SAID BEFORE, WE WERE

LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR WOULD HAVE

CONFIDED IN. AND WE'RE NOT ASSUMING THAT IT'S HEARSAY. WE'RE -- WE'RE

SAYING HERE'S A PATH FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR WHO'S SURVIVED

MANY THINGS, INCLUDING BEING FORCED TO TAKE ON DEBT THAT IS NOT THEIRS.

THEY HAVE TO -- IT WOULD BE A NOTARIZED STATEMENT. AND AS I SAID

EARLIER, THERE'S STILL A PROCESS. THE CREDITOR CAN STILL SAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU. SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN OPTION AFTER THEY DO THEIR

INVESTIGATION.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO LET'S JUMP TO THAT, THEN.

LET'S SAY THAT THAT IS THE CREDITOR'S DECISION --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: -- THAT THIS -- WE DON'T FIND THIS

CREDIBLE. THIS DOESN'T NEED A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE FOR US.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: SO THEY DENY IT. AND THEN -- AND THEN

WHAT IS -- WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS THEN?

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. SO -- OKAY. SO WHAT THE

CREDITOR CAN DO WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF COMPLETING THEIR INVESTIGATION, THEY

CAN CEASE COLLECTIONS OR THEY CAN RECOMMENCE COLLECTIONS. AND AT --

IF THEY DECIDE TO RECOMMENCE, THEN THE -- THE ALLEGED DEBTOR HAS AN

APPEAL, ONE APPEAL, AND THE DEBTOR MAY SUBMIT THAT REQUEST TO

RECONSIDER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

MS. WALSH: AND IS THAT APPEAL TO THE CREDITOR? IS

IT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO IT'S NOT TO, LIKE, A COURT OR

ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, NO.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. OKAY. SO THEY CAN -- THEY CAN

ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: AND -- AND THEN IF IT'S STILL FOUND TO BE

NOT CREDIBLE BY THE -- OR DOESN'T MEET THE STANDARD OF PROOF BY THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

CREDITOR, THEN THE CREDITOR CAN JUST CONTINUE TO GO AHEAD AND COLLECT THE

DEBT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. IS THERE ANY -- ANYTHING ELSE

AFTER THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN, OR ANYTHING BEYOND THAT OR DOES IT JUST END

THEN?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, THE DEBTOR THEMSELVES

COULD GO TO COURT AND TRY TO GET A JUDGMENT AGAINST THEIR ABUSER, THE

PERSON WHO COERCED THE DEBT.

MS. WALSH: CAN THE -- CAN THE -- THE DEBTOR GO INTO

COURT AGAINST THE -- THE -- THE CREDITOR AND SAY THEY MADE A BIG MISTAKE,

THEY DIDN'T --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, TO -- THEY COULD, TO GET A

DECLARATION FROM -- FROM THE COURT THAT THE DEBT WAS COERCED.

MS. WALSH: THAT IT WAS COERCED.

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: AND THEN IF THAT HAPPENS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH.

MS. WALSH: -- THEN DOES THE DEBTOR HAVE TO PAY

ATTORNEYS' FEES TO THE -- TO THE ALLEGED DEBTOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I BELIEVE SO. THE -- THE DEBTOR

MAY BE ENTITLED TO ATTORNEYS' FEES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. BUT IN -- DOES -- IS IT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: (INDISCERNIBLE/CROSSTALK.)

MS. WALSH: -- WRITTEN IN THE BILL ANYWHERE?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. ROSENTHAL: (INDISCERNIBLE/CROSSTALK)

SOMETHING THE COURT --

MS. WALSH: OH, I APOLOGIZE, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M SORRY. BUT THAT WOULD BE

SOMETHING THE COURT WOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO AWARD ATTORNEYS' FEES.

MS. WALSH: I DID SEE SOMETHING IN HERE ABOUT

ATTORNEYS' FEES --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MS. WALSH: -- AND ACTUAL DAMAGES AND THINGS LIKE

THAT. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. BUT THE COURT

WOULD DETERMINE THAT.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. RIGHT. IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC. I

THINK IT SAYS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, NO.

MS. WALSH: -- SHALL HAVE A CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST

THE CREDITOR TO RECOVER STATUTORY DAMAGES OF $1,000, ACTUAL DAMAGES, IF

ANY, AND THE COSTS AND REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES INCURRED IN BRINGING

SUCH ACTION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO THEY DO GET ATTORNEYS' FEES,

IT'S JUST THEY'RE GONNA BE SET BY THE COURT, WHATEVER THAT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: I IMAGINE -- USUALLY THE ATTORNEYS WILL

SUBMIT A BILL AND SAYS, THIS IS WHAT I SPENT ON THE MATTER, AND THEN THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

COURT WILL DECIDE HOW MUCH.

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT. AND -- AND IN MOST CASES

THE SURVIVOR IS -- IS RECEIVING THE VOLUN -- THE SERVICES FROM A SOCIAL

SERVICE AGENCY, FOR EXAMPLE. SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT SOME HIGH-POWERED

WHITE-SHOE LAW FIRM, BUT, YOU KNOW, AN AGENCY THAT -- THAT -- WHOSE

MISSION IS TO HELP SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. RIGHT. YUP, UNDERSTAND. SO IS

THERE ANYWHERE IN THE BILL ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT THE CREDITOR GETS THEIR

ATTORNEYS' FEES BACK IF THIS WHOLE THING UNFOLDS AND -- AND THEY'RE

FOUND NOT TO HAVE BEEN HAVING DONE ANYTHING WRONG? AND I WOULD

THINK THAT A, SAY IT'S A BANK OR A -- A CREDIT CARD COMPANY OR, I DON'T

KNOW, I DON'T WHO IT WOULD BE, BUT THEY -- THEY HAVE TO JUST PAY FOR

THEIR OWN ATTORNEYS' FEES ALL ALONG HERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. IF -- IT IT'S -- IF THEY ARE

GOING AFTER THE ABUSER, THEN THEY GET ATTORNEYS' FEES. NOT IF THEY'RE

GOING AFTER THE -- THE SUR -- THE SURVIVOR, THE ALLEGED DEBTOR.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN?

I'M SO SORRY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE ABUSER,

THE COERCER, THEN THEY MAY BE ENTITLED TO ATTORNEYS' FEES. IF THEY'RE

GOING AFTER THE ALLEGED DEBTOR, OR THE SURVIVOR, THEN THEY'RE NOT.

MS. WALSH: THEN THERE'S -- THEN -- OKAY. SO I

WASN'T TALKING ABOUT GOING AFTER THE ABUSER. I WAS USING AN EXAMPLE

WHERE IT WAS BETWEEN THE -- THE -- THE LENDER, YOU KNOW --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MS. WALSH: -- THE CREDITOR OR THE -- THE ALLEGED

DEBTOR.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES. SO, NO.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA -- I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THIS

-- HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS COULD IMPACT? I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA

OR ANYTHING THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH COERCED DEBT YOU THINK IS OUT THERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S REALLY HARD

TO PIN THAT DOWN SINCE THEY HAVEN'T HAD A PATHWAY. SO THERE HAVE

BEEN -- YOU KNOW, I'M SURE SURVIVORS SPEAK TO A CREDITOR AND SAY,

LISTEN -- YOU KNOW, SUCH AGREEMENTS ARE MADE ALL THE TIME, SO -- BUT

WE DON'T HAVE DATA IT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO ONCE THIS GOES INTO EFFECT,

THEN WE CAN START THE PROCESS OF -- OF COLLECTING DATA ON THIS.

MS. WALSH: VERY GOOD.

MS. ROSENTHAL: BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ECONOMIC

ABUSE AND COERCED DEBT ARE SERIOUS ISSUES WITHIN THE DV COMMUNITY.

AND YOU HEAR MORE AND MORE ABOUT SENIORS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF,

AND YOU JUST, SADLY, HEAR MORE OF THIS STUFF. SO I THINK IT WILL HELP A

WIDE RANGE OF VICTIMS.

MS. WALSH: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH: MADAM SPEAKER, VERY BRIEFLY ON THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. WALSH: SO I THINK -- I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THIS

BILL COMES FROM A PLACE OF GOOD INTENTION. I -- I REALLY DO. I -- I THINK

SOME OF THE SADDEST CALLS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN IN MY OFFICE ARE FROM

ELDERLY -- ELDERLY FOLKS THAT I REPRESENT WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE

OF BY FAMILY MEMBERS OR BY CAREGIVERS. PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE

ANYWAY. I -- I -- I HAD THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF SYMPATHY FOR THEM, AND I

