NY State Senate · District 28

• YesAssesses a separate tax on distributions from designated settlement funds · S10585 · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Assesses a 100% tax on distributions from the federal anti-weaponization fund; provides that such tax shall not be reduced pursuant to any deduction, exemption or credit.
• YesProvides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits · S10113 · Passed Senate 47–13 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.
• YesRelates to winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring · S10094 · Passed Senate 44–16 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes a standardized statewide system for collecting, recording, and monitoring winter road maintenance operational data in order to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and support the protection of water resources in the state of New York; requires calibration of all deicing material application equipment used for winter highway maintenance on public roads.
• YesEstablishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act · S9500-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
• YesRelates to placing restrictions on the sale of flare guns · S8455-B · Passed Senate 35–25 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees; sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns.
• YesRequires certain construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility transmission facilities · S7898-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.
• YesConcealed Carry Improvement Act · S51001 · Passed 43–20 · 2022-07-01 official record ↗Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.
• Yes2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax) · S2509-C · Passed 38–25 · 2021-04-06 official record ↗Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.
• YesProtect Our Courts Act · S425-A · Passed 42–18 · 2020-07-22 official record ↗Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.
• YesClimate Leadership and Community Protection Act · S6599 · Passed 41–21 · 2019-06-18 official record ↗Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
• YesHousing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · S6458 · Passed 36–26 · 2019-06-14 official record ↗Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.
• YesExtreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law) · S2451 · Passed 42–21 · 2019-01-29 official record ↗Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
• YesReproductive Health Act · S240 · Passed 38–24 · 2019-01-22 official record ↗Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.

Votes on landmark laws since 2019, plus 2026 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side — read from the legislature’s official records.

• actionChairs the Senate Finance Committee, a post she has held since 2019; also serves on the Budget and Revenue and Rules committees in the 2025-2026 session.[1]
• bill2026-05-28 · Sponsored S8512C, the Solar UP Now NY Act, creating a regulatory framework for portable solar generation devices and exempting them from interconnection/net-metering requirements; passed the Senate 62-0 on April 21, 2026 and was substituted by Assembly companion A9111C, which passed the Assembly 59-1 on May 28, 2026.[5]
• action2026-09-24 · Joined 69 state lawmakers in a September 2026 letter urging New York's congressional delegation to reverse federal SNAP cuts.[4]
• action2026-09-24 · Publicly opposed proposals to shift the cost of new nuclear power plants onto utility ratepayers and taxpayers.[6]

• ✓SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-18): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.[10]

  What they say: Sponsored the Climate Change Superfund Act and a statewide fracking ban, pushed fossil-fuel divestment from state pensions, sponsored the Solar UP Now NY Act to expand portable solar devices, and opposes shifting the cost of new nuclear power plants onto ratepayers and taxpayers.[2][5][4]

• ✓SupportsProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S240 (Reproductive Health Act, 2019-01-22): Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.[13]

  What they say: Cited as a leader on New York's Reproductive Health Act and related reproductive-health legislation.[2]

• ✓SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

  Stated priority of protecting and expanding affordable housing for New Yorkers and addressing homelessness.[2]

• ✓SupportsExpand public health coverage

  Advocates for improved healthcare access as part of her legislative priorities.[2]

• ✓SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S6458 (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, 2019-06-14): Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.[9]

• ✓SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S2451 (Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law), 2019-01-29): Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. Voted yes on S51001 (Concealed Carry Improvement Act, 2022-07-01): Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.[11][12]

• ✕OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S425-A (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-22): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.[14]

• ✓SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S2509-C (2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax), 2021-04-06): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.[15]

• Tax and government reform: modernizing New York State's governmental processes, electoral system, and tax policy.[2]
• Healthcare and reproductive rights, including leadership on the Reproductive Health Act and postpartum depression legislation.[2]
• Protecting and expanding affordable housing and addressing homelessness.[2]
• Climate and environmental policy, including the Climate Change Superfund Act, a fracking ban, a plastic bag ban, and fossil-fuel divestment from state pension funds.[2]
• Hunger and anti-poverty policy, including expanding SNAP access and opposing federal cuts to food assistance.[2][4]

• Earned a B.S. in social policy/human development from Northwestern University (1979) and an M.A. in public policy from the University of Chicago (1981).[1]
• Was the founding director of the New York City Food Bank and worked in hunger/anti-poverty roles, including as Special Project Coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Community Food Bank and Associate Director for the Community Food Resources Center.[1]
• First ran for the State Senate in 2000, narrowly losing to incumbent Republican Roy Goodman; won the seat in a 2002 special election after Goodman resigned.[3]
• Elected Chair of the Senate Finance Committee after Democrats won the Senate majority in 2018, one of the most powerful posts in the chamber; also sits on the Budget and Revenue and Rules committees in 2025-2026.[1][3]

• ✓SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing

  Campaign platform calls for repealing bail reform, enforcing quality-of-life laws, and giving law enforcement more tools and support.[8]

  “Public safety isn't a political issue, it's the foundation of every thriving community.”

• ✕OpposesKeep congestion pricing in Manhattan

  Campaign platform calls for repealing Manhattan's congestion pricing toll.[8]

  “Repeal the congestion tax.”

• ✓SupportsPublic funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  Campaign platform calls for expanding charter schools so parents zoned for lower-performing schools have another option.[8]

  “Expand charter schools so every parent has a choice, not just those zoned for failing schools.”

• ✕OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

  Platform frames New York's fiscal problems as a spending problem rather than a revenue problem and calls for tax relief rather than new taxes.[8]

  “New York has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. The answer isn't to tax more, it's to govern better.”

• ✕OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuels

  Platform calls for lifting the state's fracking ban and investing in nuclear power rather than continued expansion of solar.[8]

  “real energy policy, lifting the fracking ban and investing in zero-emission nuclear power, not doubling down on solar that can't meet our needs”

• Restore public safety by repealing bail reform, enforcing quality-of-life laws, and giving law enforcement more tools and support.[8]
• Cut government waste and fraud and return savings as targeted tax relief, including exempting young professionals and single working parents from certain state taxes and protecting 401(k) withdrawals from state taxation up to cost-of-living thresholds.[8]
• Promote economic growth and innovation, including lifting the fracking ban, opposing shutdowns of data centers, repealing congestion pricing, and expanding charter schools.[8]
• Reform family court and address neighborhood overdevelopment and shelter-placement policy.[8]

• Earned a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University.[7]
• Has approximately 20 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare private sectors.[8]
• Ran for New York City Council District 5 in 2025 on the Republican line and lost to incumbent Julie Menin, 73.7% to 26.0%.[7]
• Came to the United States as a child when her family fled the Soviet Union as Jewish refugees.[8]