Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 1, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A4603, the matching Assembly bill.
(38) (22) (0) (3)
Senate bill · S5037 (2025-26)
Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated individuals
PassedLatest action Jun 1, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A4603, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Passed as A4603, the matching Assembly bill.
Summary
Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated people, to provide incarcerated people opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Correction Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To establish a visiting program in state and local correctional facili- ties.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Correction · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · New York State Senate, Finance · New York State Senate, Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.
Cosponsors
Al Taylor, Alex Bores and 76 more on Agora
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Democratic78
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
- Al Taylor
- Alex Bores
- Alicia Hyndman
- Amanda Septimo
- Amy Paulin
- Andrew Gounardes
- Andrew Hevesi
- Anna Kelles
- April Baskin
- Aron Wieder
- Brian Cunningham
- Brian Kavanagh
Show the full list (78 names)Show fewer cosponsors
- Carrie Woerner
- Catalina Cruz
- Chantel Jackson
- Charles Lavine
- Chris Burdick
- Claire Valdez
- Clyde Vanel
- Cordell Cleare
- Dana Levenberg
- Demond Meeks
- Diana Moreno
- Didi Barrett
- Eddie Gibbs
- Emily Gallagher
- Erik Dilan
- Gabriella Romero
- George Alvarez
- Gustavo Rivera
- Harry B. Bronson
- Jabari Brisport
- Jamaal Bailey
- James Sanders Jr.
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- Jen Lunsford
- Jeremy Cooney
- Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
- Jessica Ramos
- Jo Anne Simon
- John Zaccaro Jr.
- Jordan Wright
- Julia Salazar
- Karines Reyes
- Khaleel Anderson
- Landon C. Dais
- Larinda Hooks
- Latrice Walker
- Linda Rosenthal
- Marcela Mitaynes
- Maritza Davila
- MaryJane Shimsky
- Micah Lasher
- Michael Benedetto
- Michael Gianaris
- Michaelle C. Solages
- Monique Chandler-Waterman
- Nikki Lucas
- Noah Burroughs
- Pamela J. Hunter
- Patrick Burke
- Pete Harckham
- Phara Souffrant Forrest
- Phil Steck
- Philip Ramos
- Rebecca Seawright
- Robert C. Carroll
- Robert Jackson
- Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
- Samra Brouk
- Sarah Clark
- Sarahana Shrestha
- Stefani Zinerman
- Steven Raga
- Tony Simone
- Vivian Cook
- Yudelka Tapia
- Zellnor Myrie
The sponsor's argument
Why Luis R. Sepúlveda says this is needed
Research has shown that incarcerated individuals who receive visits from family, friends and volunteers are significantly less likely to recidi- vate than those who do not receive visits. DOCCS has long allowed visi- tation in its facilities, although nothing in law requires them to do so. The benefits of a visitation program include but are not limited to: providing jobs for correctional staff, incentivizing program partic- ipation, increasing the morale of those that are incarcerated, improves facility safety, and facilitating reentry through the preservation of family bonds. This bill ensures that video visitation may not take the place of in-person visiting. The goal of the visitation program is to provide institutional safety, rehabilitation and public safety. This legislation also calls for a policy to be created to facilitate visitations during high peak times. Additionally, it requires that these facilities also offer visiting during evenings and weekends.
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.
Recorded votes
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceApr 28, 2026Result: passed
(14) (6) (0) (2)Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionFeb 4, 2026Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 6, 2025Result: passed
(35) (18) (0) (10)Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionMar 25, 2025Result: passed
(4) (2) (0) (1)
Full history
- Jun 1, 2026
3RD Reading CAL.847
3RD READING CAL.847
NY Senate
- Jun 1, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- Jun 1, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S5037A
NY Senate
- May 28, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
- May 28, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Show full history (23 earlier events)Show less history
- May 28, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
- May 14, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
- May 14, 2026
Rules Report CAL.118
RULES REPORT CAL.118
NY Assembly
- May 12, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
- May 11, 2026
Amended
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 5037A
NY Senate
- May 8, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Ways and Means
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
- May 4, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Apr 29, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- Apr 28, 2026
1ST Report CAL.847
1ST REPORT CAL.847
NY Senate
- Feb 4, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
- Jun 6, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- Jun 6, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- Jun 6, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
- May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
- May 6, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
- Mar 27, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Mar 26, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- Mar 25, 2025
1ST Report CAL.606
1ST REPORT CAL.606
NY Senate
- Feb 18, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
- Feb 4, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly