TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025 1:28 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.

WE WILL BE HAVING A PRAYER FROM IMAM KUKAJ.

IMAM TAHIR KUKAJ: IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST

GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL, WE THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR BRINGING US

TOGETHER AS WE ARE REMINDED TO THE BLESSINGS OF OUR UNITY, DIVERSITY AND

OUR SHARED HUMANITY ON THE BLESSINGS OF THESE SACRED DAYS OF THE

BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. WE COME

TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE AND UNITY AND REFLECTION. WE PRAY FOR

PEACE IN OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PEACE

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. MAY THIS MONTH BE A TIME OF HEALING,

UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION FOR ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE

AND FACE -- FAITH. WE ASK FOR STRENGTH FOR THOSE WHO ARE FASTING, THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

THEY MAY FIND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND PURPOSE. WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO

ARE STRUGGLING, WHETHER FROM HUNGER, HARDSHIPS OR INJUSTICE, THAT THEY

MAY FIND RELIEF AND SUPPORT AS WE PRAY FOR OUR JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN

BROTHERS, FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, THAT THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING SOON THE

PURIM AND LENT. MAY THEY ENJOY THESE HOLY DAYS. WE PRAY FOR OUR

MEMBERS OF THIS GREAT BODY THAT REFLECTS OUR NEW YORK STATE

ASSEMBLYMEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF. MAY GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS YOU WITH

WISDOM AND COURAGE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON INTEGRITY AND

FAIRNESS. GUIDE THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT UPLIFT THE VULNERABLE,

PROTECT THE MARGINALIZED AND PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD. MAY THIS

MONTH REMIND US OF OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER,

TO EXTEND KINDNESS TO OUR NEIGHBORS, AND TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A

BRIGHTER, MORE JUST FUTURE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO GOD ALMIGHTY FOR OUR --

FOR THE DIVERSITY THAT ENRICHES OUR STATE AND OUR NATION. LET US ALWAYS

STRIVE TO BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT, HONORING THE

DIGNITY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL. IN THIS HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, MAY WE

ALL BE INSPIRED TO SEEK GOODNESS, PRACTICE GENEROSITY AND WALK IN A

LIGHT OF HOPE.

GOD ALMIGHTY, BLESS OUR ASSEMBLY, BLESS OUR STATE

AND BLESS OUR GREAT NATION, 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 4, 2025

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH 3RD.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE

TO DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MONDAY, MARCH

THE 3RD AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MADAM SPEAKER, COLLEAGUES AND MULTIPLE GUESTS THAT ARE IN OUR

CHAMBERS TODAY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A QUOTE WITH YOU TODAY FROM

BRENEEN [SIC] BROWN. SHE IS A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, RESEARCHER AND A

PROFESSOR WHO STUDIES VULNERABILITIES, COURAGE, EMPATHY AND SHAME.

HER WORK FOCUSES ON THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN VULNERABILITY AND

COURAGE. BROWN BECAME A WELL-KNOWN SPEAKER IN 2010 WITH TEDX

HOUSTON TALK SHOWS. THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN

MANY, MANY TEX [SIC] TALKS REGARDING TITLES LIKE LISTENING TO SHAME.

SO HER WORDS FOR US TODAY IS [SIC]: OWNING OUR STORY CAN BE HARD, BUT

NOT NEARLY AS DIFFICULT AS SPENDING OUR LIVES RUNNING FROM IT. AGAIN,

THESE WORDS FROM BRENEEN [SIC] BROWN.

MADAM SPEAKER, COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESK A

MAIN CALENDAR. WE ARE GOING TO BE CALLING FOR THE RULES COMMITTEE

TO MEET OFF THE FLOOR TODAY. THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PRODUCE AN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

A-CALENDAR CONTAINING A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF

ELECTING EIGHT REGENTS WE WILL TAKE UP TODAY WITH THAT CURRENT -- WE

WILL TAKE THAT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION UP TODAY, AS WELL AS CALENDAR NO.

18 BY MR. BERGER. WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP CALENDAR RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE

3 AND CONTINUE TO CONSENT WHERE WE LEFT OFF ON YESTERDAY WITH

CALENDAR NO. 38 ON PAGE 11. MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT

THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A NEED FOR A CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING

OUR FLOOR WORK, AND AS ALWAYS, MADAM SPEAKER, WE WILL CHECK WITH

OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR

NEEDS MAY BE. IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FLOOR WORK, IF

SO I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE IT AT THAT POINT.

WITH THAT IN MIND, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT'S THE GENERAL

OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY. IF YOU CAN BEGIN BY CALLING THE

RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU,

MAJORITY LEADER. RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE

ROOM IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU'RE ON THE RULES COMMITTEE, TO THE

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

WE HAVE NO HOUSEKEEPING, BUT SEVERAL INTRODUCTIONS.

TO START, MR. FALL FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THANK

YOU, IMAM TAHIR FOR DELIVERING THE INVOCATION AND FOR ALSO TRAVELING

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY

TRAVELING, AND YOU DID AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

YOU KNOW, IMAM TAHIR'S JOURNEY AS A FAITH LEADER IS A

TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCE, UNITY AND THE POWER OF BUILDING STRONG

COMMUNITIES. HE HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING,

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND SERVING AS A GUIDING LIGHT IN BOTH TIMES

OF PEACE AND CHALLENGE. AS AN NYPD CHAPLAIN AND AS AN ADVISOR ON

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S HATE CRIME TASK FORCE, HE HAS WORKED

TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE UNITY AND ENSURE THAT PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS

FEEL SAFE, HEARD AND VALUED. HIS LEADERSHIP IS ROOTED IN THE

FUNDAMENTAL ISLAMIC PRINCIPLE OF BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, SHOWING

KINDNESS, STANDING IN SOLIDARITY, AND RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GREATEST

STRENGTH COMES FROM LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

IMAM TAHIR IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW THE HOLY

MONTH OF RAMADAN SHOULD BE RESERVED -- OBSERVED, WHICH IS TO

PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE, GIVE GENEROUSLY, AND EMBODY PATIENCE AND

GRATITUDE DAILY. I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR IMAM TAHIR'S FRIENDSHIP,

HIS WISDOM AND HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC

OF OUR SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO

RECOGNIZE AND WELCOME IMAM TAHIR TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND EXTEND

THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE.

ON BEHALF OF MR. FALL, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, IMAM, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MS. REYES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. REYES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. TODAY

WE WELCOME THE BRONX GARIFUNA DELEGATION TO ALBANY. THIS IS OUR

FOURTH YEAR HOSTING THEM IN OUR STATE'S CAPITOL. THE GARIFUNA PEOPLE

ARE AFRO-INDIGENOUS CENTRAL AMERICANS FROM HONDURAS, GUATEMALA,

NICARAGUA AND BELIZE. NEW YORK IS HOME TO MORE THAN 300,000

GARIFUNA PEOPLE WITH ITS LARGEST CONCENTRATION IN OUR HOME BOROUGH OF

THE BRONX. WITH US TODAY ARE MEMBERS OF THE BRONX-BASED

COMMUNITY CENTER CASA YURUMEIN, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF CASA

YURUMEIN, KAREN BLANCO. YURUMEIN IN GARIFUNA MEANS "HOMELAND",

AND THEIR CENTER IS HOME TO MANY SMALLER GARIFUNA COMMUNITY GROUPS

WHOSE MISSION IS TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AFRICAN DESCENDANTS,

CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS, THROUGH CULTURALLY-RELEVANT PROGRAMS

AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY GREAT -- HELPFUL FOR

US TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY

TO WORK WITH THEM EVERY DAY. AND TO THEM I SAY BUÍTI ACHÜLURUNI,

WHICH MEANS "WELCOME" IN GARIFUNA.

MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME

THIS DISTINGUISHED GROUP TO OUR -- TO OUR CHAMBERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MS. REYES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, THE GARIFUNA COALITION, TO THE CHAMBER,

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS

TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE

JOINED IN OUR CHAMBERS BY 33 MEMBERS FROM LOCAL 371. MADAM

SPEAKER, THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TODAY FROM NEW YORK

CITY, LONG ISLAND AND WESTCHESTER. THIS IS THE FABRIC OF NEW YORK'S

WORKFORCE AS IT DEALS WITH SOCIAL SERVICES ISSUES. SO PLEASE WELCOME

THEM TO OUR FLOOR, PROVIDE THEM WITH THE CORDIALITIES AND MAKE SURE

THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH US TODAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WELCOME.

ON BEHALF OF THE MAJORITY LEADER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

THE MEMBERS, WELCOME LOCAL 371 UNION MEMBERS TO THE ASSEMBLY

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

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

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BLUMENCRANZ FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TODAY OF INTRODUCING JIM DAY.

MR. DAY HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SHAPING THE HEARTS

AND MINDS OF THE YOUNG CHILDREN OF LONG ISLAND AND OUR NATION. HE

HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IS VISITING THE

STATE CAPITOL TODAY WITH FELLOW COLLEAGUES WHO SERVE AS EDUCATORS ALL

ACROSS LONG ISLAND. AS A PRODUCT OF LONG ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MYSELF, FROM JERICHO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, I'M PROUD TO WELCOME

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

EDUCATORS FROM ALL OVER AND BE A STRONG VOICE FOR A BETTER AND MORE

ROBUST PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

MADAM SPEAKER, CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE MR. DAY THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MR. BLUMENCRANZ, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MR. DAY, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. KEEP

UP THE GREAT WORK WITH EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SLATER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. I HAVE TWO SPECIAL GUESTS HERE TODAY, THE DYNAMIC DUO FROM

PUTNAM COUNTY, FROM THE PUTNAM COUNTY SPCA. WE'RE JOINED TODAY

BY CHIEF KEN ROSS AND HIS SON DETECTIVE SERGEANT KEN ROSS, AGAIN,

FROM THE PUTNAM COUNTY SPCA. YOU KNOW, THESE GENTLEMEN RESPOND

TO ABOUT 2,500 CALLS EVERY YEAR, DEALING WITH ANIMAL ABUSE, NEGLECT AND

ANIMAL CRUELTY. THEY DO A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY, FOCUSING ON

EDUCATION FIRST BY BALANCING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH PREVENTION AND

AWARENESS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXTENDING THAT EDUCATION NOW INTO OTHER

COUNTIES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY INCLUDING SULLIVAN COUNTY. AND SO WE

WANT TO JUST THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY

DO ON BEHALF OF PUTNAM COUNTY, THE HUDSON VALLEY AND NEW YORK

STATE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

SO, MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME

THEM TO THIS HISTORIC CHAMBER AND EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MR. SLATER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WELCOME, OUR SPCA FRIENDS TO THE CHAMBER. WE EXTEND

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS

TODAY. WE DIDN'T SEE YOUR FURRY FRIENDS WITH YOU TODAY, SO HOPEFULLY

WE'LL SEE THEM AGAIN SOON. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. CLARK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. CLARK: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. TODAY I

HAVE THE PRIVILEGE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE ROCHESTER AREA

DELEGATION AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL NEW YORK DELEGATION TO RECOGNIZE

THREE AMAZING PEOPLE FROM LITERACY CNY AND LITERACY ROCHESTER.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOSHUA STAPF, WHO SERVES FOR BOTH

ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS LITERACY CNY OPERATIONS DIRECTOR BETSY

LANG AND DIGITAL LITERACY COORDINATOR LYDIA TORRES WHO ARE HERE

TODAY. THEY'RE HERE -- THEY WILL HEAR LATER A WONDERFUL RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND WORK OF RUTH COLVIN FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN

HUNTER HERSELF, WHO WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AMAZING WOMAN AND THE

LEGACY SHE LEAVES BEHIND TO HELP ADULTS WITH LITERACY AND OTHER

EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT THEY MAY FACE. SOMETHING SHE CAME AND

LEARNED ABOUT IN -- ALL THE WAY BACK IN 1962, AND ABOUT 11,000 ADULTS

IN ONONDAGA COUNTY WHO COULDN'T READ. AND AS A SIDE NOTE, IN MY 20S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

AFTER COLLEGE LOOKING FOR MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER WORK I, TOO, SPENT TIME

WITH WHAT WAS THEN LITERACY ROCHESTER, WORKING THROUGH A VERY

RIGOROUS TRAINING PROGRAM TO SIT SIDE-BY-SIDE AND TUTOR ADULTS IN

READING. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IN

SOCIETY, HOW MANY ADULTS WALK AROUND WITHOUT THE BASIC ABILITY TO READ

AT WHAT WE WOULD CALL A LITERATE RATE, WHICH TRULY HINDERS THEIR

OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE, THE MOST OUT OF THEMSELVES

AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES. THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS

WHY ADULTS CAN'T READ, BUT FIXING IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL MUST DO. SO AS

WE HEAR LATER MORE ABOUT RUTH COLVIN AND ALL THAT SHE DID AND ALL THAT

-- WHO SHE WAS, RECOGNIZING THE STAFF THAT CONTINUE HER LEGACY. THERE

ARE WELL OVER 20 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND MORE

ACROSS THE NATION THAT OWE THEIR ROOTS TO HER, BUT THEIR STAFF CONTINUE ON

THIS WORK. THEY'RE REALLY DOING IT EVERY DAY AND ENSURING THAT

EVERYONE CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE THROUGH THIS AMAZING PROGRAM. IT

REALLY HELPS THEM AND I HOPE YOU'LL RECOGNIZE AND WELCOME THEM TO THE

FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MS. CLARK, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WELCOME FROM LITERACY CNY AND LITERACY ROCHESTER.

WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, HOPE

YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. IT REALLY IS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU

CELEBRATING RUTH COLVIN'S LIFE, 100 YEARS YOUNG SHE WAS. SO THANK YOU

VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE HERE IN OUR CHAMBERS DAVID AND

MALENA BELAFONTE, CO-FOUNDERS OF THE BELAFONTE FAMILY FOUNDATION.

THE BELAFONTES ARE HERE IN ALBANY RAISING AWARENESS TO CRITICAL ISSUES

AROUND ENGAGEMENT FOR EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR

HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND ADULTS AND COMMUNITIES.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME THEM TO THE FLOOR, AND

WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE CORDIALITIES OF OUR HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, THE SPEAKER AND

ALL THE MEMBERS, WELCOME, BELAFONTES. WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER.

WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR

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

(APPLAUSE)

MS. FORREST FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. FORREST: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE DECRIMNY COALITION, WHO

ARE DOING THE WORK TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE LEGENDARY

CECILIA GENTILI, CO-FOUNDER OF DECRIMNY AND A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR

SEX WORKERS WORLDWIDE. CECILIA WAS A TRANS WOMAN WHO MIGRATED TO

THE UNITED STATES FROM ARGENTINA. HER WORK AND ADVOCACY TOUCHED

THE LIVES OF SO MANY, UPLIFTING TRANS PEOPLE, MIGRANT COMMUNITIES,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

BIPOC FOLKS AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS FROM HISTORIC EXCLUDED

COMMUNITIES. CECILIA SHARED HER BRILLIANCE, COMPASSION AND ADVOCACY

WITH ALL OF US AND WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HER WORK AS AN ACTIVIST,

AUTHOR, PERFORMER AND POLICYMAKER. THESE INCREDIBLE FOLKS ARE

COMMITTED TO CONTINUING CECILIA'S WORK TO ADVANCE THE FIGHT FOR

DIGNITY FOR ALL. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THEM TO THE FLOOR. WE

HAVE TIFFANY MONROE FROM CARIBBEAN EQUALITY; CELINE ZHU, CENTER OF

-- FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS; MATERO -- MATEO GUERRERO, MAKE THE

ROAD NEW YORK; AND MAYRA COLON, MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK; AND

ALSO NADIA SWANSON FROM THE ALI FORNEY CENTER.

