Photo: assembly.state.ny.usNY · Officeholder
DAssembly Member · District 82
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: NY State Assembly · District 82
Michael Benedetto is the incumbent Democratic Assembly Member for District 82 in the northeast Bronx, first elected in 2004. A lifelong northeast Bronx resident, he spent 35 years as a teacher, mostly in special education at P.S. 160 in Co-op City, and founded the Bronx Times Reporter newspaper. He chairs the Assembly's Education Committee.[1][2]
Michael Benedetto was born in the Bronx in 1947 and has lived his entire life in the northeast Bronx.[1] He attended local Catholic schools, then graduated from Iona College in 1969 with a B.A. in history and education, serving as president of the student council there.[1] He earned an M.A. in social studies and education in 1971.[1]
Benedetto spent 35 years teaching.[1] He taught at Our Lady of Assumption School in Pelham Bay from 1969 to 1974, then joined the New York City public schools in 1974 as a teacher of mentally and physically challenged children.[1] He was assigned to P.S. 160 in Co-op City in 1977 and became coordinator of its special-education unit in 1988, remaining there for almost 28 years until his election to the Assembly in 2004.[1] His official biography lists teaching awards, including a 1993 Federation of Italian-American Educators Excellence in Teaching Award.[1] Ballotpedia lists him as an adjunct instructor at Mercy College.[3]
Outside the classroom, Benedetto started the Throggs Neck Community Players community theater group in 1969 and served on Community Planning Board #10 from 1975 to 1979.[1] In 1981 he started the Bronx Times Reporter newspaper, which his official biography describes as the largest community paper in the Bronx.[1] He also served on the staffs of City Councilmembers Michael DeMarco and Madeline Provenzano before his election to the Assembly, according to the same biography.[1]
Benedetto was elected to the Assembly in 2004 and took office in 2005.[1][2][3] As of the 2025-2026 session he chairs the Education Committee and also sits on the Labor Committee.[2][3] In his 2022 Ballotpedia survey, he describes himself as a lifelong East Bronx resident, born and raised in the Country Club community, who lives in Throggs Neck and is a father and grandfather.[3]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Relates to certain mandatory disclosures for job advertisements
Requires certain mandatory disclosures for printed or digital job advertisements by an employer or third-party job posting entity; provides for the imposition of a fine of $2,500 for violations.
Jun 2, 2026 · Passed Assembly 86–54Official record ↗
Relates to labeling requirements for gas stoves
Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 91–48Official record ↗
Relates to the payment of restitution by registered and unregistered repair shops
Establishes that if financial loss has been made and a registrant or unregistered repair shop fails to comply with an order to pay restitution, the commissioner shall, by order, increase the amount of the penalty assessed.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 92–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern
Relates to facilitating appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern.
May 18, 2026 · Passed Assembly 81–56Official record ↗
Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–53Official record ↗
Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 82–52Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law relating to providing that in the case of any application for gas service to a building which is not supplied with gas, a utility corporation or municipality shall be obligated to provide gas service to such building.
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–61Official record ↗
Provides that the assignment, transfer, or modification of leases for exploration, development, and production of gas or oil in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management areas shall not allow expansion or extension of such provisions.
Mar 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–50Official record ↗
Relates to portable solar generation devices
Defines "portable solar generation device"; exempts portable solar generation devices from interconnection or net metering requirements; requires the state energy conservation construction code to allow for portable solar generation devices to be connected to a building's wiring through an electrical outlet.
May 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 89–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
Relates to requirements for medical professionals and health care facilities that provide medication to patients for medical aid in dying; extends the initial effectiveness of certain provisions relating thereto.
Feb 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–62Official record ↗
Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–49Official record ↗
Relates to labeling requirements for gas stoves
Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.
Jun 1, 2026 · Passed Assembly 91–48Official record ↗
Most contested
Establishes a comprehensive electric vehicle fast charging station implementation plan; requires the New York state energy and research development authority to further establish a "Fast Charge NY working group" to develop such plan; makes related provisions.
Mar 18, 2026 · Passed Assembly 108–35Official record ↗
Provides that a rental vehicle company or peer-to-peer car sharing program administrator may act as an agent for an authorized insurer with respect to accident and health insurance that provides coverage to shared vehicle owners, shared vehicle drivers, or a combination thereof, and any other coverage that the superintendent of financial services may approve as meaningful and appropriate in connection with the sharing of a shared vehicle.
Feb 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 101–42Official record ↗
Relates to adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic-control signal indications in the city of Ithaca.
Jun 2, 2026 · Passed Assembly 105–34Official record ↗
Most contested
Requires children enrolled in an overnight camp, summer day camp, or travelling summer day camp to be vaccinated against a specified list of diseases.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 90–47Official record ↗
Requires name and contact information to be provided in certain calls made to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment.
Jan 29, 2026 · Passed Assembly 98–36Official record ↗
Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; relates to contracts for excellence, foundation aid, the homeless and foster count, renewable energy projects, zero-emissions school buses and to apportioning aid for universal prekindergarten; relates to reimbursement for the 2026-2027 school year and the maximum contract hours, withholding a portion of employment preparation education aid, and the effectiveness thereof; relates to the use of apportionments for the EXCEL program and the effectiveness thereof; relates to maximum class sizes for special classes for certain students with disabilities; provides for special apportionment for salary expenses; provides for special apportionment for public pension accruals; amends provisions relating to the apportionment amount for the Roosevelt union free school district; provides for set-asides from the state funds which certain districts are receiving from the total foundation aid; provides for support of public libraries; repeals certain provisions relating to the statewide universal full-day prekindergarten program (Part A); relates to evidence-based instructional practices in the subject of mathematics for students in kindergarten through grade five (Part B); relates to the eligibility of students enrolled in an approved program leading to a degree in a high demand field for the New York opportunity promise scholarship (Part C); allows for the chancellor of SUNY and CUNY to impose differential tuition rates on non-resident undergraduate and graduate students until the 2028-2029 academic year (Part E); relates to early childhood educator eligibility for the masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program (Part F); changes the name of the "New York state musical instrument revolving fund" to the "New York state music grant fund"; includes musical education in school districts and boards of cooperative educational services within not-for-profit musical entities incorporated in the state and organized for the purpose of the presentation of performing arts for the benefit of the public (Part G); extends provisions of law relating to restructuring financing for residential school placements (Part K); increases the standards of monthly need for aged, blind and disabled persons living in the community (Part L); utilizes reserves in the mortgage insurance fund for the neighborhood preservation program, the rural preservation program, the rural rental assistance program, and the New York state supportive housing program, the solutions to end homelessness program or the operational support for AIDS housing program (Part M); increases the number of land banks which can simultaneously exist in the state of New York from 35 to 45 (Part N); authorizes a tax abatement for alterations and improvements to multiple dwellings for purposes of preserving habitability in affordable housing (Part O); relates to establishing the crime of aggravated harassment of a rent regulated tenant (Part P); renumbers the disparate impact standard for housing and employment in the human rights law (Part Q); defines eligible multiple dwelling under the affordable New York housing program; includes a multiple dwelling that is located on a parcel of land which was part of a tract of land for which a special permit for a large scale general development was approved via the uniform land use review procedure on or before June 15, 2022, and such tract contains a multiple dwelling for which the commencement date is after December 31, 2015 and on or before June 15, 2022 and complies with certain affordability options (Part R).
May 20, 2026 · Passed Assembly 119–25Official record ↗
Most contested
Prohibits landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decontrol in certain leases and renewals thereof; imposes a violation punishable by a fine of $1000 for a violation by a landlord; requires the standardization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Affordable New York Housing Program.
May 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 89–50Official record ↗
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property when covenants, conditions and restrictions exist which discriminate on the basis of a protected class in violation of state or federal law.
Feb 3, 2026 · Passed Assembly 95–46Official record ↗
Requires that when a complaint is made to local code enforcement of a violation of the uniform fire prevention and building code or a local code which results in the issuance of a compliance order, the complainant shall also be provided a copy of such order.
Mar 30, 2026 · Passed Assembly 96–45Official record ↗
Most contested
Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use for the previous year; requires the department of labor to file an annual report on the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use in the state; establishes penalties for covered business that fail to submit such reports.
Jun 3, 2026 · Passed Assembly 105–35Official record ↗
Provides internet access to all individuals residing in temporary housing
Provides WiFi service and internet access to all individuals residing in temporary housing; relates to funding for internet service under the ConnectAll digital equity grant program.
Jun 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 126–6Official record ↗
Authorizes the town of Clarkstown in Rockland county to lease certain lands used as parklands to Homeland Towers, LLC for the purposes of installing a cellular tower.
Jun 2, 2026 · Passed Assembly 130–9Official record ↗
Voted with most of their party on all 108 party-divided votes on file.
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 81–56 · Yes 81–No 56 · Democrats 81–11, Republicans 0–45
May 18, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–62 · Yes 83–No 62 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–45
Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–53 · Yes 83–No 53 · Democrats 83–9, Republicans 0–44
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–61 · Yes 83–No 61 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–44
Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 82–52 · Yes 82–No 52 · Democrats 82–9, Republicans 0–43
Jun 5, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to certain mandatory disclosures for job advertisements
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 86–54 · Yes 86–No 54 · Democrats 86–9, Republicans 0–45
Jun 2, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–49 · Yes 83–No 49 · Democrats 83–6, Republicans 0–43
Jun 5, 2026Official record ↗
Enacts the "police radio transparency act"
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 78–62 · Yes 78–No 62 · Democrats 77–18, Republicans 1–44
Jun 3, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Provides for a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises at 22 N Main Street in the village of Florida, county of Orange.
Increases the occupancy tax in the county of St. Lawrence from three to five percent.
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Croton-on-Hudson; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2031.
Relates to a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises in the county of Greene.
Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board.
Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.
Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners; adds nurse practitioners as persons who can authorize or make certain determinations authorized to be made or determined by physicians.
Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.
Permits the town of Monroe to impose a hotel and motel tax; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.
Showing 10 of 313 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.