Dear Neighbor,

2025 legislative highlights include:

Protecting New Yorkers:

• License Revocation for Vessel DUI Offenses (S200).  Authorizes revocation of a driver’s license for those convicted of operating a vessel under the influence.
• Criminalizing the Threat of Disseminating Intimate Images (S205).  This bill expands existing laws against non-consensual image release to include threats of such actions.  It builds upon the "Revenge Porn" law by providing anti-sextortion protection, empowering victims against coercion and online harassment.
• Timely Emergency Alert Notifications (S680).  Ensures emergency alerts are issued within 30 minutes or as soon as practicable to protect public safety.
• Municipal Cybersecurity Incident Reporting (S7672A).  Requires municipalities to report ransomware attacks, adopt cybersecurity protections, and follow data protection standards.

Ensuring Fiscal Fairness

• Property Tax Equalization Rates Reform (S8151).  This bill requires the state commissioner of taxation and finance to establish special equalization rates for school districts spanning Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  It aims to correct unfair disparities in school tax burdens for property owners in the same school districts but across county lines, ensuring a more equitable distribution of taxes.

Safeguarding Children

• School Security Guard Training (S194A).  Requires school-based security guards to complete annual on topics related to this unique setting.
• Prohibiting Youth-Targeted Vape Marketing (S195).  Bans the sale of vape products that resemble toys or school supplies or are marketed to appeal to minors.
• Handling of Duplicate CPS Reports (S201).  Directs duplicate reports on open CPS cases to be merged and kept open for an additional 30 days to support continued investigation.
• Mental Health Support for CPS Workers (S253).  Provides access to supportive mental health services and resources for all child protective service employees.

Supporting First Responders

• Timely Payment of Death Benefits for Volunteer Responders (S190).  Requires death benefits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to be paid within 90 days of application.
• Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Police Officers (S683A).  Creates a property tax exemption for the primary residence of a police officer’s surviving spouse if the officer was killed in the line of duty.
• Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Volunteer First Responders (S688A).  Expands eligibility for a property tax exemption to surviving spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers killed in the line of duty, including those with two to five years of service.
• Tax Relief for Volunteer First Responders (S6233).  Offers an $800 state income tax credit and a local property tax exemption for active volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.

Helping Veterans

• Veterans' Health Care Review (S7129).  Establishes a comprehensive review of veterans’ health and mental health care access, including treatment for PTSD, military sexual trauma, and suicide prevention.

Advancing Animal Protections

• Tucker's Law (S197).  This bill removes the two-year definite sentence cap for aggravated animal cruelty, allowing judges to impose consecutive sentences for multiple counts. 
• Wild & Exotic Animal Protection Act (S252).  This bill expands definitions of "wild" and "exotic" animals to protect them from being imported, sold, or owned, curbing exploitation.
• Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Pets (S896).  This bill requires local emergency management plans to include preparations for accommodating animals during evacuations.  It ensures pets are not left behind during disasters, preventing human suffering and strengthening overall community resilience.
• Strengthening Penalties for Animal Abandonment (S1741).  This proposed law establishes a minimum fine of $500 for animal abandonment, making it a misdemeanor punishable by jail time or a higher fine.    It emphasizes the inhumanity of abandoning animals and aims to deter such acts by ensuring accountability.
• Statewide Co-Shelter Toolkit for Housing Providers (S7612).  This bill establishes a toolkit of best practices for housing providers to create shelter environments that accommodate domestic violence victims and homeless individuals with companion animals.  It reduces barriers for vulnerable individuals to access safe housing by enabling pet-inclusive policies.

2026 New York State Budget Highlights

Prior to the legislature's adjournment, New York State approved its F.Y. 2026 budget laying out a comprehensive plan that invests in affordability, education, public safety, and the well-being of all New Yorkers.

Affordability

• Tripling the size of the Child Tax Credit, providing eligible families with up to $1,000 per child under the age of 4 and up to $500 for school-aged children in 2026.

Protections for New Yorkers

• Including $40 million for the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) to provide homeowners with free, qualified mortgage-assistance relief services.
• Adding $25 million in funding for the Home Energy Affordability program (HEAP) program.
• Regulating Buy-Now, Pay-Later loans (BNPL) by establishing first-in-the-nation consumer protections and limiting fees and interest.

