Expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness and increases loan reimbursement for certain attorneys…

Official titleShow

Expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness and increases loan reimbursement for certain attorneys who work in legal services with indigent clients

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

Latest action May 4, 2026

Expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness; increases loan reimbursement for certain attorneys who work in legal services with indigent clients.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

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

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A1602, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would increase student loan forgiveness for district attor- neys, public defenders, and indigent civil legal services attorneys.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 4, 2026Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceMar 5, 2026Result: passed
(22) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationFeb 10, 2026Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 13, 2025Result: passed
(56) (1) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationFeb 3, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Albert A. Stirpe, Amanda Septimo and 68 more on Agora

Democratic66
Republican4

Show all 70 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Ramos says this is needed

Public defenders, district attorneys, and indigent legal service attor- neys such as housing and immigration attorneys, provide vital services to their communities. However, since the inception of the District Attorney and Indigent Legal Service Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program in 2009, law school tuition has grown dramatically, and law school debt increased by 43% at public schools and by 34% at private schools. As a result, the attrition rates for these public servants are particularly high, and debt loads drive indigent legal service attorneys and assist- ant district attorneys to more profitable positions in government or at private firms. As a result of the high rate of attrition, low-income New Yorkers are deprived of experienced and talented representation. Increasing the student loan forgiveness award from $8,000 per annum will help alleviate debt burdens, and it will allow public interest attorneys to continue working for their communities. Similarly, decreasing the wait-time for attorneys to access the award from three years to two years will help attract talented law students to the profession. This is crucial for many rural counties, where there are shortages of indigent legal services attorneys. Further, as people of color and other under-represented groups have disproportionately high student debt burdens, this debt relief will enable diverse populations to pursue careers in indigent legal services. While the cost of this program is minimal, it will have a profound impact on legal represen- tation for communities.

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

May 4, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 4, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Mar 10, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 9, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (15 earlier events)

Mar 5, 2026
1ST Report CAL.455
1ST REPORT CAL.455
NY Senate
Mar 3, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 10, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Feb 2, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
May 13, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 5, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 3, 2025
1ST Report CAL.222
1ST REPORT CAL.222
NY Senate
Jan 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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