By the DC 37 Political Action and Legislation Department

As the 2025 New York State Legislative Session comes to a close, District Council 37’s Political and Legislative Department reflects on a productive and impactful season of advocacy. The state legislative session runs from January through June, and this report outlines the key legislative victories and policy advancements we achieved this year. It also highlights several important bills that we will continue to champion in next year’s session. Through strategic advocacy and member engagement, we remain committed to advancing policies that protect workers, strengthen public services, and support the communities we serve.

Final New York State Budget Summary

The following section provides a summary of the final enacted New York State Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, with a focus on key provisions that impact DC 37 members and the communities we serve.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS)

• The budget dedicated $2 million to SAPIS funding.

Pension

• We successfully fought back against changes to our pension system that would threaten the viability of our DC 37 pension.

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Direct Support Professionals under OPWDD

• The budget included a 2.6% inflationary increase for various human service employers in the not-for-profit sectors.

Inflation Rebate Checks 

• Single filers earning between $75,000 and $150,000 are eligible for a $150 tax credit, and $200 for those earning under $75,000. The figures are doubled for those married and filing jointly. 

School Cell Phone Ban

• The Legislature and Governor agreed to a ban on the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including charter schools and BOCES. 

Free School Lunch  

• The budget included $340 million to provide free school lunch for all children in grades K-12.

School Aid 

• The budget increases school Foundation Aid by $1.4 billion for the 2025-2026 school year.

Child Care Tax Credit 

• The child tax credit will increase from the current $330 per child to $1,000 for children up to the age of 4, and to $500 for children between the ages of 4 and 16. 

Early Childhood

• The full day pre-kindergarten program has been extended and is set to expire June 30th 2026.  

Child Care 

• Funding of  $5 million was appropriated for Consortium for Worker Education (CWE) to administer the child care facilitated enrollment scholarship program for NYC.

Revenue

• The high earner income tax surcharge was extended through 2033. 

Unemployment Insurance Benefit Increase 

• The budget authorizes $8 billion in funds to be transferred into the state’s unemployment trust fund. This will restore the maximum benefit to 2025 levels at $869 a week, previously $504.

CUNY-School of Labor and Urban Studies 

• Funding of $3.375 million for this labor supported program at CUNY was approved.

Bills that Passed Both Houses

The following section highlights key bills that successfully passed both the New York State Assembly and Senate during the 2025 legislative session and are now awaiting the Governor’s signature to become law.

Libraries

Freedom to Read Act- A.7777 (Simon)/ S.1099 (May):

This legislation requires the Commissioner of Education to develop policies to ensure school libraries and staff are able to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to a diverse range of developmentally appropriate materials.

Consumer Protection 

Fostering Affordability and Integrity Through Reasonable (FAIR) Business Practices Act- A.8427-A(Lasher)/ S.8416 (Comrie) 

This legislation will bring New York’s consumer protection laws in line with 42 other states and the federal government by updating the statute to include both unfair and abusive business practices. 

Veterans 

Veteran Family Educational Attainment Act – A.3240-A (Dinowitz)/ S.4358-A (Bailey):

This legislation will allow for the transfer of a portion or all of a Veteran Tuition Award to eligible immediate family members, decreasing enrollment costs at colleges or universities in New York State for military families.

Workers Safety & Workplace Violence Prevention

Violence Prevention Programs in Hospitals- A.203-B (Cruz)/ S.5294-B (Sepulveda):

This legislation requires hospitals to establish a violence prevention program and conduct an annual safety and security assessment for the purpose of protecting health care workers, patients, families, and visitors.

Wage Protection during Workplace Violence Investigations- A.6612 (Bronson)/ S.5254 (Ryan):

This legislation protects public sector employees from a reduction of wages due to their involvement in the investigation of a violation of a workplace violence protection program.

Workers Compensation & Leave Benefits 

Changes to Eligibility for Permanent Total Disability Classification- A.2748 (Bronson)/ S.2537 (Ramos):

This legislation will increase coverage of workers compensation by expanding the definition of total disability to include those unable to do sedentary work or approved for federal social security disability benefits. 

Paid Family Leave Benefits Extension- A.4727(Bronson)/ S.50 (Comrie):

This legislation would allow workers employed by more than one employer, in the field of construction, excavation, rehabilitation, repairs, reconstruction, renovation, alterations, and improvements to become eligible for paid family leave benefits.  As long as they worked for 26 out of the last 39 weeks with one or more employers. 

Health

Add Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCATs) to the Medicaid Provider List- A.3319 (Bronson)/ S.1001 (Brouk):

This legislation allows LCATs to bill Medicaid for their services and requires art therapy to be covered by insurance policies like any other mental healthcare. 

Required Public Notice of Hospital Closure- A.6004 (Simon)/ S.1226 (Rivera):

This legislation requires the public to get advance notice on proposed  hospital closures to allow for improved public notice and public engagement when hospitals and units are threatened with closure. 

