Legislation would enable New Yorkers to register as an organ and tissue donor while filing income taxes, a proven tactic for expanding access and registration.

To kick off National Donate Life Month and promote donor enrollment, a dozen bipartisan legislators told their personal stories about organ and tissue donation.

Big Flats, N.Y., March 2—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (R,C-Olean), Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell, Hornell Mayor John Buckley, and other local leaders today called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Majority leaders of the State Legislature to provide increased, critically needed state aid for local roads and bridges in the final 2026-27 state budget.

Fiona Krezner, Dawn Burlew, Assemblyman Palmesano (R,C-Corning), Michelle Benjamin and Dan Klenetsky pose for a photo.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently met with Future Farmers of America (FFA) students to support agriculture and farming into the future. Pictured from left to right are Jenna Kuhn, Elaine Vaughn, Emery Sirkin, Assemblyman Palmesano, Emma Mae White and Ava Gage.

Horseheads, N.Y., November 24--State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-C, Big Flats) recently honored the Southern Tier robotics team, GorillaBots Team 5485, for the team’s success at the NY Excelsior (NY EX) FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Championship and the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship earlier this year.

Penn Yan, N.Y., October 10 – State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) today joined other area officials and family members, friends, and fellow veterans to honor the memory of United States Army Sergeant James S. Hayes of Penn Yan through the official designation of a section of State Route 14 in Yates County as the “Sergeant James S. Hayes Memorial Highway.”

Assemblyman Palmesano, Chair Steuben County Legislature Kelly Fitzpatrick, Steuben County Clerk Judy Hunter, NYSDMV Commissioner Mark J. Schroeder and employees of the Steuben County DMV pose for a photo.

Horseheads, N.Y., July 2— State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats) visited Horseheads High School on Tuesday to pay tribute to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class AA Boys Varsity Baseball state champions.

Corning, N.Y., June 26--State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) and Sara Lattin, Chief of Staff for State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) recently joined the Corning-Painted Post school community to pay tribute to several of the school’s 2024 and 2025 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) champions.

Corning, N.Y., July 1—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently recognized the retirement of longtime Corning Police Department Dispatcher Michael Watson upon the occasion of his retirement from the department following 30 years of service.

Bath, N.Y., June 24—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently recognized the retirement of a longtime area priest, Reverend James P. Jaeger, who since 2008 has served as the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Bath and St. Gabriel’s Church in Hammondsport.

Corning, N.Y., June 17—A Legislative Resolution sponsored by State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) honoring the Corning Rugby Club for winning the 2025 RugbyNY High School Girls Championship was presented to the team on Monday.

Arkport, N.Y., June 2— State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), Assemblywoman Andrea Bailey (R,C-Caledonia), and Sara Lattin, Chief of Staff for Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) visited the Arkport Central School on Monday to pay tribute to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D Arkport-Canaseraga Boys Varsity Baseball state champions.

Dundee, N.Y., May 30--State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) and Michael Rogers, Director of Community Relations for State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), today visited the Dundee Junior-Senior High School to pay tribute to girls state wrestling champion Peyton Mullin, who earlier this year won her second consecutive state title in the 235-pound weight class at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls Invitational State Championship at the MVP Arena in Albany on February 25, 2025.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) and students pose at the speaker's dais on the Assembly Floor.

Recently, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) had the pleasure of meeting with family members of correction officers (COs) from throughout the state. He had the opportunity to thank them for the sacrifices they make and for coming to Albany to make their voices heard on how the safety and staffing crisis happening at our correctional facilities has impacted the well-being and quality of life of our COs and their families.

Assemblywoman Andrea Bailey, Krystal Watkins, Don Suriani, Gabe Smalt, Carroll Clark, Andrea English, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, and Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski pose for a photo.

Athletic Director Rod Weeden, Madison Tuttle, and Assemblyman Palmesano pose for a photo.

Horseheads, N.Y., June 13--State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-C, Big Flats) last night honored the Southern Tier robotics team, Team TARDIS 5356.

[In the attached photos, Assemblyman Palmesano (far right) presents Legislative Resolutions to Head Coach Rick Smith and J.D. Tette at last night's awards ceremony in Penn Yan.]

[In the attached photos, Assemblyman Palmesano (far right) presents Legislative Resolutions to Head Coach Rick Smith and J.D. Tette at last night's awards ceremony in Penn Yan.]

[In the attached photo, Senator O’Mara and Assemblyman Palmesano, far right, joined the coaches and players for a recognition tribute in the Haverling High School gymnasium.]

Assembly Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently welcomed former Assemblyman Jim Bacalles back to the Assembly chamber.

Senator O'Mara, DJ Mullin, Peyton Mullin, Mike Mullin, Shanon Schuyler, and Assemblyman Palmesano pose for a photo.

Albany, N.Y., May 21—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently welcomed a 5th-grade class from St. Michael School in Penn Yan to the State Capitol.

Albany, N.Y., May 21—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently welcomed a 5th-grade class from St. Michael School in Penn Yan to the State Capitol.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) hosted a press conference today along with local county clerks to commemorate the end of Donate Life Month and to encourage more New Yorkers to register as organ donors.

Assembly Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) welcomed Yates County Vietnam veteran P. Earle Gleason to the NYS Capitol for a luncheon and recognition ceremony on the Assembly floor thanking and honoring our Vietnam veterans and passing a resolution proclaiming March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) visited Ms. Frazer and Mrs. Bacalles' 2nd-grade class at Erwin Valley Elementary School to help celebrate and promote Agriculture Literacy Week, organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently joined Sen. Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats) to meet with local library leaders from the Southern Tier Library System who traveled to Albany to discuss the critical importance libraries have on our local communities.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently met with Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga (TST) BOCES.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) recently met with a group of student journalists from Corning-Painted Post High School.

Pictured from left to right are FFA Advisor Carlie Bossard, Miranda Dunning, Ryan Dann and Colleen Cunningham from Penn Yan, Assemblyman Palmesano, and Alison Vaughan, Myleigh Pendleton and Alissa Gorton from Marcus Whitman.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) met with local highway superintendents in Albany today to highlight the need to restore and increase funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS).