The Basics:

• Know your government! Educate yourself on what are the roles of local government, state government, and the federal government.
• What is the legislative session for the state?
• ACTION ITEMS PEOPLE CAN TAKE – follow where bill is in committee or on the floor, email the governor, the speaker, the majority leader, write op eds, share personal stories, get your local electeds to pass resolutions, engage with organizations doing this work like the NY Immigration Coalition, donate to Open Doors English and Ithaca Welcomes Refugees.
• Take care of our collective mental health–we are all family.

IMMIGRATION

MELT Act (Mandating End of Lawless Tactics) (S8462 / A8908) – Fahy / Simone – Prohibits local, state, and federal law-enforcement officers operating in New York from concealing their identities during civil immigration actions (e.g., masks/face coverings or plainclothes that prevent identification), requires visible identification, and establishes reporting/oversight, to improve transparency, deter impersonation, and rebuild trust and safety for immigrant communities.

Access to Representation Act (S141 / A270) – Hoylman-Segal / Cruz – Guarantees that people in immigration court have a right to a lawyer even if they can’t afford one. Immigration law is complicated, and most people don’t have a right to a public defender like in criminal court. This bill would make New York the first state to create a universal right to representation in immigration cases.

New York for All Act (S2235 / A3506) – Gounardes / Reyes – Also called – Prohibition on Immigration Status Questioning & Disclosure Act –
Prevents local law enforcement and state agencies (local law-enforcement officers, school resource officers, probation agencies, and other public employees) from helping federal immigration agencies (like ICE and CBP) with immigration enforcement. It stops them from asking people about their immigration or citizenship status unless it’s legally required or necessary to administer a public program. It also:

• It prohibits these entities from sharing a person’s immigration-status information (or related personal details) with federal immigration authorities in most cases.
• It bars the transfer of custody of individuals to immigration authorities unless there is a valid federal judicial warrant (i.e., you can’t just hand someone over to federal immigration enforcement based solely on a state/local decision).
• It forbids use of state/local resources for immigration enforcement (such as time of officers, database access, property usage) in most circumstances.
• It sets up reporting and oversight: state and local agencies must publish summaries (e.g., number of times immigration-authorities requests were made) and the state Attorney General will receive and review complaints about improper sharing or enforcement.

Many immigrants avoid going to hospitals, reporting crimes, or accessing services out of fear their information will be shared with ICE. This bill helps build trust and safety.

Dignity Not Detention Act (S7373 / A7099A) – Salazar / Reyes – Prohibits state and local governments in New York from making or renewing contracts with ICE to detain immigrants in local jails or facilities. Immigration detention often happens in county jails or private prisons. This bill would end that practice in New York. It would reduce the number of immigrants held in detention, protects human rights, and keeps families and communities intact.

BUILD Act (Building Up Immigrant Legal Defense Act) (S4538 / A2689) – Liu / Cruz – Amends the Executive Law to create workforce development and capacity-building grants for organizations providing legal services to immigrants facing deportation. Goes beyond individual rights and strengthens the infrastructure needed to support immigrant legal services, a key component of access and sustained advocacy.

INVEST IN OUR NY (IONY)

Capital Gains Surtax (S1439 / A676) – Gounardes / Kim – Adds an extra tax on long-term capital gains and other low-taxed investment income for high-income filers, closing a major preferential-rate gap so wealth income isn’t taxed less than wage income; a significant, progressive revenue source.

Billionaires’ Mark-to-Market Tax (S165 / A3632) – Ramos / Kelles – Taxes annual unrealized gains of residents with $1B+ in assets, ending the “buy, borrow, die” loophole so extreme wealth is taxed each year like regular income; designed to generate large, steady revenue from the ultra-wealthy.

Corporate Tax Justice Act (S953 / A1971 – Hoylman-Sigal / Kelles – Raises the corporate income tax rate for the biggest, most profitable companies and tightens rules on profit-shifting; aligns taxes with ability to pay and funds public investments while leveling the field for small businesses.

Restore the Stock Transfer Tax (repeal the rebate) (S1237 / A1494-A) – Sanders / Steck – Ends the 100% rebate of New York’s long-standing stock transfer tax so trades on major exchanges contribute to the public good; expected to raise billions that can support infrastructure, housing, and transit.

Heirs’ (Inheritance & Gift) Tax (S914 / A2049) – Brisport / Solages – Establishes separate taxes on inheritance and gift income and updates estate-tax rules so large intergenerational transfers are taxed more fairly; curbs dynastic wealth concentration and raises equitable revenue.