Keeping School-based Health Centers out of Medicaid Managed Care Programs- A.957 (Paulin)/ S.1224 (Rivera): 

This legislation ensures services provided in school-based health centers are not provided to medical assistance recipients through managed care programs. Delivering services through managed care plans would delay critical care for New York’s children who depend on these centers and increase their administrative burdens.

Childcare

Childcare Centers Tax Abatement Increase- A.8028 (Hevesi)/ S.7684 (Persaud):

This bill combats childcare deserts by significantly increasing the childcare center tax abatement for eligible properties in New York City, creating a strong incentive for property owners to establish and expand childcare centers in underserved communities.

AI Regulation 

Automated Decision-Making in Government Agencies- A.8295-D (Otis)/ S.7599-C (Gonzalez):

This bill will prevent government agencies from using automated decision tools to make impacts on public benefits, rights, and civil liberties unless consistently and carefully reviewed by a human. The bill also requires a review and approval of AI systems in city and state services before the system is used to prevent discrimination, privacy vulnerabilities, and public risks. 

Housing

Succession Rights for NYCHA Tenants- A.8412-D (Bichotte-Hermelyn)/ S.8311-A (Kavanaugh):

This legislation requires the New York Housing Authority to establish clear procedures for determining succession rights in its housing units and expands eligibility to include individuals with significant emotional and financial ties to the tenant. 

Passed the Assembly 

The following section highlights key bills that were successfully passed by the New York State Assembly during the 2025 legislative session. We will continue advocating for their passage in the Senate during the next legislative session.

Workplace Violence Prevention in Libraries- A.6903 (Bronson)/ S.7993 (Ramos):

This legislation will ensure the protection of library workers from the intimidation and harassment they face in the workplace. The bill requires every public library to establish a proactive violence prevention program, as well as training on de-escalation techniques and managing mental health crises. 

Passed the Senate 

The following section highlights key bills that were successfully passed by the New York State Senate during the 2025 legislative session. We will continue to advocate for their advancement in the Assembly in the upcoming session.

First Responder Peer Support Program Act- A.7285-A (Burdick)/ S5407-A (Harckham):

This legislation will establish a first responder peer support program to prioritize the mental well-being of state volunteers and first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and emergency dispatchers. 

Open Shelves Act- A.3199-B  (Kelles)/ S.1100-A (May):

This bill will empower workers in state-funded libraries to independently curate collections by requiring the library maintain a diverse catalogue necessary to reflect the needs and interests of the communities they service.

Indigent Legal Services and Loan Forgiveness- A.1602 (Simon)/ S.161 (Ramos):

This bill will expand the loan forgiveness program for lawyers working: as a public defender, with children and parents in family court, representing clients in housing and immigration cases, and assisting with public benefits to keep up with the rising costs of law school. 

Prohibit Voluntary Intoxication as a Defense in Sex Crimes- A.101-A (Dinowitz)/ S.54-A (Fernandez):  

This legislation would allow the prosecution to file charges when the accused was, or reasonably should have been, aware that the complainant was unable to give consent due to intoxication. 

Priority Bills for Next Session 

The following section highlights priority bills that did not pass either house during the 2025 legislative session but remain central to our advocacy efforts. We will continue to push for their passage in the upcoming session.

Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program (TEMP) Act- A.3527 (Bronson)/ S.3412 (Ramos): 

This legislation will establish temperature protection standards and education, as well as training and reporting requirements for all employers to provide safe conditions for their employees. The Department of Labor will be required to establish an employee training curriculum and provide signage to worksites outlining the signs of heat illness and the necessary medical responses.  

Strengthening the NYS Workplace Violence Prevention Law- A.8223 (Bronson)/ S.7658 (Ramos):

This legislation will add more protections for public employees regarding workplace violence and require public employers to take specific action to prevent workplace violence by establishing enforcement provisions.               

New York For All Act- A.3506-A (Reyes)/ S.2234-A (Gounardes) : 

This legislation ensures appropriate use of state and local resources by limiting the use of state and local resources for immigration enforcement purposes. 

Fair Pricing Act- A.2140 (Jackson)/ S.705 (Krueger): This legislation would cap the price of basic outpatient medical services at 150% of Medicare’s price, regardless of the setting. This bill would prevent New Yorkers from being charged excessive prices for routine healthcare services. 

Criminal Justice Reform- Earned Time Act S.342 (Cooney)/ A.1085 (Kelles), Second Look Act  S.158 (Salazar) / A.1283 (Walker), and Marvin Mayfield Act S.1209 (Myrie)/ A.1297 (Meeks): These justice reform bills will allow incarcerated individuals to earn “good” or “earned” time to reduce their sentence, allow judges to review and reconsider individuals who were given lengthy sentences, and remove mandatory minimum requirements on sentences. 

Social Work Workforce Act- A.701 (Gonzalez-Rojas)/ S.988 (Brouk):

This bill removes the requirement that applicants must pass a standardized entry-level exam to qualify to be a Licensed Master Social Worker. Currently, there is a shortage of social workers across New York State. By eliminating this administrative hurdle, a barrier to filling these vacancies would be lifted.