DO THINK THAT THIS BILL COMES FROM THAT PLACE. MY PROBLEM, I GUESS, IS

REALLY -- WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL BILL, AND ITS -- AND ALSO THIS SIGNIFICANT,

VERY SIGNIFICANT REWRITE IN THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT. BECAUSE I THINK AS

WAS STATED IN THE PREVIOUS PORTION OF THIS DEBATE, THERE ARE SOME

PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THAT THE BILL IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, AND I REALLY -- I

DON'T -- I -- WHILE I DO CREDIT AND FEEL ENORMOUS SYMPATHY FOR THOSE

WHO HAVE TRULY BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OR HAVE BEEN ABUSED, I DO

THINK THAT THE SPONSOR'S STATEMENT THAT NOBODY WOULD MAKE THIS UP,

YOU KNOW -- AND -- AND I'M PARAPHRASING -- BUT THE GIST WAS THAT

NOBODY -- YOU KNOW, NOBODY WOULD LIE ABOUT THIS. I -- I JUST DON'T

AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE

TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

SO I THINK THAT THE BILL NEEDS SOME WORK. I DO THINK,

LIKE I SAID, THAT IT COMES FROM A GOOD PLACE, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT IT IN ITS

CURRENT FORM. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. CHANG.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MR. CHANG: THANK YOU. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD,

PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. CHANG: YES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO

CLARIFY. THE -- THE DEBTOR AND CREDITOR HAVE TO BE IN RESIDENCE OR A

LOCATION IN NEW YORK STATE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE BILL DOESN'T SPECIFY.

MR. CHANG: IF WE'RE ONLY APPLYING FOR STATE LAW,

WHAT HAPPENED [SIC] IF THE CREDITOR IS ACROSS A DIFFERENT STATE? WOULD

THIS HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR THIS COERCED DEBT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, IF THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS

IN NEW YORK THIS WOULD APPLY TO THEM.

MR. CHANG: OKAY. NOW, WHAT HAPPENED [SIC] IF

THE CREDITOR SOLD THAT PAPER TO ANOTHER PARTY, LET'S SAY TO A COLLECTION

AGENCY OR SOME OTHER THIRD-PARTY IN A DIFFERENT STATE, WOULD THIS BE

APPLY [SIC] THEM?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF -- IF THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS IN

NEW YORK STATE, YES.

MR. CHANG: IF THEY'RE NOT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEN -- THEN THEY'RE NOT.

MR. CHANG: OKAY. SO FOR THIS -- I APPRECIATE WHAT

YOU WRITE THE BILL [SIC], YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

AND -- AND I HAVE HEART FOR THAT AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT

AND BEING COERCED. BUT WE NEED BETTER LANGUAGE FOR THIS. BECAUSE I --

BECAUSE DEBT CAN BE EASILY SOLD TO COMMERCIAL WIDELY AND FREELY.

THEY DON'T NEED TO HOLD THIS. AND WHAT HAPPENED [SIC] IF THEY GO OUT

TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND SOLD IT AND -- TO ANOTHER COLLECTOR. SO THEY

COULD IGNORE WITH COERCED DEBT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. NO. I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST

TRANSFERRING THE PROBLEM TO SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT'S STILL PERTAINS TO

BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.

MR. CHANG: BUT ONLY IF IT'S NEW YORK --

MS. ROSENTHAL: BY THE WAY, COLLECTION AGENCIES

ALMOST ALWAYS NEGOTIATE A DEAL, SO I THINK THEY'RE -- THEY'RE USED TO -- TO

THAT KIND OF INTERACTION.

MR. CHANG: BUT YOU SAY ONLY THEY DO BUSINESS IN

NEW YORK STATE. THEY CAN GO TO DIFFERENT STATES AND SOLD [SIC] THE

PAPER. AND HOW WOULD THAT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO -- TO THE -- TO THE

DEBTOR? HOW DOES THE DEBTOR HAVE SOME PROTECTION? IF IT'S COERCED IF

YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT LANGUAGE ONLY FOR -- FOR BUSINESS IN NEW

YORK STATE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, HERE IT SAYS -- IT SAYS HERE

IN -- ON PAGE 5, IF THE CREDITOR IS ALSO A DEBT COLLECTOR OR DEBT COLLECTION

AGENCY NOTIFY -- THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR THAT IT HAS

CEASED COLLECTION ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THE DEBT WAS FOUND TO BE COERCED.