PLEASE JOIN ME, MADAM SPEAKER, IN WELCOMING THEM

TO THE FLOOR AND EXTEND THEM THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MS.

FORREST.

ON BEHALF OF MS. FORREST, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU AND YOUR ADVOCACY TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. KELLES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. KELLES: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

IN THE BEGINNING OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I HAVE THE TREMENDOUS

PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THIS DAY WITH MY MOTHER, PAULA JACOBS, WHO I

WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE. I WOULD WISH FOR EVERYONE IN THE WORLD TO

HAVE THE INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING SOMEONE IN THEIR LIVES LIKE MY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MOTHER. SHE IS EVERYTHING THAT WE HOPE TO CELEBRATE IN WOMEN'S

HISTORY MONTH. THE MOM THAT WHILE I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE MY MOM

WAS GOING BACK TO COLLEGE, TOO, GETTING HER MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK

AFTER MANY DECADES WORKING IN THE FIELD OF PEER COUNSELING AND THEN

SPENT THE NEXT COUPLE DECADES WORKING ALL DAY LONG AS A PEER

COUNSELOR AND THEN ALL EVENING LONG AS A COUNSELOR, DOING TWO

FULL-TIME JOBS AND SHOWING ME WHAT HARD WORK CAN DO TO LIFT PEOPLE UP

AND BRING PEOPLE HOPE, GIVE PEOPLE RESOLVE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY

MOTHER WAS MY SPIRITUAL COMPASS THROUGH MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD.

WHENEVER I WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN MY LIFE, MY MOM WOULD SAY,

LIFE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU SOMETHING, ANNA, THAT YOU CAN'T HANDLE. AND

IT WOULD FILL MY HEART AND GIVE ME SO MUCH COURAGE TO KEEP GOING

BECAUSE I KNEW THAT MY MOTHER HAD MY BACK IN ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

BUT SHE NEVER ENABLED ME. SHE ALWAYS PUSHED, BUT SHE PUSHED WITH

TREMENDOUS LOVE. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF HER THAT I -- I ALWAYS HAVE

SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR AS A WOMAN IN THIS CULTURE, AND I WANT TO THANK

HER FOR BEING MY MOTHER AND BEING SOMETHING THAT I CAN ALWAYS LOOK

UP TO.

SO, MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD HELP ME HONOR MY

MOM, WELCOME HER TO THE CHAMBER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: OF COURSE.

ON BEHALF OF MS. KELLES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WELCOME, MOM, TO THE CHAMBER. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES

OF THE FLOOR. THE WORDS THAT YOU SHARED WITH YOUR DAUGHTER SHOULD

GUIDE US ALL. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SCHIAVONI FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SCHIAVONI: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM

SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO INTRODUCE MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN LONG ISLAND

NAACP. THEY ARE JOINED TODAY BY PEGGY CAUSE, DWIGHT SINGLETON,

GERRY MARTIN AND -- AND SEAN BOOKER. WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME

THEM TO THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL TODAY AND THE FLOOR OF THE

ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. SCHIAVONI, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WELCOME, NAACP MEMBERS TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. WE

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU, HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR

PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TRAVELING TO JOIN US

TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 157, MR.

DURSO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2025 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.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 158, MR. K.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

BROWN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 4, 2025 AS MARCHING MUSIC DAY 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. 159, MS.

LEVENBERG.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS NATIVE PLANT 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.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 9, CALENDAR NO. 18, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02123-A, CALENDAR

NO. 18, BERGER, PHEFFER AMATO, YEGER, HEVESI, GLICK, COLTON,

SHIMSKY, SIMON, SEAWRIGHT, SCHIAVONI, DURSO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

CIVIL SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CREDITS TO

CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS OF DECEASED NEW YORK CITY SANITATION MEMBERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. BERGER TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. BERGER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I'D JUST

LIKE TO THANK MY COUNCILWOMAN FOR REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE AND

WORKING WITH ME ON THIS. I WAS BORN IN 1998, SO I'M FROM THAT FIRST

POST-9/11 GENERATION. I DON'T REMEMBER 9/11, AND THAT'S WHY THIS BILL

MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME. IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, OVER 1,000

SANITATION WORKERS WERE DEPLOYED TO GROUND ZERO TO AID IN THE RESCUE

AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS. OVER 100 SANITATION WORKERS LOST THEIR LIVES,

AND STILL MORE ARE STRUGGLING WITH 9/11-RELATED ILLNESSES. ONE SUCH

WORKER WAS A MAN NAMED IGNAZIO WHO TRAGICALLY DIED AT 58 AS A DIRECT

RESULT OF HIS WORK AT GROUND ZERO. IGNAZIO IS SURVIVED BY HIS SON

MICHAEL, WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AND BECOME A SANITATION

WORKER, TOO. AND MY GENERATION GREW UP AT THE START OF SOCIAL MEDIA;

FACE-DOWN IN APPS WHERE SELF-MOTIVATION GOES TO DIE. MY GENERATION

GREW UP IN THE ERA WHERE POP CULTURE BECAME MAINSTREAM, WHEN

ENJOYING FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION WAS NO LONGER A NICHE THING. WE

READ STORIES, WATCHED MOVIES, TV SHOWS, PLAYED VIDEO GAMES ALL ABOUT

HEROES WHO LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND TO GO OUT AND SLAY THE DRAGON. WE

WANT TO GO OUT OURSELVES, WE WANT TO BE THOSE HEROES. BUT TOO OFTEN,

MANY IN MY GENERATION ARE STRUGGLING WITH LACK OF SELF-MOTIVATION, OR

WORSE, WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION. SEPTEMBER 12TH, THE DAY AFTER, TO

ME, WAS THE DAY THAT EVERYBODY HAD A REASON NOT TO GO TO WORK. YET

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

OVER 1,000 SANITATION WORKERS GOT INTO THEIR TRUCKS AND THEY DROVE

TOWARDS THE DANGER, NOT FROM IT, WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE CONSEQUENCES

BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE IN DANGER. BECAUSE NEW YORKERS NEEDED HELP.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES IGNAZIO AND OTHERS LIKE HIM A HERO. THAT IS WHAT

MY GENERATION NEEDS TO NEVER FORGET. YOU CAN STAND UP. YOU CAN

MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU CAN BE THE HERO WHO DOES WHAT IS NEEDED

BECAUSE NEW YORKERS NEED YOU. THAT'S THE LEGACY WE MUST PASS ON TO

IGNAZIO'S SON MICHAEL. THAT'S THE LEGACY WE MUST PASS ON TO EVERYONE

ELSE IN MY GENERATION.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BERGER IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER,

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK AN A-CALENDAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO

ADVANCE THAT CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES. ON A MOTION

BY MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: PAGE 3, RESOLUTION

NO. 151, THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 151, MR.

BENEDETTO.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE

ASSEMBLY PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF EIGHT REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BENEDETTO ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. BENEDETTO: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN

[SIC]. I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THIS ASSEMBLY. IT'S A SPECIAL DAY IN

ALBANY. IT IS A CONTINUATION OF A -- OF A TRADITION OF A 241-YEAR-OLD

TRADITION THAT WE CERTAINLY DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY. IT'S 241 YEARS AGO, MAY

1ST OF 1784 -- JUST THINK ABOUT THAT, 1784 -- THIS BODY GATHERED TO ELECT

THE FIRST REGENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THE REGENTS ARE ENTRUST -- ENTRUSTED WITH THE

EDUCATION -- THE ENTIRE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE, TO THE SUNY SYSTEM, TO THE

EDUCATIONAL [SIC] DEPARTMENT. THEY OVERSEE THE LIBRARIES AND THE

MUSEUMS IN NEW YORK STATE, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING

SYSTEM AND RECORDS AND ARCHIVES OF NEW YORK. THEY ALSO REGULATE

OVER 56 PROFESSIONS, THE QUALIFICATIONS, AS WELL AS ADULT CAREER AND

CONTINUING EDUCATION SERVICES.

