How They Voted

Governor signs round of bills passed by state legislators

As of this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul has enacted 1,094 bills passed in the 2023-24 legislative session. She has vetoed 115.

Below are summaries of select laws and the votes cast by Republican Rob Rolison (whose Senate district includes the Highlands), Democrat Dana Levenberg (whose Assembly district includes Philipstown) and Democrat Jonathan Jacobson (whose Assembly district includes Beacon).

Students 

On Sept. 9, Hochul enacted a law that requires colleges to print information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards beginning July 1, 2025.

Passed by Senate, 59-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 147-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

On Sept. 5, Hochul signed legislation that allows withdrawals from 529 education savings plans to be used to pay the principal or interest on student loans. New York had been collecting taxes on these withdrawals.

Passed by Senate, 59-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 145-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor also signed a bill that requires school districts with a high school to include at least one non-voting student member from any grade on the Board of Education. Previously, the law required voters to approve the position, and the student to be a senior. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2025.

Passed by Senate, 48-13 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 144-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Labor 

On Sept. 7, Hochul signed a law that, among other provisions, requires retailers with more than 500 employees nationwide to provide workers with panic buttons, either throughout the store or on their person, that alert law enforcement.

Passed by Senate, 41-19 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 102-43 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor also signed a bill that requires state agencies to notify police officers and prison guards when a Freedom of Information Law request is made for their disciplinary files.

Passed by Senate, 59-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 144-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Farming

On Aug. 28, Hochul signed legislation allowing the state to lease land for sap production and tree tapping for up to 10 years (rather than five). According to the bill’s sponsors, maple producers can expect a return on investment of $12.50 per tap per year under a five-year lease but nearly $32 on a 10-year lease.

Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 145-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor also signed a law that allows farm wineries to use apples grown outside New York to manufacture cider with a New York label if they suffer crop failures. Farm breweries and cideries were already protected. It also changed the standard for crop loss from “much” to “at least 30 percent.”

Passed by Senate, 57-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 144-1 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor enacted a law to change the name of the Young Farmer Advisory Board to the Beginning Farmer Advisory Board and eliminate a requirement for members to be younger than 45. The sponsors noted that because the average age of a New York farmer is 57, a beginning farmer group “will be much easier to constitute.” 

Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 136-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Women’s health

On Aug. 26, Hochul enacted legislation that requires insurers to provide coverage for nipple tattoos added by a physician after breast reconstruction surgery. 

Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 143-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

In addition, the governor signed a bill that requires public colleges and universities to stock restrooms with free menstrual products. It follows a 2019 law that requires public schools to do the same for students in grades 6-12.

Passed by Senate, 57-2 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 119-27 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Cider sales 

On Aug. 18, Hochul signed a law that allows manufacturers of craft spirits, cider and mead to ship directly to consumers, which has been allowed as a temporary measure since the pandemic. The law takes effect Nov. 16.

Passed by Senate, 47-13 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 128-14 | Jacobson Yes Levenberg Yes

Voting rights 

On Aug. 6, Hochul signed legislation that allows a teenager who will turn 18 by Election Day to apply for an absentee or early mail ballot.

Passed by Senate, 48-9 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 147-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor also enacted laws that:

■ Require the state Board of Elections to assist voters in fixing errors on absentee ballot envelopes by providing a “cure” form and postage-paid return envelope. The form can also be returned by email. In addition, the law extends the deadline for the board to receive fixes to seven business days after it mails the notice or the seventh day following the election, whichever is later.

Passed by Senate, 44-17 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 92-49 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

■ Create a standard order for candidates to appear on a ballot in descending order by electorate size, i.e., president, vice president, governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, state attorney general, U.S. senator, U.S. House, state senator, state Assembly, followed by local offices. The previous law stated only that “the offices appearing on all ballots shall be listed in the customary order.” The statute goes into effect Jan. 1.

Passed by Senate, 44-14 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 96-48 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

■Allow attorneys licensed to practice in New York to be poll watchers at any location. Other poll watchers must be registered in the city or county in which they serve. The sponsors argue that attorneys “can be invaluable in detecting improper conduct, such as voter intimidation and suppression, and electioneering.”

Passed by Senate, 41-21 | Rolison No
Passed by Assembly, 98-49 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Backlog

On July 17, Hochul signed legislation to reduce backlogs in family and civil courts by adding 28 judges statewide, including 16 in New York City, four on Long Island and one each in Rockland and Westchester counties.

Passed by Senate, 53-8 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 129-15 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

E-bike batteries 

On July 11, Hochul signed legislation banning the sale of lithium-ion batteries for mobility devices, e-bikes or mopeds unless they meet minimum safety standards. The legislation was introduced in response to lithium-ion battery fires.

Passed by Senate, 60-2 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 134-10 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Rolison, Jacobson and Levenberg also voted for bills signed by the governor that require (1) police officers to report serious accidents involving e-bikes or scooters to the DMV; (2) manufacturers to add red tags to cords instructing users to unplug the charger if the battery catches fire; (3) retailers selling these devices with lithium-ion batteries to provide customers with operating manuals; and (4) mopeds (aka “limited use motorcycles”) to be registered by dealers at the point of sale if they will be driven in New York state.

Social media

On June 20, Hochul enacted a law that requires social media companies to restrict minors from receiving “addictive feeds” driven by algorithms without parental consent. Violators face fines of up to $5,000 per incident.

Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 143-1 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

The governor also signed a law prohibiting sites from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under 18 without parental consent unless it is “strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.”

Passed by Senate, 61-0 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 144-0 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes

Sexual assault

On Jan. 30, Hochul signed a law that updated the definition of “rape” in the penal code to remove the requirement of penetration. It now defines rape as vaginal, oral or anal sexual contact.

Passed by Senate, 58-4 | Rolison Yes
Passed by Assembly, 129-12 | Jacobson Yes  Levenberg Yes