Education

• Making a record commitment in Foundational Aid for public schools including an average 7.6% increase for schools within the Fourth Senatorial District.
• Extending the fiscal monitor’s oversight of the Wyandanch Union Free School District through 2027.
• Providing universal free school meals to all students statewide.
• Allocating $2 Million for the Amityville Union Free School District to keep Northeast Elementary School open.
• Investing $750,000 in the Long Island Pre-K Initiative.

Environment

• Investing $1 billion to advance New York’s climate resilience and green energy transition.
• Providing $500,000 to support Save the Great South Bay’s work.

Government

• Delivering a second consecutive increase in Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) to cities, towns and villages that will help fund essential services for residents including nearly $3.8 million for local governments in the district.
• Investing an additional $100 million over two years in the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which provides aid to local governments to maintain roads and bridges.
• Paying off an $8 billion pandemic-era federal unemployment debt, saving businesses money by lowering Unemployment Insurance (UI) rates and eliminating interest payments, and clearing the way for long-overdue cost-of-living benefit increases for jobless workers, which had been capped at 2019 levels.

Health

• Dedicating $330,000 to the Long Island State Veterans Home to support recruitment and retention efforts of nurses.
• Extending for five years the authorization for emergency medical service providers to recoup certain costs to maintain financial stability.

Public Safety

• Providing $100,000 to the Crime Victims Center Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner and Rape Crisis Response (SAFE/R) Program.
• Allocating $100,000 for S.N.U.G Wyandanch to work with victims of community and gun violence.
• Providing $150,000 to Suffolk’s Vocational Education Extension Board (VEEB), which trains the county’s volunteer firefighters at its fire academy.

Support for Local Organizations:

• $7,500 for Legal Services of Long Island.
• $10,000 for Touro Law Clinic.
• $10,000 for Wyandanch 36 North Sports.
• $15,000 for Angela's House Foundation.
• $15,000 for LI Against Domestic Violence.
• $15,000 for Lindenhurst Robotics Team.
• $15,000 for Puerto Rican Coalition for a Better Community.
• $20,000 for Blue Card.
• $20,000 for Cops N Kids.
• $20,000 for Education Impact Foundation, Inc.
• $20,000 for Family Residences & Essential Enterprises (FREE).
• $20,000 for Keep Your Change Inc.
• $20,000 for Scott J. Biegel Foundation.
• $20,000 for TINMIS.
• $25,000 for Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI)
• $25,000 for Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (LICADD).
• $30,000 for LGBT Network.
• $50,000 for Long Island Cares.
• $50,000 for Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers.
• $50,000 for Suffolk County Youth Bureau.
• $81,000 for Family Service League.
• $100,000 for Penates Inc.
• $300,000 for Island Harvest.

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.

Sincerely,

Monica R. Martinez
New York State Senator
Fourth Senatorial District

Weathering the Storm

June was the official start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, and I encourage you to use this time to prepare for the potential impact of a tropical disturbance.

With its stunning coastline, Long Island is not only a destination for tourists but also for tropical weather systems.  Don’t allow a lack of emergency planning to create a perfect storm of misfortune this hurricane season. Prepare now so you and your loved ones are ready for whatever may blow our way.

Young at Heart

It was a golden time for seniors from across the district during the Inaugural Senior Fun Day who enjoyed music, dancing, games, informational seminars, and great food.  The day was a celebration of community spirit and connection, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make it such a success.  Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, senior center coordinators, and all who attended.  A special thank you to the Tanner Park Senior Center for hosting this memorable event.

Strapped in for Child Safety

Make sure your little ones are properly protected in the event of a car accident by having their car seats inspected. On Sat., July 26, I will be hosting a free car seat inspection event with the NYS Troopers and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the Deer Park Fire Department. Preregistration is required for the inspections, but neighbors are welcome to stop by to take part in "Operation Safe Child" and "Shed the Meds" events, which will also be available.

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.

A Page-Turning Summer

Don't let summer vacation turn into the "summer slide" for children this summer.  Encourage them to participate in the New York State Senate's Summer Reading Program.  For additional information and to sign-up, please visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/nyread.  Participants will receive an official Summer Reading Certificate in recognizing of their dedication and achievement.

The Sounds of Summer

There will be music in the air throughout the summer in the Fourth Senatorial District and residents are encouraged to check with their respective towns to learn more.