THERE ARE 17 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS; FOUR

OF THEM ELECTED AT-LARGE, THE REST BY JUDICIAL DISTRICTS FOR FIVE-YEAR

TERMS. REGENTS ARE ALWAYS ELECTED, AS THEY ARE BEING TODAY, ON THE FIRST

TUESDAY OF MARCH UNLESS THEY HAVE TO BE ELECTED INDIVIDUALLY ON THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

SECOND TUESDAY OF MARCH. THE SECTION -- THE ELECTION AND SELECTION OF

THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS GOVERNED BY EDUCATION LAW SECTION 20(T)

[SIC]. IN MID-DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, NOTICES WENT OUT TO THE VARIOUS

PUBLICATIONS AROUND THE STATE AND CITIES, ANNOUNCING OF EIGHT POSSIBLE

VACANCIES IN THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND ASKING FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED

TO APPLY. IT IS A VOLUNTARY POSITION THAT'S NOT SALARIED. EIGHT POSITIONS,

AS I SAY, WERE AVAILABLE. OVER 50 APPLICANTS WERE SENT IN TO APPLY FOR

THESE POSITIONS, AND INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED IN MID-FEBRUARY BY A

BIPARTISAN PANEL OF THE CHAMBERS IN THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS HAS SERVED THE

STATE OF NEW YORK WITH DISTINGUISHED [SIC], AND BY THOSE VERY

DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE WITH NAMES SUCH AS PEOPLE WHO BECAME

PRESIDENT; MARTIN VAN BUREN, GROVER CLEVELAND, THEODORE ROOSEVELT

ALL SERVED ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS. NAMES THAT ECHO IN THE HISTORY OF

NEW YORK STATE. NAMES LIKE RENSSELAER, JOHN JAY, ALEXANDER

HAMILTON SERVED ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS. IT IS A PRESTIGIOUS GROUP,

AND TODAY WE ARE NOMINATING EIGHT PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THIS PRESTIGIOUS

ORGANIZATION. I URGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION

BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE AND WILL BE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR

EDUCATION SYSTEM THE PRIDE OF THESE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRPERSON [SIC].

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. HYNDMAN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. HYNDMAN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. AND JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

BEFORE ME TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS HAS IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK, THE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY OF

SETTING THE TONE AND THE AGENDA. NOT JUST FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUT FOR THE

ADULTS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, TOO. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING

SURE THE POLICIES THAT THEY SET ARE IN LINE WITH ALL FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

IS NOT A SMALL UNDERTAKING. AND RATHER THAN REPEAT MY COLLEAGUE, I

WOULD JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE EIGHT APPOINTEES THAT WE HAD THE HONOR

OF REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS AND GOING THROUGH INTERVIEWS FOR THREE

DAYS STRAIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICKED THE BEST OF THE BEST TO

REPRESENT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SO, TO CHANCELLOR WHO IS BEING REAPPOINTED --

CHANCELLOR LESTER YOUNG, HASONI PRATTS, DR. ROGER P. CATANIA, KEITH

WILEY, DR. FRANCES G. WILLS, FELICIA M. THOMAS-WILLIAMS, BRIAN KRIST

AND ROGER TILLES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS

RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS ON THEIR SHOULDERS IN THESE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS IN

WHICH THEY WILL LABOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SET STRONG

RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICIES FROM THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

DOWN TO ALL THE 56 PROFESSIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. IT IS NOT JUST

ABOUT THE WORK, BUT IT IS ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS RESPECT THAT THESE

INDIVIDUALS HAVE AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY SET AGENDAS AND

TIMELINES FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT WE, AS A BODY, WILL MEET

THEM AND EXCEED THEM.

SO WITH -- WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, AS THIS GOES TO A

VOTE FOR MY COLLEAGUES, IT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY, ME

BEING THE CHAIR OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO SIT THROUGH THOSE INTERVIEWS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

ALL THREE DAYS, BACK TO BACK, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOMMENDED

INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS BODY COULD BE PROUD OF.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. SMITH ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. SMITH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I WANT TO

JOIN MY COLLEAGUES. THIS IS MY, I THINK, SEVENTH YEAR SITTING ON THE --

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. THIS, I WOULD SAY, WAS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS

WE'VE HAD SO FAR. THE LEVEL OF QUALITY FROM THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE

PUT THEMSELVES FORWARD TO SERVE IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT POSITION, ALSO TO

NOTE AGAIN, IT'S A VOLUNTEER POSITION. SO SOMETIMES WE'D SAY, I'D LIKE TO

DOUBLE THE SALARY THEY'RE MAKING, BUT THEY WOULD STILL BE VOLUNTEERING

THEIR TIME. BUT IT -- IT MEANS SO MUCH. AND THERE'S SOMETHING

IMPORTANT TO NOTE. THE REASON THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS A

SEPARATE BOARD OF REGENTS APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATURE, NOT APPOINTED

BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE IDEA IS TO MOVE POLITICS AND ISSUES OF

POLICY AWAY FROM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. SO ON THIS SIDE OF THE STREET

WE HANDLE THOSE POLICY DEBATES, SOMETIMES CAN BE VERY HIGH-TEMPERED

AND -- AND FLAVORFUL DEBATES. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET WE ASK

THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE OVER 3 MILLION PUBLIC AND NON-PUBLIC

SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 56 PROFESSIONS TO ENSURE

THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROFESSIONALS SERVING THE STATE OF NEW

YORK. SO I WOULD JUST SAY AS WE -- SOME ARE JOINING US HERE TODAY, WE

WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. BUT WE JUST

OFFER CAUTION THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE AND REMEMBER WE WANT TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MAKE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM EVEN BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY, AND I KNOW

THAT -- I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO THAT. WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE

MOVING TOWARD CHAMPIONS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. I CAN SAY SPEAKING FOR

MYSELF, OVER A DECADE AGO I, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY A CLASSROOM TEACHER

WAS A BIG CONCERN, THE DIRECTION OF NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION. BUT

I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THAT

THIS IS SOMETHING TO BUILD THE MIDDLE-CLASS, THIS IS SOMETHING TO MAKE

SURE OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE WELL-EQUIPPED, ARE ABLE TO READ, ARE

ABLE TO DO MATH. WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THAT DIPLOMA, AND SOME OF THE

RECENT STEPS ARE IMPORTANT. THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE MOVING THAT

FORWARD AND ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A PLACE IN THE NEW YORK

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO I JOIN MY COLLEAGUES. I'LL BE VOTING TO SUPPORT THIS.

SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE

DECISIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, SO I JUST

WOULD SAY THAT IF THEY'RE VOTING A DIFFERENT WAY, THAT'S NOT A PERSONAL

DISAGREEMENT, BUT THAT'S A FEELING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION IN A EVEN BETTER DIRECTION AND LEAVE THE

POLITICS ON THIS SIDE OF THE STREET AND CONTINUE TO SERVE WELL. SO, BEST

OF LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR [SIC].

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS

RESOLUTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MINORITY DOES NOT ACTUALLY SELECT THE

REGENTS WHO ARE BEING CONSIDERED TODAY. ALTHOUGH THEY DO

PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY SELECT THE

REGENTS. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'LL BE GENERALLY IN THE NEGATIVE. THAT, AS

THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS ANY KIND OF REFLECTION

ABOUT THE FINE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE LIST TODAY TO BE APPROVED. WE

APPRECIATE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THEIR SERVICE. BUT IF ANYONE WOULD

CARE TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THEY CERTAINLY MAY DO SO AT THEIR DESKS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA GENERALLY BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE OF

LEGISLATION. NOT ONLY DO WE RESPECT THE WORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF

THE TWO CHAIRS AND THEIR RANKERS WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF

DOING THE INTERVIEWS AND SELECTING THE CANDIDATES, WE RESPECT THAT AND

WE RESPECT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN, AND WE WILL GENERALLY BE

IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, SHOULD ANYONE DECIDE

TO BE AN EXCEPTION, THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT THEIR SEAT.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE ON THE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF WE

CAN NOW GO BACK TO OUR CALENDAR ON PAGE 11, BEGINNING WITH CALENDAR

NO. 38.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON CONSENT, PAGE

11, CALENDAR NO. 38, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03319, CALENDAR NO.

38, BRONSON, R. CARROLL, SHRESTHA, SIMON, GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, GALLAGHER,

SANTABARBARA, BARRETT, PAULIN, WEPRIN, BORES, SHIMSKY. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO INCLUDING OUTPATIENT CARE

PROVIDED BY CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS IN CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03404, CALENDAR NO.

39, LAVINE, SAYEGH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN

RELATION TO TREATMENT OF DEAF, HARD-OF-HEARING AND NONVERBAL

INDIVIDUALS DURING ADMISSION TO A HOSPITAL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03795, CALENDAR NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

40, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO

FINANCIAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF A FAILED IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION OR INTRAUTERINE

INSEMINATION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: 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.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. WALSH FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS BRIEFLY FOR AN

INTRODUCTION. ON BEHALF OF THE STATEN ISLAND DELEGATION, INCLUDING

ASSEMBLYMEMBERS TANNOUSIS, PIROZZOLO, REILLY AND FALL, WE'RE JOINED

TODAY IN THE CHAMBER BY UAU, WHICH IS THE UNITED ACTIVITIES

UNLIMITED OF STATEN ISLAND. THESE ARE STUDENTS FROM IS2, STATEN

ISLAND, WHO ARE DOING THEIR LEGISLATIVE DAY TODAY. AND AMONG OTHER

THINGS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TODAY.

SO, MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME

THESE STUDENTS AND UAU TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AND PLEASE AFFORD

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

TO THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MS. WALSH AND THE MINORITY STATEN

ISLAND DELEGATION, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE

DO HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 11, CALENDAR NO. 41, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04279-A, CALENDAR

NO. 41, BORES, SANTABARBARA, BURDICK, SAYEGH, CLARK, MORINELLO. AN

ACT TO AMEND THE RACING, PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING AND BREEDING LAW, IN

RELATION TO PROHIBITING MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING OPERATORS AND PLATFORMS

FROM SENDING PUSH NOTIFICATIONS OR TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04727, CALENDAR NO.

42, BRONSON, HUNTER, SHIMSKY, TAPIA, HEVESI, LEVENBERG, MCMAHON,

JACOBSON, DAVILA, COLTON, ZINERMAN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE WORKERS'

COMPENSATION LAW, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING PAID FAMILY LEAVE

BENEFITS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04751-A, CALENDAR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

NO. 43, RAJKUMAR. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, IN

RELATION TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. WALSH FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRO -- INTO -- INTERRUPT, IF I COULD SAY THAT

-- INTERRUPT THESE PROCEEDINGS BRIEFLY. AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY AND

WE SAW TODAY EARLIER, IT'S SO NICE WHEN WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT

COME TO JOIN US IN THE CHAMBER AS WE'RE DOING OUR WORK. AND SO ON

BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER JODI GIGLIO, SHE'S JOINED TODAY BY HER TWO

SONS, WILLIAM AND JAKE GIGLIO, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE IUOE LOCAL

138 OPERATING ENGINEERS. AND IT BROUGHT THEM TO ALBANY TODAY AND

THEY GOT A CHANCE TO HANG OUT WITH -- WITH THEIR MOM A LITTLE BIT.

SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME THEM TO THE

CHAMBER, IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

WALSH, MS. GIGLIO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

TO THIS PEOPLE'S HOUSE, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. YOUR MOM

SHOULD BE MAKING YOU VERY, VERY PROUD DOING THE HARD WORK FOR THE

PEOPLE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 12, CALENDAR NO. 44, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05546, CALENDAR NO.

44, SIMON, SANTABARBARA, DE LOS SANTOS, WALSH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN

RECORDS OF DECEASED RESIDENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES TO FAMILY

MEMBERS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05833, CALENDAR NO.

45, PRETLOW. AN ACT TO AMEND THE STATE FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

REFUND OF STATE BONDS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05834, CALENDAR NO.

46, WALKER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO EARLY

VOTING FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL ELECTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF

SUCH PROVISIONS UPON EXPIRATION THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU SO MUCH,

MADAM SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE. ON BEHALF OF

OUR COLLEAGUE DEBORAH GLICK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME THE NEW

YORK STATE NATURE CONSERVANCY. IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONSERVATIVE

ORGANIZATION. THEIR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE LAND AND WATERS ON WHICH

WE ALL DEPEND. SO PLEASE WELCOME THE BOARD MEMBERS ENRICO

KUWANZA [SIC], SCOTT KILLMAN [SIC], CARRIE DENNING JACKSON, EMILY

STEINBERG, ROLLIN BUSH, IAN GAZARD, SALLY THURSTON, AND BILL UPELER

[SIC] IS THE NEW YORK STATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME THESE VERY DISTINGUISHED

GUESTS, MADAM SPEAKER, AND GIVE THEM THE CORDIALITIES OF OUR HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF THE MAJORITY LEADER, MS. GLICK, THE

SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MEMBERS OF THE

NATURE -- NATURE CONSERVANCY, WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER -- MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER

HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

SPEAKER HEASTIE: A RESOLUTION BY MR. -- MR.

WRIGHT, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 160, MR.

WRIGHT.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MOURNING THE DEATH OF HAZEL

N. DUKES, LONGTIME CIVIL RIGHTS STALWART AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF

HER COMMUNITY.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: SO, I WANT TO THANK MR.

WRIGHT FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS RESOLUTION. AND WE'RE GATHERED BY

MANY NAACP MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING MY HOME

BRANCH, THE WILLIAMSBRIDGE BRANCH NAACP OF THE BRONX, TO PAY

TRIBUTE TO AN AMAZING, AMAZING WOMAN, A CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION. SHE

WAS A MOTHER FIGURE. THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW -- KNEW HAZEL, IT WAS

HARD TO SAY NO TO HER. AND SOMETIMES EVEN IF YOU WERE NOT ON THE

SAME PAGE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A WAY OF GETTING YOU TO WHERE SHE

WAS. SHE WAS SO COMMITTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY

IN THIS WORLD, AND SOMEBODY WHO WOULD TRAVEL ALL OVER THE PLACE TO

MAKE SURE THAT THE MESSAGE WAS HEARD. AND LIKE I SAID, SHE WAS A

FRIEND, SHE WAS A, LIKE I SAID, I LOOKED AT HER AS A MOTHER. SHE --

THANKFULLY. AND -- AND I FEEL PRIVILEGED THAT SHE REFERRED TO ME AS ONE

OF HER SONS THAT SHE RAISED THROUGHOUT NOT JUST THE POLITICAL ARENA,

BECAUSE I KNEW HER WELL BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, BUT SHE IS SOMEBODY

WHO HAS -- DID HER LIFE'S WORK AND -- AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR HER TO -- TO

REST IN -- IN ETERNAL PEACE. BUT IT'S SO GOOD THAT WE GIVE TRIBUTE TO HER.

