Yesterday, the New York State Assembly wrapped up the 25–26 legislative session. While much legislation was held up due to ongoing budget negotiations, I am proud that nine pieces of legislation I sponsored passed the Assembly. These bills reflect real progress in protecting public health, supporting workers, strengthening civil rights, and advancing practical solutions to urgent community concerns.

One of the most personal and impactful pieces of legislation this year was developed in partnership with Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh of Saratoga County. We met with Cari Scribner, whose 27-year-old son Nick died after self-medicating with Kratom. Nick believed the product was safe because it carried no warnings, but its combination of side effects like deep sleep and vomiting proved fatal. To prevent similar tragedies, I introduced bipartisan legislation (A5852) requiring manufacturers of Kratom products to include a warning label that clearly states the product has dangerous side effects and is not approved by the FDA. I thank Assemblymember Walsh for working across the aisle, and I am deeply grateful to Cari for sharing her story and advocating for change.

Addressing substance use and supporting recovery remains one of my top priorities. As Chair of the Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, I sponsored legislation (A521) to create a Recovery Ready Workplace certification. Workplaces have the potential to be powerful sources of stability and support for those in recovery. This legislation helps businesses play a proactive role by creating environments that are compassionate, understanding, and designed to help employees succeed in their recovery journey. Enrollment in the program is voluntary.

First responders on the front lines of the opioid crisis have repeatedly emphasized the need for more tools to save lives. While New York has made some progress in reducing overdose rates, the epidemic continues to devastate families. That’s why I passed critical legislation (A265A) requiring the New York State Department of Health to make available all formulations and dosages of FDA-approved opioid antagonists. By doing so, we ensure that emergency medical services and first responders have access to every life-saving option available when responding to overdoses in the field. This bill is an essential step in providing our communities with the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively in moments of crisis.

Beyond health care, protecting workers from unfair practices also remained a central focus. In 2023, a constituent came to me after being forced to sign a contract requiring her to pay $5,000 in "training costs" if she left her job before one year was complete. She earned $14 an hour at a lash salon, where the so-called training was simply a demonstration from a coworker. This kind of exploitative contract, known as a training repayment agreement provision (TRAP), violates the spirit of our labor laws and traps workers in low-wage jobs. Thanks to her courage in speaking out, I introduced and passed legislation (A584C) to ban these bad-faith contracts in New York.

I’m also proud that legislation I introduced to address housing discrimination by requiring sellers to remove illegal restrictive covenants before a property is sold passed the Assembly (A1820A). These covenants, which have historically targeted people based on race, religion, national origin, disability, and other identities, have no place in our society. This legislation is incredibly important now because the Trump Administration no longer explicitly prohibits government contractors from having segregated facilities. While the federal government is disregarding decades of settled law regarding segregation and discrimination, we must protect New Yorkers from being discriminated against and having their civil rights violated.

Environmental and consumer protection also saw meaningful progress this session. I’m pleased that two of my bills were included in the final state budget. The first requires manufacturers of Class B firefighting foam to recall all products containing PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals.” These toxins pose serious health risks, especially to firefighters who are regularly exposed to them. This critical legislation will protect the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our communities from equipment containing these harmful chemicals. The second eliminates the $20 electronic death registry fee funeral directors must pay to obtain burial and removal permits. These commonsense measures reduce harmful exposures and remove unnecessary financial burdens from workers and families. It is very rare to pass legislation to eliminate an onerous fee. I want to thank my colleagues and the Governor for supporting the inclusion of these two common sense policies in the budget.

Although we saw real wins, several important bills remain unfinished. I continue to champion legislation (A1006B), co-sponsored with Senator Skoufis, to eliminate the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. This outdated policy undermines dignity and economic independence. If passed, New York would join 13 other states in ending the practice. The bill has 43 bipartisan co-sponsors and support from 12 advocacy organizations, including the National Down Syndrome Society, Living Resources, Center for Disability Rights, and the New York Association on Independent Living. I will keep working to ensure this bill passes next session.

Another issue that demands our attention is the shortage of private duty nurses for medically fragile children. While parents are legally entitled to this care, a lack of available nurses means parents must quit their jobs to provide the care themselves without pay. My bill (A464B) would allow parents to be compensated for the essential care they already deliver. Though it could not move forward this year due to uncertainty around federal Medicaid cuts, I am committed to securing its inclusion in next year’s budget.

We must also improve the way we protect young people online. In April, I introduced legislation (A8022) requiring social media companies with over one million users to comply with lawfully issued search warrants within 72 hours. This bill is named for Avery Ping, a 16-year-old who died after obtaining fentanyl-laced MDMA through Snapchat. Law enforcement had requested data on his dealer weeks earlier, but Snapchat’s failure to respond allowed the dealer to remain active. I thank Avery’s grandfather, Martin Ping, and Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon for their support, and I look forward to working with law enforcement agencies statewide to build momentum for this bill.

Finally, I remain deeply concerned about looming federal cuts to essential programs. President Trump’s proposed reconciliation bill would slash funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by $13.5 billion, putting the health coverage of 1.5 million New Yorkers at risk. While federal leaders prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy, New York must act to protect working families. Reinstating the Stock Transfer Tax is a simple way to do just that. This modest sales tax (1/10 of 1%!) on stock trades existed from 1905 to 1981 and raised billions without harming the market. Most of it would be paid by out-of-state investors, generating critical revenue to offset potential federal cuts.

This year’s session proved that progress is possible when advocates, constituents, and legislators work together. I am proud of what we accomplished and look forward to continuing this important work to build a healthier, fairer, and more just New York for everyone.