Progressive Income Tax (S1622 / A1281) – Jackson / Meeks – Creates a more progressive state income tax so the highest earners pay higher marginal rates; aimed at reducing inequality and raising stable revenue for schools, housing, transit, and care.

HEALTHCARE

The New York Health Act (S7590 / A7159) – Rivera / Paulin – This bill would establish a single-payer, publicly funded universal health care system in New York State called New York Health. It guarantees comprehensive health coverage for every New Yorker, regardless of age, income, employment, or immigration status, including inpatient and outpatient medical care, primary and preventive services, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, reproductive care, prescription drugs, and long-term care (home care and nursing care).

Under the act, there would be no premiums, deductibles, copays, or provider network restrictions. Everyone could choose any participating provider.

The NYHA would consolidate all federal funding that is received into the state for every New Yorker who qualifies for Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Plus, and ACA marketplace plans into a single system, streamlining administration and expanding benefits. Employers and employees would no longer pay private insurance premiums; instead, the system would be funded through progressive payroll and income taxes based on ability to pay, with employers contributing a share and individuals contributing through income tax. The bill establishes a New York Health Trust Fund that includes these funds from the federal government, employers, and progressive payroll and income taxes to finance the system. It includes an implementation framework, governance by a Board of Trustees and regional councils, and workforce transition support for those currently employed in private insurance. Details of the program include:

• Universal coverage: Every resident, including immigrants regardless of status, receives full health care coverage.
• Cost savings: By removing private insurance overhead and administrative complexity, billions can be redirected to care rather than bureaucracy.
• Equity and access: Eliminates financial barriers to care that disproportionately harm low-income communities, people with disabilities, rural residents, and immigrant New Yorkers.
• Comprehensive benefits: Covers long-term care, mental health, reproductive health, and other essential services often underinsured or denied today.
• Provider stability: Creates predictable funding and reduces billing complexity, allowing hospitals and clinicians to focus on care delivery.
• Economic justice: Replaces regressive premium costs with progressive taxation, ensuring those who can afford to pay more do so, while most working- and middle-class New Yorkers pay less than they do now for health care.

The New York Health Act has been introduced in multiple sessions, but the 2025 version strengthens language around financing and immigrant coverage, modernizes references to federal waivers, and reaffirms the state’s intent to proceed with implementation even if not all federal funds are immediately secured. It remains one of the most comprehensive and ambitious single-payer health care proposals in the country.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

New York State Abortion Clinical Training Program Act (S1438 / A2439) – Krueger / Epstein – Establishes within the Department of Health a statewide clinical training program for health-care practitioners (including physicians, residents, advanced practice clinicians) to gain competency in a full range of abortion and related reproductive health services (medication abortion, procedural abortion, miscarriage care, telehealth, contraception after-care). This is important because New York has historically lacked a coordinated training pipeline for abortion care, which limits provider capacity, especially in underserved regions, expanding provider education strengthens access and equity.

Enable Medication Abortion Through Pharmacies (S2533 / A1172) – May / Paulin – Authorizes licensed pharmacists, under specified conditions and clinician orders, to dispense abortion medication (for self-administration when clinically appropriate) and mandates insurance plans that cover contraception to also cover abortion medication. This matters because it reduces access barriers (travel, wait-times, provider shortages), especially for rural and underserved patients, and integrates abortion medication into more accessible care settings.

Pharmacist-Administered Injectable Contraception (S1703 / A2514) – Webb / McDonald – Empowers pharmacists to administer FDA-approved injectable reversible contraceptive methods when ordered by a physician or advanced practice clinician, increasing access in “contraceptive desert” areas with few clinics. This is significant for reducing unintended pregnancies, expanding contraceptive choice, and strengthening reproductive autonomy in communities with limited provider access.

Public University Emergency Contraception Education Act (S1683 / A1372) – Parker / Dinowitz – Requires each SUNY and CUNY campus to provide emergency contraception upon request and mandates a statewide awareness and education campaign for college students about emergency contraception’s availability, safety, and timely use. This is key for student health access, supporting sexual and reproductive health in higher-education settings, and removing delays or knowledge‐gaps that can affect outcomes.

Supporting Practical Access to Abortion and Reproductive Health Services (S135 / A2137) – Cleare / González-Rojas – Creates or expands grant programs to cover practical support for abortion access (such as travel, lodging, childcare, translation services, doula support) and aims to reduce non-medical barriers that often prevent timely care for low-income, rural, immigrant and BIPOC patients. This matters because having a legal right to abortion isn’t sufficient if logistical or financial obstacles prevent access, this bill bridges rights to practical implementation.