AND I WILL BE AT HER FUNERAL NEXT WEDNESDAY TO PAY MY RESPECTS AND --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

BUT HAZEL DUKES IS A NAME THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW, OUR CHILDREN

SHOULD KNOW AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN SHOULD KNOW WHAT SHE STOOD FOR

AND WHAT SHE WANTED TO SEE NOT ONLY FROM THIS STATE, BUT FROM OUR

NATION AND FROM THE WORLD. SO MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES ON THE RESOLUTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I'M HONORED TO STAND AND JOIN YOU AND OTHER COLLEAGUES IN

HONORING THE MEMORY OF AN AMAZING WOMAN WHO LECTURED AND

MENTORED AND PUSHED ALONG AND PULLED ALONG AND TUGGED ALONG MANY

CIVIC LEADERS AND ELECTED LEADERS, INCLUDING MYSELF ALL THE WAY IN

BUFFALO. I CAN ALMOST HEAR HER TALKING TO ME NOW, TELLING ME WHAT TO

DO NEXT AND HOW THINGS SHOULD HAPPEN AND HOW THEY SHOULD GO. BUT I

ALSO WANT TO HONOR THE MEMBERS OF THE NAACP WHO ARE MANY IN OUR

CHAMBERS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY ON THE CAPITOL,

DOING THE WORK THAT WAS STARTED AND IN THE INTEREST OF BLACK PEOPLE OR

PEOPLE OF COLOR SINCE 1909. IT LITERALLY IS THE OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS

ORGANIZATION IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND FOR 70 OF THOSE YEARS,

MA DUKES, HAZEL, WAS THE STEWARD IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND

ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. HER LEGACY WILL TRAVEL INTO DECADES, AND I AM JUST

HONORED TO HAVE KNOWN HER AND WITNESSED WHAT SHE'S DONE TO PRESERVE

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL, EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT'S FREEDOM

AND EQUAL RIGHTS.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. WRIGHT ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. WRIGHT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. HAZEL --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

DR. DUKES, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, GREW UP -- AND WHEN I GREW UP

AT 10 WEST 135TH STREET, THAT'S WHERE SHE LIVED, AND I WOULD SEE HER AT

VARIOUS EVENTS, AT A SUPERMARKET. ANY NUMBER OF PLACES, ALWAYS

FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE OR OTHERWISE. I LOOKED UP TO HER. SHE WAS A LIKE AN

AUNT TO ME, AND ONCE AGAIN, I KNEW HER MY ENTIRE LIFE. SHE WAS THE

ONLY PERSON I KNEW THAT COULD HAVE A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY, SHOW UP

AFTER MIDNIGHT AT HER OWN HOUSE, BE CELEBRATED, AND KICK EVERYBODY

OUT BY 2:00 A.M. SO SHE COULD GET TO BED ON TIME.

(LAUGHTER)

SO LET'S CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. DUKES, A

LEGEND OF BLACK AMERICA, AN ICON OF HARLEM, AND A WOMAN WHO ALL --

AGAINST ALL ODDS SHATTERED THE GLASS CEILING AND BROKE EVERYTHING ELSE

AROUND HER. TO BE FRANK, MISS HAZEL DUKES WAS A PERSON WHO

TRANSFORMED COMMUNITIES; A WOMAN WHOSE LIFE WORK AND LEGACY

ENHANCED THE LIFE OF ALL NEW YORKERS IN UNRIVALED SERVICE TO BLACK

COMMUNITIES COUNTRYWIDE.

BORN MARCH 17, 1932 IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, THE

DAUGHTER OF A PULLMAN PORTER, MISS DUKES WAS WELL-KNOWN FOR HER ROLE

AS AN ACTIVIST AS WELL AS AN ACADEMIC. EDUCATED AT ALABAMA STATE

TEACHER'S COLLEGE BEFORE MOVING TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHERE IN

1978 SHE EARNED HER DEGREE FROM ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, AND SHE WAS

THEN A GRADUATE STUDENT AT QUEENS COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HONORARY

DOCTORATES FROM THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL, MEDGAR

EVERS AND TOURO COLLEGE. IN THE EARLY 1990S, DR. DUKE SERVED AS THE

NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, AS IT WAS THEN KNOWN, AND FROM

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

1977 UNTIL HER PASSING, SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE

NAACP. AS NATIONAL PRESIDENT, SHE WAS KNOWN AS A FIERCE ADVOCATE

FOR EDUCATION REFORMS AND CIVIL RIGHTS. I'LL NEVER FORGET BEING TOLD

CURTLY BY DR. DUKES TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION AT THE AFRICAN-

AMERICAN DAY PARADE BREAKFAST IN HARLEM. WHILE ALL THOSE WERE

TALKING AND HAVING SIDE CONVERSATIONS, SHE MADE IT VERY MUCH

WELL-KNOWN THAT YOU ALL NEEDED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE SPEAKER AT HAND.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING HER ADVICE RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT. SHE

WAS RIGHT AND SHE WAS DRIVEN AND COMPASSIONATE, AND I'M SO HONORED

TO HAVE HAD ANYONE OF THAT CAPACITY IN MY LIFE, LET ALONE THE LEGEND

THAT IS DR. HAZEL DUKES. DR. DUKES WAS A TITAN OF HARLEM, A NO-

NONSENSE PROFESSIONAL WHO WAS UNACCUSTOMED TO LOSING. SHE HAS SO

SELFLESSLY GUIDED AND ADVISED GENERATIONS OF NEW YORK LEADERS LIKE

CARL HEASTIE, MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHERS IN THIS ROOM, AND WE ARE ALL

BETTER FOR IT. SHE WAS A MENTOR AND MOTHER TO MANY. SHE CHERISHED

BLACK HISTORY AND THE WORK OF HER PEERS DID EVERY DAY SO SHE COULD

LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

LET'S ALL TAKE A MOMENT TODAY TO HONOR THE LIFE AND

LEGACY OF DR. HAZEL N. DUKES. THANK YOU.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANK YOU.

MS. WALKER ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. WALKER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THINK

ABOUT OUR UMI, MAMA DUKES. SHE WAS BORN IN THE 1930S WHEN THE

SCOTTSBORO BOYS WERE DEFENDING THEMSELVES, THOUGH THEY WERE

UNJUSTLY ACCUSED OF A CRIME. DR. CARTER G. WOODSON PUBLISHED THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

MIS-EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO, WHO WAS ALSO THE EX-SECRETARY OF THE

NAACP. JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, ZORA NEALE HURSTON, MY SORO.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG, LANGSTON HUGHES. THEY ALL WERE REPRESENTING AS

BLACK INTELLECT -- INTELLECTUALISM. W.B.E. [SIC] DU BOIS, ONE OF THE

NAACP'S FOUNDERS, SERVED ON THE BOARD AND HE WAS ALSO RUNNING THE

CRISIS MAGAZINE. WHEN SHE WAS TWO WAS ABOUT -- WAS AROUND THE TIME

OF THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA. NORRIS V. ALABAMA WAS SIGNED INTO --

WAS -- WAS ARGUED, WHICH GAVE FOLK THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY A JURY. MARY

MCLEOD BETHUNE WAS ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO

WOMEN. AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WERE IN HER DNA WHEN SHE WAS

JUST A CHILD. SO IT MAKES US ALL ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT'S IN OUR DNA?

WILL WE BE A MOMENT OR WILL WE BE A MOVEMENT? WE KNOW THAT SHE

WAS A WARRIOR FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND LEADING THE NAACP STATE

CONFERENCE FOR NEARLY FIVE DECADES. UP UNTIL HER LAST MEETING AS THE

NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE PRESIDENT A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO, QUITE

FRANKLY, MAYBE EVEN LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, SHE FOUGHT FOR FAIR HOUSING

ON LONG ISLAND. SHE WORKED IN THE '60S FOR PRESIDENT LYNDON B.

JOHNSON'S HEAD START PROGRAM, WHICH COMPLIMENTED HER COMMITMENT

TO PROVIDING SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK

EMPLOYEE OF THE NASSAU COUNTY'S [SIC] ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND LATER A

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. WE -- WE KNOW SHE CHAMPIONED THE EXPANSION

OF VOTING RIGHTS, AS WE PUSHED FOR THE JOHN R. LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS

ACT RIGHT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER. SHE STOOD WITH US AS IT WAS SIGNED

INTO LAW. SHE TIRELESSLY RALLIED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND ADVOCATED

FOR QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. SO BORROWING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

FROM -- FROM SECOND TIMOTHY, I CAN HEAR MOM DUKES SAY -- AS SOME

CALLED HER AFFECTIONATELY -- REFLECTING ON HER LIFE OF SERVICE, I HAVE

FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.

