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Cordell Cleare

Sponsor · State Senator, District 30 · Democratic

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Senate bill · S115 (2025-26)

Relates to increasing access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion…

Official titleShow

Relates to increasing access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action Mar 5, 2026

Summary

Increases access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation.

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Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A2607, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.

Committee

Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation · New York State Senate

Also referred to Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To increase access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMar 5, 2026Result: passed

    (42) (17) (0) (4)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation

    Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationFeb 4, 2026Result: passed

    (7) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateApr 8, 2025Result: passed

    (45) (17) (0) (1)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMar 3, 2025Result: passed

    (44) (17) (0) (2)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation

    Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationFeb 4, 2025Result: passed

    (6) (0) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

Alicia Hyndman, Eddie Gibbs and 10 more on Agora

  • Democratic11
  • Republican1
See the full list on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

New York City revisited the City Charter's preamble to institute equity in the city's foundation. It is now the responsibility of the state to ensure it is a "just and equitable state for all." New York can be a national leader in instituting equitable practices for the state through the arts and culture sector. Arts and culture are vital tools in the process of ensuring equity, inclusion, diversity, and justice. Yet, arts and culture organizations that are fit to do this work have not had equitable access to these resources throughout New York State. The Arts and Cultural Affairs Law currently has limiting definitions that restrict access to resources for culturally diverse organizations. Chapter 3 outlines the power of the New York State Council of the Arts, which focuses on giving resources to organizations and individuals that promote tourism through fine and performing arts. Most organizations that serve people of color, underserved communities, and creatives of color focus not only on tourism, but also utilize arts and culture to foster identity, social cohesion, cultural preservation, public health, public safety, and more. The current language of the law hinders this part of the sector's ability to access funding equitably as they compete with organizations and creatives that focus solely on tourism. As this is a law for arts and culture, the law should reflect the inclusion and prioritization of cultural organizations and institutions that focus on the health and welfare of communities. These amendments would ensure the expansion of resources to include: arts and culture, racial and social justice, diversity and equity, cultural preservation and development, and cultural-based organizations. These entities play an important role in addressing and creating econom- ic development and facilitating public health and public safety solutions.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

  1. Mar 5, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Mar 5, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Mar 5, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  4. Feb 9, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  5. Feb 5, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

Show full history (19 earlier events)
  1. Feb 4, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.268

    1ST REPORT CAL.268

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  4. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  5. Apr 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  6. Apr 8, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    REPASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  7. Apr 8, 2025

    Returned to Assembly

    RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  8. Apr 1, 2025

    Amended

    AMENDED ON THIRD READING 115A

    NY Senate

  9. Apr 1, 2025

    Returned to Senate

    RETURNED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  10. Apr 1, 2025

    Vote Reconsidered - Restored to Third Reading

    VOTE RECONSIDERED - RESTORED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  11. Mar 31, 2025

    Recalled From Assembly

    RECALLED FROM ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  12. Mar 3, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  13. Mar 3, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  14. Mar 3, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  15. Feb 10, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  16. Feb 5, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  17. Feb 4, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.276

    1ST REPORT CAL.276

    NY Senate

  18. Jan 21, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly

  19. Jan 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

About this record

Summary

The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.

Cosponsors

The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Party colors

Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.

Source

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

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