Dear Neighbor,

This week, the New York State Legislature and Governor reached an agreement on key provisions of the FY 2026 budget, laying the groundwork for a vote next week on a comprehensive plan that invests in affordability, education, public safety, and the well-being of all New Yorkers. Highlights of the budget agreement include:

Tax Relief & Affordability

Child Tax Credit Expansion: Tripling the size of the child tax credit, providing eligible families with up to $1,000 per child under the age of four and up to $500 for school-aged children in 2026.

Education

State Aid: Investing a historic $37 billion in schools, statewide.
Childhood Hunger: Providing free school breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students, saving families money and ensuring children don't go hungry.

Public Safety

Gun Violence Prevention Funding: Directing support toward proven gun violence prevention programs to build on recent successes in reducing shootings.
Police Technology Upgrades: Allocating funding to upgrade police technology to enhance law enforcement capabilities.
Security for Vulnerable Locations: Providing funding for security enhancements at synagogues, mosques, and other vulnerable locations to reaffirm the state's stance against hate.

Transportation

DOT Capital Plan Investment: Investing additional funding in the Department of Transportation’s 5-year Capital Plan to support core highway and bridge construction projects.

Environment & Climate

A Greener and Cleaner Future: Making the largest climate investment in the state's history, focused on keeping energy costs down, ensuring reliability, and transitioning to clean energy.
Water and Flood Control Infrastructure: Adding funding for clean water and flood control infrastructure to protect communities from severe weather events.

Local Government

Aid and Incentives for Municipalities: Delivering a second consecutive increase in temporary municipal assistance to cities and towns that allow local governments to fund essential services like police officers and firefighters.

Childcare

Investing in projects to build new childcare facilities and renovate existing ones as part of a long-term goal towards universal childcare.

Other Highlights

Making reforms to discovery laws to better support victims and survivors and reduce case dismissals based on minor technicalities.
Establishing a statewide policy requiring schools to be distraction-free from bell-to-bell by restricting smartphone and other internet-enabled device use during school hours.
Promoting a more equitable market for homebuyers by prohibiting private equity firms from bidding on single- and two-family homes during their initial 90 days on the market.
Maintaining record reserves to help safeguard state finances against economic uncertainty.

Budgets are built on compromise, and while I may not agree with every part of the proposed spending plan, I remain committed to finding common ground while remaining committed to the principles that protect Suffolk County residents.

As always, please be sure to check out our newsletters and social media pages for updates on upcoming events and other important district news.

Follow me on Facebook, X formally known as Twitter, and Instagram for real-time updates on the State Legislature, local services, upcoming office events, and what I am up to along my district travels.

If my office can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help in any way we can.

OFFICE LOCATIONS & CONTACT INFORMATION

Browse bills, upcoming public hearings, and more on the NYS Senate website, and use the message tool on my page to share your thoughts with me on bills and issues facing our district.

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An Egg-stra Special Day

There was egg-citment in the air during the annual "Egg-ceptional Hoppening Egg Hunt" at Geiger Park. No-bunny had trouble getting their kids excited for this annual tradition that featured sweet treats, hands-on crafts, and local community resources in addition to the egg hunt. This egg-stravaganza also provided attendees an opportunity to dispose of unused or expired medications, shred sensitive documents and get an "Operation Safe Child" identification card.

Autism Awareness and Understanding

April was Autism Awareness Month, and I was proud to host a thoughtful and informative community discussion at the Brentwood Public Library that advanced understanding of this developmental disability that affects an estimated 1 in 31 children and roughly two percent of the American adult population. The forum focused on the challenges faced by people living with autism, and how we can better support them and their families.

The discussion was moderated by Josh Mirsky of the New York State Autism Spectrum Advisory Board and featured panelists:

April Seneus, Brentwood School District
Fallon Dougherty, Suffolk County Department of Services for Children with Special Needs
Marie Flanagan, NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Timothy George, Northwell Health
Shannon McCabe, Parent Advocate & SEPTA President
Paula Prestia, Parent Advocate

Shredding it Up

Our neighbors shed any fears of old documents and unused or expired medications falling into the wrong hands during the Shred, Shed and Services event at Deer Park Public Library. Residents came out to take advantage of the opportunity to safely dispose of old medications and securely shred their personal records.

Brentwood Fights Back

This year's Brentwood Women Fight Back Against Breast Cancer event was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community unites to raise awareness and stand with those impacted. Neighbors from across Brentwood came together in a strong show of support and solidarity in the fight against this potentially deadly disease.

Verdict is In

I’m deeply humbled to have received the Legislator of the Year award from Touro Law Center. This recognition is a reflection of the incredible teamwork, community support, and the shared commitment to justice and progress we fight for every day.

A Continuing Threat

"NYS Senate Votes to Expand Sen. Martinez's 'Revenge Porn' Statute to include Intimate Image Threats."

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New York Senate Votes to Unleash Stronger Animal Protections

"Sen. Martinez wins approval of anti-cruelty legislation targeting abuse and wildlife exploitation."

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Delivering Relief From Hunger

Help Stamp Out Hunger on Long Island by leaving a healthy canned or packaged non-perishable food at your mailbox on Saturday, May 10. This annual event supports Island Harvest's efforts and your letter carrier will collect all donations and have it delivered to Island Harvest’s sorting facility over the next week.

A Golden Time

Join us from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, for Senior Fun Day at Tanner Park, featuring exciting activities, informational seminars, lunch, and more, all focused on celebrating our golden-aged neighbors. Registration is required by May 28.

On the Road to Early Detection

I will be partnering with Stony Brook Medicine to bring its Mobile Mammography Van to the district on Friday, July 18, and Friday, August 8. Early detection of breast cancer can save lives, so register today by calling 631-638-4135 to schedule an appointment. You must be 40 or older to be screened, but high-risk individuals may also qualify. Please call the registration number to find out if you’re eligible.

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