EVERY TIME SHE SPOKE, EVERYONE LISTENED IN AWE. EVEN WHEN SHE

SECONDED THE NOMINATION AT THE 1972 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

FOR SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN SEEKING THE NOMINATION AS

PRESIDENT. SHE WAS A BLACK WOMAN WHEN IT WASN'T IN VOGUE TO BE

BLACK WOMEN. WHEN SEXISM, RACISM AND MISOGYNY WAS THE NAME OF

THE GAME. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW SHE SAID IS, THESE 70

YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN EASY. THEY HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH PAIN, HARDSHIPS

AND TRIBULATIONS. BUT THE STRUGGLES OF THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY SERVE

AS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT WE MUST TAKE BOLD STEPS TO CONFRONT

RACISM AND TIRELESSLY ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. SO SHE HAS RIGHTFULLY

JOINED HER PLACE AS OUR DEI REPRESENTATIVE TO THE VILLAGE OF THE

ANCESTORS. AND BY DEI, I MEAN SHE DEFINITELY EARNED IT.

THANK YOU, MAMA DUKES, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO

SERVE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: ALL RIGHT, MS. WALKER.

MS. HYNDMAN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. HYNDMAN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ONE OF

THE THINGS THAT WASN'T IN HER -- IN THE RESOLUTION WAS THAT MAMA DUKES

WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, AND

AT THE CORE OF OUR SORORITY'S SERVICE IS SOCIAL ACTION. AND WHEN YOU

TALK ABOUT THE EPITOME OF SOCIAL ACTION, YOU TALKED ABOUT MAMA

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

DUKES. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE SHE DID A

COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHERE A REPORTER MADE -- SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE

MADE A COMMENT AND SHE WAS -- SHE SPOKE BACK. SHE SPOKE ABOUT HER

CHARACTER. AND IF YOU COULD IMAGINE A WOMAN IN THE 1930S FROM

ALABAMA, THE KIND OF COURAGE YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON THE

DEFENSE, TO ALWAYS BE AN ADVOCACY, AND TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION, THE

NAACP, FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY JAMAICA

DOUBLE -- NAACP THAT'S HERE BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IN LEADERSHIP. AND

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHEN I BECAME THE CHAIR OF HIGHER EDUCATION,

SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SAID, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, SOROR, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND EVEN THEN SHE SAID, MAKE SURE THE GOVERNOR PUTS BACK IN THE

BUDGET THE MONEY FOR THE BLACK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. SO SHE WAS --

EVEN AT 92, HOW DILIGENT SHE WAS AND KNEW THE ISSUES. AND EVERY TIME

YOU'RE -- IF YOU'RE IN ELECTED OFFICE AND YOU GET A CALL FROM HER, YOU

TAKE IT. BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TELLING YOU WHAT'S WRONG,

BUT LIFTING YOU UP. SHE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO LIFTED AS SHE

CLIMBED. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THE LAST TWO SUMMERS I WAS ABLE TO

SPEND TIME WITH HER, AWAY FROM ALL THE CAMERAS, AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE

AND JUST REALLY GET TO KNOW THE WOMAN. AND AS SHE LEAVES A HOLE IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME TO HER

SERVICES NEXT WEEK AND PAY RESPECTS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE ALWAYS

WANTS US TO DO IS KEEP THE GOOD FIGHT, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE

WORK OF ALL OF OUR ANCESTORS TO MAKE THIS STATE CONTINUE TO BE THE GREAT

PLACE. AND NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SHE WILL

TELL US THAT THIS WORK IS NOT TEMPORARY, IT IS LASTING. AND AT 92 YEARS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

OLD, SHE MADE SURE THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THIS BUDGET, WHAT SHE WANTED

TO SEE.

SO TO ALL OF US IN HERE, THIS IS A LEGACY. THIS IS

SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA, AND I KNOW

THEY'RE GONNA TO DO WORK AND TRIBUTES TO HER NEXT WEEK AS WE CELEBRATE

BLOODY SUNDAY. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT THE

HAZEL DUKES OF THE WORLD ARE WATCHING US AND THE WORK THAT WE STILL

HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE THIS LEGACY. SO TO THE NAACP, YOU HAVE BIG

SHOES TO FILL IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU FILL THAT GAP. BECAUSE IF YOU RELAX

WE CANNOT PUSH BACK AGAINST THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS STATE AND

THIS COUNTRY. SO TO THE NAACP, CONTINUE THE WORK, CONTINUE TO -- TO

LIFT UP, AND I'M SURE SHE'S AT THE GATES WHERE I'M SURE THAT JESUS IS

SAYING TO HER, WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MS. BICHOTTE HERMELYN ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MS. BICHOTTE HERMELYN: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION IN MEMORIALIZING

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. HAZEL N. DUKES, A TRAILBLAZING ACTIVIST AND

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE. HAZEL WAS

A FEARLESS, FEARLESS CHAMPION OF CIVIL RIGHTS, DEDICATING HER LIFE TO

SERVING AND UPLIFTING ALL OF US ACROSS THE NATION; INDIVIDUALS' NEED

ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SHE ADVOCATED FOR VOTING FIGHTS, FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,

FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE LIKE MWBE, MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS

ENTERPRISE [SIC]. AND I ALWAYS REMEMBERED WHEN I WOULD BE FIGHTING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

AND CALLING PEOPLE OUT AND JUST FIGHTING FOR DEI, SHE WOULD CALL ME

AND SHE WOULD SAY, DON'T FIGHT BY YOURSELF. I AM HERE FOR YOU. I AM

YOUR MICROPHONE. AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S BEEN FOR ALL OF US. HER IMPACT

WAS PROFOUND, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT THE

NATION.

I KNEW MAMA DUKES AS A FELLOW SORORITY SISTER OF

DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. AND TO ME AND COUNTLESS

OTHERS, SHE WAS MORE THAN A MENTOR. SHE WAS A GUIDING LIGHT WHO

INSPIRED THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS WORKING TOWARDS A FAIRER FUTURE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I WANT TO THANK

THE NAACP FOR SUPPORTING HAZEL DUKES, AS I MENTIONED, AT THE

FOREFRONT OF CIVIL RIGHTS WHO SERVED FOR DECADES AS A CHAMPION FOR

JUSTICE, FAIR ADVOCATE AND FOR ALL OF US. HER POWERFUL VOICE FOR CHANGE

WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE ON. MAY DR. HAZEL N. DUKES REST IN PEACE.

THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. DAIS ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. DAIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE FIRST TIME

I MET DR. HAZEL DUKES WAS JANUARY 1, 1990 AT MAYOR DINKENS'

INAUGURATION. I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. MY FATHER, WHO HAD -- MY FATHER

AND MOTHER WHO HAD KNOWN HER FOR YEARS AT THE TIME, AND MY PARENTS

HAVE HAD OVER A 40-YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, ALWAYS TOLD ME SHE WAS

A PERSON THAT REPRESENTED THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY. SHE WAS ONE

WHO FOUGHT FROM THE TRENCHES TO MAKE THE CHANGE FOR THOSE WHO DID

NOT HAVE A VOICE FOR THEMSELVES. THE SECOND MOMENT I ALWAYS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

REMEMBER WAS IN 1996, TO MY LEFT WAS DR. DUKES AND TO MY RIGHT WAS

DR. BETTY SHABAZZ. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BLACK ROYALTY AT ITS FINEST.

