Reporting from the state Capital in Albany, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano says that while a handful of meaningful Republican-backed bills managed to cross the finish line this legislative session, the overall performance of the State Legislature was marked by missed opportunities and misplaced priorities.
“In a year when New Yorkers needed bold, decisive action on crime, affordability, and economic recovery, the Democrat-controlled Legislature delivered very little,” DeStefano said in reviewing the session’s outcome. “Still, we fought for and passed several important measures that reflect the real needs of our communities.”
Among the bills DeStefano highlighted was the Alexander John Smullen Traffic Safety Memorial Law, which establishes a statewide program to erect memorial signs honoring individuals killed in vehicle crashes on state highways. “This is about dignity, remembrance, and a public reminder of the human cost of unsafe driving,” said DeStefano. “It’s a simple, heartfelt measure that offers grieving families a lasting tribute.”
Another win for the Assembly Republican Conference came with the passage of a bill to allow individuals to join the Donate Life organ donor registry via state income tax filings. “This makes it easier for people to give the gift of life,” DeStefano said. “Streamlining the process will save lives.”
The Emergency Medical Services Tax Cap Exemption, a bill long championed by GOP lawmakers, was also passed. The measure removes EMS costs from the property tax cap calculation, making it easier for local governments to fund ambulance services. “EMS isn’t a luxury — it’s essential,” said DeStefano, an emergency services volunteer for over 40 years. “This gives towns the flexibility they need to properly support first responders.”
Another bipartisan success was the Fiscal Cliff Task Force bill, which will examine how public assistance recipients can lose benefits abruptly as their income rises — a phenomenon known as the “benefits cliff.” DeStefano said, “This is about building pathways out of poverty, not punishing people for working more.”
Yet despite these advances, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay says the overall legislative record paints a troubling picture.
“This session will be remembered for what wasn’t done,” Barclay said. “We still have a broken economy, an affordability crisis, and a public safety system in need of serious reform. Instead of facing these problems, the majority passed bills that amount to political window dressing.”
Barclay pointed to controversial measures such as physician-assisted suicide, judicial redistricting, and the continued zero-emissions school bus mandate, calling them distractions from core issues like taxes, crime, and energy affordability.
DeStefano echoed that criticism: “We offered common-sense bills to reduce wasteful spending, rein in climate costs, require voter ID, and support law enforcement. The Democrats blocked or ignored all of them.” New York has long been plagued by a one-party system controlled by Progressive Democrats who favor urban interests over those of the suburbs, such as Long Island.
Several GOP-sponsored bills were killed by the Democrat leadership without a floor vote, including proposals to study child care barriers and enhance sector-based job training. “These weren’t partisan ideas. These were practical solutions that Democrats refused even to debate,” DeStefano noted.
Other bipartisan bills that did pass included:
- The Keep Police Radio Public Act, ensuring emergency responders and journalists can access encrypted police communications.
- The FAIR Act, which expands the Attorney General’s authority to crack down on “unfair or abusive” business practices.
- The RAISE Act, requiring artificial intelligence developers to follow written safety protocols for AI models.
Barclay put it more bluntly in a column summarizing the session: “The 2025 agenda felt more like strategic procrastination than an honest effort to address the many issues plaguing taxpayers. Until Albany confronts the affordability crisis and begins listening to the people, nothing’s going to change.” Fiscal conservatives were appalled by the state budget passed during the session, a $254 billion behemoth that’s $12.5 billion higher than last year
As lawmakers return to their districts for the summer, DeStefano says he’ll keep fighting for Long Islanders. “We may be in the minority, but we’re not powerless,” he said. “We’ll keep pushing for the reforms New Yorkers desperately need and deserve.”