Education

passed · New York · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 378: Relates to higher education funding opportunities for foster youth

Directs the education department and OCFS to prepare posters and pamphlets with information regarding higher education funding opportunities for foster youth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects preparation of materials to inform foster youth about existing higher education funding opportunities, enhancing educational access for a vulnerable population.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 6227: Provides that the commissioner of education may promulgate rules and regulations for a health education curriculum to include menstrual disorders

Provides that the commissioner of education may promulgate rules and regulations for a health education curriculum to include menstrual disorders, including but not limited to, endometriosis.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands health curriculum requirements to include menstrual disorders, enhancing student health education content and aligning with curriculum improvement indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of menstrual disorders in school health curriculum, advancing health education awareness for women's health conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · New York · Assembly Feb 13, 2026

A 9476: Relates to the veterans tuition awards program; repealer

This bill expands New York's veterans tuition awards program by allowing qualified veterans to transfer unused benefits to eligible family members, including spouses, children, or financially dependent survivors. It defines "eligible immediate family member" and sets key rules: transfers are one-time only, children receiving benefits must be under 26, and annual transfers are capped at 100. Veterans must formally designate beneficiaries through a prescribed process, and transfers cannot exceed the original award amount. The changes take effect in 2027, building on prior legislative proposals to enhance support for veterans' families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by allowing veterans to transfer tuition benefits to family members, increasing educational opportunity under the veterans' program.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veterans' tuition benefits by enabling transfer to family members, strengthening program access and support for veterans' families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

died · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 1111: Creates a single, streamlined process whereby combination pre-kindergarten and daycare programs may be certified to operate

Creates a single, streamlined process whereby a facility or program operating both a pre-kindergarten program and a daycare program may apply for and receive any certification, licensing, or other requirement otherwise necessary to operate a pre-kindergarten program or daycare program under the laws of the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStreamlines certification for combined pre-K/daycare programs, reducing administrative barriers and expanding access to early childhood education services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 1731: Renames an office of addiction services and supports scholarship program the NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program

Renames an office of addiction services and supports scholarship program the "NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program"; codifies the purposes of such program as offering financial education assistance to individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in addiction studies or the education requirements for an office of addiction services and supports credential at Alfred State College, Stony Brook University or Empire State University.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides scholarship funding for bachelor's degrees in addiction studies at state universities, expanding higher education access for specific degree programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1200: Allows the granting of academic credit at city or state operated institutions to veterans

This bill (S 1200) allows veterans to earn academic credit at New York State and City University systems for military training they completed. Specifically, full-time undergraduate veterans enrolled in good standing at these institutions can receive full credit toward their degree for military courses meeting American Council on Education standards - without any fees or tuition charges. It applies to veterans who served honorably in active duty, reserves, or New York National Guard/Militia. The law requires university boards to create procedures for implementing this credit transfer.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for veterans by granting academic credit for military training without fees, aligning with 'expands educational access' indicator.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly grants veterans academic credit for military training without fees, expanding educational benefits for honorably serving veterans at state institutions.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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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6155: Allows for a modest increase in annual income to not disqualify someone from the excelsior scholarship

This bill (S 6155) modifies New York's Excelsior Scholarship program to help current recipients maintain eligibility as their income grows. It allows the maximum allowable adjusted gross income threshold to increase by up to 3% annually after the first semester of receiving the scholarship, rather than requiring students to stay below a fixed income limit. The state education corporation (the "corporation") will review and determine if this annual 3% increase (or further increases at its discretion) prevents disqualification due to rising household income. This directly affects undergraduate students at New York state public colleges who currently receive the Excelsior Scholarship and experience typical annual income growth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies income threshold for Excelsior Scholarship, expanding access to higher education funding for students as income grows, directly strengthening educational access and affordability.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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