WHEN I TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF RESPECT SHE RECEIVED JUST FROM THE

PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREETS OF HARLEM OUTSIDE OF ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST

CHURCH THAT DAY, THE REREVERENCE [SIC], THE RESPECT, THE LOVE THAT THE

COMMUNITY HAD FOR THOSE TWO AMAZING QUEENS WAS PALPABLE AND

AMAZING.

LAST, I THINK ABOUT IN 2020 I RECEIVED THE ROY WILKINS

AWARD FROM THE NAACP AND SHE STOPPED ME AND SHE SAYS, YOU'RE

LARRY'S BOY. YOU COME FROM GOOD STOCK. BUT YOU REPRESENT SOMETHING

THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS THE VOICE OF YOUNG BLACK

MEN TO SEE AN EXAMPLE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MAGNIFIED. WE NEED TO

HAVE MORE YOUNG BLACK MEN SEE THOSE DOING POSITIVE THINGS FOR OUR

COMMUNITY. THE ONLY THING THAT SHE TRULY CARED ABOUT WAS SEEING OUR

VILLAGE LIFT ITSELF UP, TO PUSH FORWARD, TO MAKE SURE OUR DREAM CAN STAY

ALIVE. SHE WAS A FIGHTER OF FIRES -- FIGHTERS, A WARRIOR OF WARRIORS. SHE

REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT WE ALL CAN BE IN THIS VERY CHAMBER. AND

THE ADVICE THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS GIVE IS THAT YOU ALWAYS SPEAK FOR THE

VOICELESS.

SO, BROTHER WRIGHT, I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH DAY FOR

YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION, MY BROTHER.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MS. ZINERMAN ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. ZINERMAN: GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

STAND HERE TODAY AS A CIVIL LIFE MEMBER OF THE NAACP AND AN ACTIVE

MEMBER OF THE BROOKLYN BRANCH OF THE NAACP. I WOULD LIKE TO

RECOGNIZE OUR PRESIDENT, L. JOY WILLIAMS, AND IN HER CURRENT ROLE AS

INTERIM CHAIR IN THE PASSING OF EVERYBODY'S MOTHER, HAZEL DUKES.

I THINK WE ALL HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY HAZEL'S LIFE IN

SOME WAY. AND -- AND FOR ME, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS -- THIS HUGE

FIGURE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED WHEN -- WHEN JORDAN WAS READING

THAT I ACTUALLY STARTED TO CRY. BECAUSE SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NO

MOMENT FOR TEARS. THIS IS A -- THIS IS A MOMENT FOR US ALL TO UNDERSTAND

WHY WE ARE HERE, WHAT OUR ASSIGNMENT IS AND WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO GET IT

DONE. AND SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS WOMAN OF UNMATCHED

COURAGE AND CONVICTION. I'M A GRANDDAUGHTER OF ALABAMA, SHE WAS A

DAUGHTER OF ALABAMA. SO WHEN YOU SAW HER COMING YOU UNDERSTOOD

WHAT HER DNA WAS ALL ABOUT, WHAT SHE HAD SEEN AND ENDURED BEFORE

SHE CAME TO NEW YORK. AND SHE MADE HERSELF A PROMISE, THAT

EVERYBODY THAT LOOKED LIKE HER, THAT SHE WAS GONNA FIGHT UNTIL HER A

LAST BREATH AND SHE DID THAT. THE LAST TIME I SAW HER SHE WAS AT A

CELEBRATION FOR ADELAIDE SAY -- SANFORD, OUR FOREVER REGENT, WHO WAS

CELEBRATING HER 99TH BIRTHDAY, AND SHE WAS ON FIRE AT 92. CERTAINLY,

GIVING REGENT SANFORD ALL OF HER FLOWERS AND PEARLS THAT SHE DESERVED

FOR BEING A STELLAR EDUCATOR. BEING A FELLOW EDUCATOR HERSELF, THEY

WERE -- THEY WERE SISTER FRIENDS. BUT AFTER MAYBE TWO MINUTES OF

CELEBRATING -- CELEBRATING REGENT SANFORD, SHE IMMEDIATELY STOOD UP IN

HER CHAIR AND WENT TO THE -- THE -- WE WERE IN THE BOROUGH HALL, SO SHE

CAME TO THE FRONT OF THE -- THE DAIS AND SHE -- SHE BEGAN TO GIVE US ALL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

THE BUSINESS. AND THE BUSINESS IS THE BUSINESS AT HAND; WHY IS RACISM

STILL A THING IN THE 21ST CENTURY, 25 YEARS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. WHY

ARE OUR CHILDREN NOT RECEIVING THE STELLAR EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

WHY ARE OUR PEOPLE HOMELESS IN A COUNTRY AND A CITY THAT IS RICH AS

NEW YORK IS. AND SO AS SHE ALWAYS IS, SHE HAD A LIST FOR EVERYBODY TO

DO. WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS YOUR SPECIALITY AND YOU SEE INEQUITY, IT IS

YOUR JOB WHETHER YOU ARE A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER OF THE NAACP OR

NOT, TO ERADICATE THAT WHICH DOES NOT SERVE HUMANITY. THAT IS HER

CHARGE TO US IN THIS MOMENT, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN. I, AS SO MANY OTHER

PEOPLE, HAVE -- HAVE -- HAVE COME UP AGAINST HER BELIEFS, BUT HER

EMPHATIC VOICE AND HER ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND PUSH AND PUSH,

AS OUR SPEAKER SAID, GAINED HER ALL THE RESPECT THAT SHE WOULD EVER

NEED.

AND SO WE TALK ABOUT WHAT HER LEGACY IS AND WHAT HER

MEMORY IS. IT REALLY IS UP TO US. ARE WE GOING TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN

AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT HER? ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE

WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE US OR WHO DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAACP UNDERSTAND

WHO AND WHAT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE AT THIS

TIME THAT WE -- THAT WE SIT DOWN AND WE REFLECT ON NOT ONLY HER LIFE, BUT

WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE YET, WHAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT DOING.

WHAT WE SAID WE SHOULD DO, BUT HAVE NOT DONE. BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS STATE AND THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND THE VITRIOL

AND THE HATRED THAT IS RISING ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE AT A VERY, VERY, VERY

VITAL MOMENT IN NOT JUST THE SOCIETY, BUT IN OUR HUMANITY. WHO ARE WE

AS PEOPLE IF OUR PEOPLE ARE DYING IN JAIL AND OUR CHILDREN CAN'T READ AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS. WHO ARE WE? AND SO I HOPE AS WE

THINK ABOUT ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE, ALL THAT SHE HAS GIVEN, ALL THAT SHE HAS

TAUGHT, THAT WE REALLY TAKE THOSE LESSONS IN HAND AND WE MAKE THE

DECISION ABOUT WHERE MONEY GOES, WHAT LEGISLATION WE PASS AND WHERE

WE SHOW UP AND WHO WE SHOW UP FOR, YOU WILL REMEMBER HAZEL

DUKES.

(APPLAUSE)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: SO, I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING A

LITTLE DIFFERENT BEFORE I CALL FOR THE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DO SPECIAL THINGS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE.

COULD WE ALL RISE AND I WANT TO DO A MOMENT OF

SILENCE FOR HAZEL DUKES.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION HONORING MA, DR.

HAZEL DUKES, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; THOSE NOT IN FAVOR SAY NAY. THE

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE HAVE A NUMBER

OF RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE HOUSE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS

WILL BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, RESOLUTION NOS. 161-163 WERE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, COULD

YOU CALL ON MEMBER CLARK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CLARK FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. CLARK: I AM ANNOUNCING THAT THE MAJORITY

CONFERENCE WILL HAVE CONFERENCE TODAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION

IN HEARING ROOM C.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MAJORITY

CONFERENCE IN HEARING ROOM C IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED AND THAT WE WILL RECONVENE TOMORROW,

10:00 A.M., WEDNESDAY, MARCH THE 5TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MRS. PEOPLES-

STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 3:32 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH AT 10:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)