Education

passed · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 2505: Establishes a task force on educator diversity in New York state

Establishes a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the presence of educator diversity in the state, state actions taken to promote educator diversity, and how the state can encourage new initiatives to enhance and promote educator diversity in New York; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes task force to study and promote educator diversity, directly supporting initiatives to enhance teacher diversity in schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 1683: Enacts the "public university emergency contraception education act"

Enacts the "public university emergency contraception education act" requiring public universities to develop, produce and distribute informational materials related to emergency contraception.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates public universities to distribute emergency contraception educational materials, expanding access to health education resources under higher education, directly supporting educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public universities to distribute emergency contraception education materials, improving access to reproductive health information and services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 2657: Establishes the bilingual teachers of tomorrow teacher recruitment and retention program

Establishes the bilingual teachers of tomorrow teacher recruitment and retention program to attract and retain bilingual, certified teachers in schools with a bilingual teacher shortage; provides for grants and procedures for applying for such grants and eligibility requirements for fund distribution.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program to recruit/retain bilingual teachers in shortage areas, directly supporting teacher workforce development and educational access in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 27: Provides for tuition assistance program awards for students experiencing homelessness

This bill expands New York's tuition assistance program to include students experiencing homelessness, directly affecting homeless students seeking financial aid for higher education. It modifies eligibility criteria to align with federal definitions under the McKinney-Vento Act and requires a standardized verification process for homelessness status across all tuition assistance programs. The bill also clarifies that homeless students cannot be considered "emancipated" for aid purposes solely based on their homelessness status. These changes aim to streamline access to financial aid for homeless students while ensuring consistent federal-aligned verification.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded tuition assistance program requiring additional budget allocation for homeless students' educational aid, aligning with 'funds essential programs' indicator.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance eligibility for homeless students, increasing higher education access and aligning with federal homelessness protections under McKinney-Vento.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands tuition aid to homeless students, directly addressing homelessness per McKinney-Vento Act eligibility requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3810: Relates to graduate tuition assistance program awards

Establishes graduate tuition assistance program awards; sets amounts of such awards; provides for restrictions on such awards; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes graduate tuition assistance program awards, providing direct funding for higher education access and reducing financial barriers for graduate students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 594: Relates to providing universal school meals to students

Requires all public school districts, charter schools and non-public schools in the state that participate in the national school lunch program or school breakfast program as provided in the national child nutrition act to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state-funded universal school meals, requiring increased public spending on education services per bill summary.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires universal free school meals for all participating schools, removing cost barriers to student nutrition and access. Directly advances educational access and student well-being.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3738: Makes provisions with respect to student awards, loans and tuition assistance programs

Requires the higher education services corporation to make a determination of financial eligibility of a student for financial aid, awards and loans within 60 days from the day of the receipt of the financial aid application; where the higher education services corporation fails to make a timely determination the applicant shall be deemed eligible for such aid for the semester for which the application was made; allows for a 30-day extension if notice is given to the educational institution within the initial 60-day period.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates timely financial aid determinations for higher education, preventing delays that could block student access to tuition assistance. Ensures eligibility if deadlines are missed, directly advancing educational access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3779: Relates to increasing the maximum years of study under the tuition assistance program

S 3779 increases the maximum number of academic years students can receive tuition assistance under New York's program from four to six years. It directly affects undergraduate students enrolled in eligible two- or four-year colleges who rely on this state-funded aid. The key change extends eligibility periods, with specific provisions for students in remedial programs (counted as five-year programs) and those transferring due to college closures (allowing up to two additional semesters). This update aligns the program with longer degree completion timelines common in higher education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded tuition assistance program, requiring increased budget allocation for education access and student support.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends tuition aid eligibility from 4 to 6 years, increasing access to higher education funding and reducing financial barriers for students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1991: Relates to including information concerning repayment of outstanding loans in the standard financial aid award letter

This bill requires colleges and universities to include clear, standardized information about student loan repayment in financial aid award letters sent to undergraduate students. Specifically, institutions must detail estimated monthly payments, total payoff amounts (including interest), and standard 10-year repayment terms for any loans in the aid package. The requirement applies to all schools offering approved programs, directly affecting students receiving financial aid by making loan costs more transparent upfront. The Department of Financial Services must create and publish this standardized letter format, including a glossary of terms, by December 2015 (with implementation for the 2016-17 academic year). This change aims to help students understand long-term debt obligations before accepting financial aid.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparent loan repayment details in financial aid letters, improving student access to higher education by reducing debt surprises and enabling informed borrowing decisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Dec 1, 2025

S 312: Relates to complaints concerning the moral character of individuals who hold or who are applicants for New York State teaching certificates

This bill creates a new internal registry for active investigations into specific moral character complaints against New York teachers or applicants. It only includes cases involving boundary violations between teachers and students, sex-related offenses, or sexual complaints, as determined by the commissioner. School districts seeking to hire an applicant are notified if they're on the registry, but the registry's details remain confidential except to school administrators. Teachers added to the registry can appeal within 30 days, and investigations must be prioritized for completion. The bill does not change existing moral character standards but standardizes how such complaints are tracked and communicated.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates registry for teacher moral character complaints to prevent harmful hires, protecting students and maintaining educational standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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