NY State Senate · District 36

• 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.

• bill2025-10-16 · Sponsored S3654-A, mandating health-insurance coverage for speech therapy treating stuttering; passed the Senate 57–1 on June 10, 2025, passed both chambers, and was vetoed by the Governor on October 16, 2025.[10]
• bill2026-03-24 · Sponsored S8960-A, a bill that would bar residential evictions during dangerously hot or cold weather, or weather emergencies; amended and recommitted to the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee on March 24, 2026, and has not passed either house.[6]
• actionChairs the Senate Insurance Committee for the 2025–2026 legislative session.[1]

• ✓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.[12]

  What they say: Voted yes on the GREAT Act (S9500-A), which passed the Senate 39–21 and establishes a virtual power plant program and incentives for distributed energy resources to reduce energy costs and grid strain.[8]

• ✓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.[13][14]

  What they say: Voted yes on S8455-B, which passed the Senate 35–25 and creates new criminal offenses restricting the sale of flare guns.[9]

• ✓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.[11]

  What they say: Sponsored S8960-A, a bill that would bar the execution of residential eviction warrants during dangerously hot or cold weather, or declared weather emergencies, and the 72 hours after.[6]

• ✓SupportsExpand public health coverage

  Sponsored S3654-A, requiring health insurers to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy for stuttering without durational limits; it passed the Senate 57–1 in June 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor in October 2025.[7][10]

• ✓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.[15]

• ✕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.[16]

• ✓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.[17]

• On a bill requiring insurance coverage of speech therapy for stuttering: "We're committed to ensuring every voice, especially those of our youngest, is heard and supported. Stuttering is too often misunderstood and overlooked, and Senate Bill S3654 is a step toward justice in care."[7]
• Sponsor's justification for a tenant-eviction bill (S8960-A) notes that "more than 7,500 New York City households have been evicted on days when temperatures exceeded ninety degrees Fahrenheit" since 2017, and proposes barring evictions during dangerously hot or cold weather, or declared weather emergencies.[6]

• Born in 1982 and raised in the Bronx; attended Bronx High School of Science.[2]
• Earned a B.A. from the University at Albany, SUNY, and a J.D. from CUNY School of Law.[2]
• Began his political career as an intern to Assemblymember Carl Heastie, later serving as his district director and as a Democratic district leader in the 83rd Assembly District for six years.[2]
• Won a five-way Democratic primary for the 36th Senate District on September 13, 2016, and has been re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.[2]
• Chair of the Bronx Democratic Party since September 2020.[2]
• Chairs the Senate Insurance Committee in the 2025–2026 session, after previously chairing the Senate Codes Committee.[1][3]

• ✓SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

  Says she would work to repeal New York's sanctuary-state policies.[5]

  “I will work to remove NYS sanctuary status.”

• ✕OpposesProtect legal access to abortion

  Urged a 'no' vote on New York's 2024 Equal Rights Amendment ballot measure (Proposal 1), which added pregnancy outcomes and other categories to the state constitution's equal-protection clause.[5]

  “I URGE everyone to vote NO! to prop 1 on the back of the ballot.”

• "I will fight to repeal bail reform legislation. I will also fight for law enforcement which has been decimated by these laws."[5]
• "I will fight to repeal our sanctuary state status."[5]
• "My objective is to further help my community by securing a position that will enable me to continue to fight in a more effective way & to positively affect the lives of everyday people."[5]

• Born in the Bronx, New York.[4]
• Earned a high school diploma from Christopher Columbus High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980.[4]
• Ran for New York State Assembly District 80 in 2024 on the Conservative Party line, receiving 5.2% of the vote in the general election won by Democratic incumbent John Zaccaro Jr.[4]