Education

in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 16: Enacts Jacobe's Law

S 16, "Jacobe's Law," requires school staff to contact parents or guardians when bullying or harassment is confirmed involving a student. School counselors, principals, or other designated staff must first discuss with the student whether contacting parents would raise health, safety, or privacy concerns before making reasonable efforts to notify them via phone, email, or mail. The law also protects individuals who report bullying or harassment in good faith from retaliation or legal liability. This affects students involved in such incidents, their parents/guardians, and school staff responsible for handling reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates bullying reporting protocols and protects reporters from retaliation, enhancing student safety in schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 484: Establishes the rural teacher education loan repayment program in the education department

Establishes the rural teacher education loan repayment program in the education department which provides payment for the undergraduate and graduate education loans of teachers in rural school districts who agree to teach in rural areas for at least 5 years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides loan repayment for rural teachers to retain educators in underserved areas, directly supporting teachers and addressing rural school staffing challenges.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 1636: Authorizes the city school district of the city of Salamanca to establish a reserve fund for federal impact aid in the event such aid is reduced

This bill authorizes Salamanca City School District to create a reserve fund (capped at $5 million) using existing district funds if federal impact aid decreases. The fund would stabilize school tax levies and maintain educational services if federal aid is reduced, directly affecting Salamanca students and taxpayers. Voter approval via a separate ballot question is required before establishing the fund, and withdrawals would be disclosed in annual budget reports. The bill specifies that funds would be drawn from unassigned balances or other existing reserves, not new taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents tax increases by stabilizing school levies using existing funds if federal aid drops, aligning with fiscal responsibility.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes reserve fund to maintain educational services if federal aid decreases, protecting current funding stability for Salamanca schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 8845: Relates to prior year state aid adjustments

Requires any state aid owed to a school district from a prior year adjustment be paid as part of the first state aid payment of the following school year following the notification of such payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires timely payment of prior-year state aid adjustments, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget execution for school districts.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures timely payment of prior-year state aid to school districts, supporting stable school funding mechanisms without delays.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 2482: Enacts the "go green schools act" to assist school districts in converting to renewable energy systems

Enacts the "go green schools act" to assist school districts in converting to renewable energy sources as a primary source of energy; directs NYSERDA to conduct a study and make recommendations for such purpose.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves school infrastructure by funding renewable energy conversion, aligning with 'enhances school infrastructure' indicator for education support.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates school districts to convert to renewable energy systems as primary source, directs NYSERDA study for recommendations, directly promoting renewable energy adoption in public infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates renewable energy conversion for schools via NYSERDA study, directly promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions per environmental indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 17, 2026

S 9039: Establishes a competitive emergency mapping grant program

Establishes a competitive emergency mapping grant program which will provide grants to school districts or boards of cooperative educational services to upgrade their floor plans, blueprints, schematics or other maps of their school interior, school grounds and road maps of the immediate surrounding area included in their building level emergency response plans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides grants to upgrade school emergency response maps, directly improving school infrastructure safety for K-12 facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 17, 2026

S 523: Relates to reimbursement for studies for districts subject to reorganization

S 523 requires New York school districts to be reimbursed for actual costs incurred when conducting studies mandated by the education department to approve reorganization (such as mergers, consolidations, or annexations). It directly affects school districts undergoing reorganization that are eligible for state aid under existing law. The bill establishes a reimbursement mechanism for these study expenses, contingent on the state making a specific budget appropriation for this purpose. If no appropriation is made by the effective date, the law delays implementation until funds are secured, with formal notifications required to track this process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state budget appropriation for school district study reimbursements, directly funding a specific program under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state reimbursement for school district study costs during reorganization, removing financial barriers to approved consolidations under education department requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 16, 2026

S 5116: Relates to the documentation and preservation of Black history in New York state by the state university of New York

Establishes the New York state Black history preservation commission to ensure the documentation and preservation of Black history in New York state within the state university of New York.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to document Black history in SUNY curriculum, enhancing educational content and access to diverse historical perspectives within higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 11, 2026

S 6318: Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates arts/music curriculum integration, expanding student program offerings and supporting arts education in K-12 schools per bill requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 4, 2026

S 8853: Relates to vaccines and immunizations of children

Requires the administration of certain vaccines for children in accordance with regulations issued by the commissioner, utilizing generally accepted medical standards and based on recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or other similar nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school-required vaccines for K-12 attendance, ensuring student health and preventing disruptions to educational access as standard school policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates childhood vaccines per medical guidelines, advancing public health prevention standards and aligning with major medical organizations' recommendations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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