Protecting Provider Confidentiality in Reproductive Care (S36-A / A2145) – Cleare / Paulin – Requires pharmacies and other dispensing entities to use provide organization names (rather than individual clinicians) on labels and records in abortion medication distribution, and helps shield individual providers from doxxing, harassment or retaliation. This matters because safeguarding provider privacy supports a stable provider workforce, particularly given threats to reproductive‐health professionals, and thus preserves access for patients.

Tax Credit for Relocating for Reproductive & Gender-Affirming Care (S2402 / A3948) Hinchey / Kelles – Establishes a refundable $500 personal income tax credit for individuals who permanently relocate to New York State from a state with more restrictive abortion or gender-affirming care laws in order to either (a) provide reproductive or gender-affirming care as a qualified health-care provider, or (b) receive such care as a patient (or parent/guardian of a patient). The credit takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2025. The bill is important because it signals New York’s commitment to becoming a safe haven for reproductive and gender-affirming care, aids in attracting providers and patients to the state, helps address provider-shortage and access issues, and supports freedom of choice and health-justice in the face of increasing restrictions elsewhere.

THE ENVIRONMENT

If we really want Energy affordability – follow the roadmap of the scoping plan from the CLCPA! No pipelines and no nukes!

If we want national security and energy independence from other fascist dictatorship ships – then build out affordable, renewable, clean energy – no pipelines no nukes!

Rollback actions taken by the TRUMP administration:
● PFAS / “Forever Chemicals” Rollbacks: The Trump administration significantly weakened federal efforts to regulate PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), a class of highly persistent “forever chemicals” linked to cancer, liver damage, endocrine disruption, and developmental harm. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delayed and narrowed regulations limiting specific PFAS compounds such as PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS in drinking water. Compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS were extended from 2029 to 2031, while restrictions on several other PFAS were removed altogether. In addition to watering down enforcement mechanisms, the administration obstructed progress on the final draft of stronger PFAS drinking water standards, slowing down public-health protections. These moves gave polluters more time to avoid cleanup and remediation responsibilities while leaving communities, especially those already overburdened by pollution, without meaningful safeguards.
● Fossil Fuel Expansion and Renewable Energy Rollbacks: The Trump administration aggressively prioritized fossil fuel production over renewable energy, most notably through the January 20, 2025 executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy.” This directive instructed federal agencies to undo, suspend, or revise any regulations deemed “burdensome” to fossil fuel extraction and development, including oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, and nuclear. The EPA also began repealing regulations that limited greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants and weakened mercury and toxic emissions standards. Across multiple agencies, the administration slowed or reversed renewable energy and clean-power programs while streamlining approvals for drilling and fossil fuel infrastructure, effectively giving oil, gas, and coal industries a freer hand. These policy shifts tilted the national energy landscape away from decarbonization and toward entrenched fossil interests, undermining climate goals and making state-level leadership critical to maintaining momentum for clean energy.
● Broad Deregulation of Air, Water, and Environmental Protections: Under Trump, federal agencies carried out one of the most sweeping deregulatory agendas in U.S. environmental history, rolling back nearly 100 environmental rules. The administration repealed the Clean Water Rule (also known as “WOTUS”) in September 2019, replacing it with a narrower definition that stripped federal protection from many wetlands and small waterways. It weakened or dismantled air pollution standards, including soot, tailpipe, and power-plant emissions, and gave companies new avenues to seek regulatory exemptions under the Clean Air Act. The EPA proposed steep budget cuts to programs focused on environmental justice, clean water, and clean air enforcement, while also reducing the role of scientific advisory panels. In practice, these moves allowed greater industrial pollution, eroded basic public health protections, and transferred regulatory power back to industries with a history of environmental harm.

Implications and State-Level Relevance

These federal rollbacks pose direct risks to public health, the climate, and environmental equity. By weakening PFAS standards and other toxic emissions rules, the administration increased exposure risks for vulnerable populations, including children, low-income communities, and communities of color. Repealing greenhouse gas and air pollution regulations delayed the clean-energy transition, locking in fossil fuel infrastructure and associated climate emissions. Deregulation also created uncertainty for businesses and municipalities that had already invested in cleaner energy and water infrastructure under prior rules. For New York and other climate-forward states, these actions effectively shift responsibility downward, requiring states to fill regulatory and funding gaps through their own PFAS drinking water standards, power-plant emission limits, renewable energy programs, and environmental justice initiatives. They also provide an opportunity: by moving decisively on climate and environmental protection while the federal government weakens standards, New York can both protect its residents and position itself as a leader in the clean energy economy.