SO THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TELL THE AGENCY THAT THEY'RE SELLING THE

DEBT TO THAT THEY HAVE THIS BUSINESS HERE IN NEW YORK.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MR. CHANG: BUT IT'S NOT -- SEE, YOU'RE BASED ON

DEBT COLLECTION. ALL RIGHT? THEY [SIC] DOING COLLECTION FOR THE -- FOR

THE CREDITOR. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SELLING THE PAPER. SELLING THE PAPER

TO A NEW OWNERSHIP.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. CHANG: THEN HOW DOES [SIC] THE DEBTOR ABLE

TO COMMUNICATE TO THE -- TO THE NEW CREDITOR AND THE NEW CREDITOR MAY

BE IN A DIFFERENT STATE AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE SAME WAY YOU'D

COMMUNICATE WITH THEM -- BECAUSE MANY OF THEM YOU'D COMMUNICATE

BY E-MAIL, FOR EXAMPLE. OR --

MR. CHANG: DOES THAT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU'D CALL -- I -- I THINK THIS IS

ALL A HYPOTHETICAL. I -- I SAID IF IT'S DOING -- IF THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS

HERE IN NEW YORK IT APPLIES TO THEM. I THINK THAT'S SIMPLE, BUT THAT'S

THE ANSWER.

MR. CHANG: BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR DOING BUSINESS IN

NEW YORK. FOR THE PERSON -- FOR THE CREDITOR. SO THERE'S NO PROTECTION

IF -- IF ALL THAT TRANSACTION IS DONE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK OR OUTSIDE THE

COUNTRY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, I -- I THINK I'VE ANSWERED

THIS, AND I THINK AS I SAID EARLIER, HYPOTHETICALS WANDER INTO TERRITORY

THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATING. THE BILL DOESN'T CONTEMPLATE

HYPOTHETICALS. I THINK YOU'RE MAKING IT A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN

IT ACTUALLY IS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

MR. CHANG: OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU.

MR. CHANG: ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. CHANG: IN THE CURRENT FORM IT'S FLAWED, BUT

THANK YOU. THE SPONSOR IS TRYING TO DO PROTECTING THE DEBTOR ITSELF FOR

COERCED DEBT. BUT IT NEEDS SOME WORK ON -- ON THE BILL. AS MY FELLOW

COLLEAGUE MS. WALSH SAID, THAT IT NEEDS -- IT NEEDS SOME WORK AND I

WILL VOTE NO ON THIS, THIS CURRENT FORM BECAUSE IT CREATES TOO MUCH

CONFLICT. IF THE BILL DOES PASS, IT CREATES TOO MUCH CONFLICT FOR -- FOR

LAWYERS AND -- AND THE COURT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S -- WHAT SHOULD BE A

CLEAR PATH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

LEGISLATION; HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE SOME EXCEPTIONS, AND THOSE

INDIVIDUALS, THOSE PEOPLE CAN CERTAINLY VOTE YES AT THEIR SEATS AT THIS

TIME.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

LEGISLATION. FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY, THEY CAN DO

SO AT THEIR DESKS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. ROSENTHAL TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

I -- I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE -- THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL

-- THE PURPOSE OF THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT IS TO HELP A VICTIM OF COERCED

DEBT HAVE A PATH TO CHALLENGING THE BURDENSOME DEBT THAT THEY WERE

FORCED TO INCUR BY THEIR ABUSER. THE -- THE -- THAT SORT OF GOT MUDDY

DURING THE DEBATE. CREDITORS HAVE ACCESS TO MANY RESOURCES, AS THEY

DID DURING THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT. IT IS THE ABUSED, THE SURVIVORS,

WHO NEED ASSISTANCE, AND THEIR LIVES ARE RUINED OFTEN. THE LAST THING

THAT THEY ARE THINKING OF IS HOW TO FOOL A CREDITOR. THEY'RE ACTUALLY

TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND GET OUT FROM UNDER THIS KIND OF

ECONOMIC ABUSE WHICH THEIR ABUSER FOIST UPON THEM TO CONTROL THEM

AND KEEP THEM STUCK, AND STUCK TO THEM FOREVER. AND SO THIS PROVIDES

A PATH FOR THEM. THE CREDITOR HAS ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE, I

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

DON'T BELIEVE YOU, BUT THE -- THE VICTIM ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO

PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SAYS, THIS WAS FORCED UPON ME.

