First Day of Session & Committee Assignments Announced

Wednesday,  January 8th was the first day of the 2025 Legislative Session. The day included opening day receptions, the re-election of Carl Heastie as Assembly Speaker and Andrea Stewart-Cousins as Senate Majority Leader, opening speeches, and other formalities. During their opening speeches, Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins outlined their priorities for this Session. Affordability, equitable school funding, and public safety were major themes in both leaders’ speeches. “We’ve always kept our focus on affordability,” Leader Stewart-Cousins said. “While we’ve made great strides…we know families are still feeling the pinch and we know the challenges ahead require maintaining and strengthening our resolve to make New York more affordable.” She continued, “as New Yorkers grapple with their utility bills, we’ll double down on efforts to lower the cost of energy and protect ratepayers from price gouging. All this while continuing to tackle exorbitant costs at the register for food and clothing.” Speaking about public safety in his speech, Speaker Heastie said, “although crime is down across the state, we need to make people feel safe. We must address the continuing crises of the people struggling with mental health, substance use disorders and homelessness. And we also need resources for successful Raise the Age programs across the state. Jails and prisons are not the place to solve the problems associated with homelessness, behavioral health or troubled youth. Instead, these solutions need to be within our communities. We need to work together with our partners in local government so that they have the tools required to address the challenges in their communities.”

You can watch Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins’s full speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LegCQS6TuM&ab_channel=NYSenate and you can read Speaker Heastie’s full opening day remarks here: https://assembly.state.ny.us/Press/?sec=story&story=112675

On Thursday,  January 10th, both the Assembly and Senate announced Committee Chair assignments for this new two-year Session cycle. The Committee Chairs in each House are:

Assembly Senate
Aging – Rebecca Seawright Aging – Cordell Cleare
Agriculture – Donna Lupardo Agriculture – Michelle Hinchey
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse – Phil Steck Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders – Nathalia Fernandez
Banks – Clyde Vanel Banks – James Sanders
Children & Families – Andrew Hevesi Budget & Revenue – Andrew Gounardes
Cities – Patrick Burke Children & Families – Jabari Brisport
Codes – Jeffrey Dinowitz Cities 1 – Luis Sepulveda
Consumer Affairs – Nily Rozic Cities 2 – Christopher Ryan
Corporations, Authorities & Commissions – Edward Braunstein Civil Service & Pensions – Robert Jackson
Correction – Erik Dilan Codes – Zellnor Myrie
Economic Development – Al Stirpe Commerce, 

Economic Development & Small Business – Sean Ryan

Education – Michael Benedetto Consumer Protection – Rachel May
Election Law – Latrice Walker Corporations, Authorities & Commissions – Leroy Comrie
Energy – Didi Barrett Crime Victims, Crime & Correction – Julia Salazar
Environmental Conservation – Deborah Glick Disabilities – Fahy
Ethics & Guidance – Karen McMahon Education – Shelley Mayer
Governmental Employees – Stacey Pheffer Amato Elections – Kristen Gonzalez
Governmental Operations – John McDonald Energy – Kevin Parker
Health – Amy Paulin Environmental Conservation – Pete Harckham
Higher Education – Alicia Hyndman Ethics & Internal Governance – Shelley Mayer
Housing – Linda Rosenthal Finance – Liz Krueger
Insurance – David Weprin Health – Gustavo Rivera
Judiciary – Charles Lavine Higher Education – Toby Ann Stavisky
Labor – Harry Bronson Housing, Construction & 

Community Development – Brian Kavanagh

Libraries & Education Technology – Robert Carroll Insurance – Jamal Bailey
Local Governments – Billy Jones Internet & Technology – Kristen Gonzalez
Mental Health – Jo Anne Simon Investigations &

Government Operations – James Skoufis

Oversight, Analysis & Investigations – Jonathan Jacobson Judiciary – Brad Hoylman-Sigal
People with Disabilities – Angelo Santabarbara Labor – Jessica Ramos
Racing & Wagering – Carrie Woerner Libraries – Siela Bynoe
Real Property Taxation – Jaime Williams Local Government – Monica Martinez
Rules – Carl Heastie Mental Health – Samra Brouk
Science & Technology – Steve Otis New York City Education – John Liu
Small Business – Marianne Buttenschon Procurement & Contracts – April Baskin
Social Services – Maritza Davila Racing, Gaming & Wagering – Joe Addabbo
Tourism – Ron Kim Rules – Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Transportation – William Magnarelli Social Services – Roxanne Persaud
Veterans Affairs – Steven Stern Transportation – Jeremy Cooney
Ways & Means – Gary Pretlow Veterans, Homeland

Security & Military Affairs – Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Women’s Issues – Lea Webb

It was also announced that Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter will be taking over as Speaker Pro Tempore, which was formerly held by Jeff Aubry.