SO FOR THAT REASON I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. ROSENTHAL IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: MADAM SPEAKER, DO WE HAVE FURTHER

HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE DO HAVE A PIECE

OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MS. WOERNER, PAGE 38, CALENDAR NO.

240, BILL NO. A09113-A, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE HAVE A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION BY MR. MEEKS. THE

CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 1036, MR.

MEEKS.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING TUESDAY, MARCH

10, 2026 AS HARRIET TUBMAN DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. MEEKS ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. MEEKS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR AN

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

WHEREAS, HARRIET ROSS TUBMAN WAS AN AMERICAN

HEROINE AND PATRIOT WHO FAITHFULLY SERVED HER COUNTRY AND LIBERATED HER

PEOPLE; HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ATTAIN FREEDOM FOR THOSE ENSLAVED AND HER

DEDICATION TO STOP THE INHUMAN -- INHUMAN PRACTICE OF SLAVERY SHOULD

BE RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED. IT IS ONLY FITTING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO AN

AMERICAN HEROINE WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR THE WELL-BEING OF

PEOPLE AND HER COUNTRY.

AND WHEREAS, IN JUNE OF 2003, LEGISLATION TO MAKE

MARCH 10TH A DAY OF COMMEMORATION WAS SIGNED INTO LAW; MARCH 10TH

RECOGNIZES THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE HISTORICAL LEGACY

ESTABLISHED BY HARRIET TUBMAN AND HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

AND WHEREAS BECAUSE OF HER COLOR AND HER STATUS AS A

SLAVE, HARRIET TUBMAN WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TO READ

OR WRITE. NEVERTHELESS, SHE WAS ABLE TO RISE ABOVE THE LIMITATIONS

WHICH WERE PLACED ON HER AS A SLAVE AND AS A BLACK WOMAN.

AND WHEREAS, IN THE MID-1850S, HARRIET TUBMAN

MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR, SECRETARY OF STATE

AND FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR WILLIAM H. SEWARD AND

HIS WIFE FRANCES IN AUBURN, NEW YORK. IN 1857 THE SEWARDS PROVIDED

A HOME FOR HER IN AUBURN, WHICH SHE SOLD -- WHICH THEY SOLD TO HER

LATER.

AND WHEREAS, THIS HOME WILL BECOME THE NEW BASE OF

OPERATIONS FOR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. WHEN THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN,

HARRIET TUBMAN WAS ABLE TO LIBERATE HUNDREDS OF HER PEOPLE TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

FREEDOM THROUGH THIS EFFICIENT NETWORK. SHE WAS PROUD TO CLAIM THAT

SHE NEVER RAN HER TRAIN OFF THE TRACK AND NEVER LOST A PASSENGER.

WHEREAS, DURING THE CIVIL WAR HARRIET TUBMAN

SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, FIRST AS A COOK AND A

NURSE, AND LATER AS A SCOUT FOR RAIDING PARTIES AND A SPY BEHIND

CONFEDERATE LINES. AFTER HER SERVICE IN THE UNION ARMY, SHE RETURNED

TO AUBURN, NEW YORK, WHERE SHE LIVED THE REMAINING YEARS OF HER LIFE.

IN 1903, SHE TRANSFERRED OWNERSHIP OF HER PROPERTY TO THE A.M.E. ZION

CHURCH.

AND WHEREAS, HARRIET TUBMAN'S DEATH ON MARCH 10,

1913, THE CHURCH DEVELOPED AND MANAGED HER HOME AND ADJACENT --

ADJACENT PROPERTY IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN HER MEMORY. SHE WAS BURIED IN

THE FORT HILL CEMETERY IN AUBURN, NEW YORK, WITH FULL MILITARY

HONORS. CURRENTLY, THE HARRIET TUBMAN HOME AND PROPERTY ARE

REGISTERED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN AUBURN, AND THE SITE IS

ALSO PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FREEDOM TRAIL.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

SPEAK TO OUR GREAT ANCESTOR HARRIET TUBMAN, THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE'S

DONE TO FREE HER PEOPLE AND TO SERVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE HOUSE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2026

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 1029-1033

AND 1035 WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: I NOW MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND

ADJOURNED, AND THAT WE WILL RECONVENE AT 11:00 A.M., WEDNESDAY,

MARCH 11TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MR. FALL'S

MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 4:16 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH AT 11:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)