Senate bill · S9034 (2025-26)

Phases out certain mandatory university fees for certain graduate students and adjunct staff

New York State Senate

Same as A10334, the matching bill in the Assembly.

PassedLatest action Jun 3, 2026

Passed as A10334, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor: Toby Ann Stavisky (State Senator, District 11, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Summary

Provides that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, certain graduate students shall be required to pay 25% of all current and future mandatory university fees; provides that in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory university fees shall be charged to certain graduate students and adjunct staff, with the exclusion of the graduate student association student activity fee.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Education Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To codify the phasing out of certain mandatory university fees for grad- uate students prohibiting the State University of New York (SONY) from charging any current or future mandatory fees, except for the graduate student association student activity fee, to a graduate student serving as a graduate teaching assistant, graduate assistant, graduate research assistant, graduate research associate or graduate teaching associate. and prohibits the City University of New York (CONY) from charging any current or future mandatory fees, except for the graduate student asso- ciation student activity fee, to a graduate student serving as a gradu- ate assistant, adjunct instructor, adjunct lecturer, adjunct college laboratory technician, or a non-teaching adjunct staff member.

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

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.

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Cosponsors

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

Read on NY Senate

Democratic37
Republican5

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Toby Ann Stavisky says this is needed

Graduate student workers and adjunct staff are responsible for essential teaching, research, instructional, and academic support functions throughout SONY and CONY campuses. These employees teach courses, hold office hours, mentor students, conduct research, grade assignments, and provide critical support services that are necessary to the operation and academic success of the university systems. Despite their significant contributions, many graduate student workers and adjunct staff are still required to pay substantial mandatory university fees back to the institutions where they work and study. For many individuals, these fees represent a significant portion of their annual income and create additional financial hardship for workers already operating under limited compensation structures. This legislation provides a phased-in approach to financial relief for eligible SONY and CONY graduate student workers and adjunct staff. Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, covered employees would only be responsible for paying 25% of mandatory university fees. Beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, mandatory university fees would be fully eliminated for the specifically identified SONY and CONY graduate student workers and adjunct staff covered under the bill, while maintaining the graduate student association activity fee. The bill also clarifies the specific SONY and CONY positions eligible for the fee reduction and elimination to ensure the language is narrowly tailored to graduate student workers and adjunct staff serving in desig- nated academic and instructional roles.

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: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 3, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A10334, the matching Assembly bill.
(60) (1) (0) (2)

Full history

Jun 3, 2026
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 3, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1643
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1643
NY Senate
Jun 3, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 3, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED BY A10334A
NY Senate
Jun 1, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly

Show full history (10 earlier events)

Jun 1, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 1, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 1, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Jun 1, 2026
Rules Report CAL.314
RULES REPORT CAL.314
NY Assembly
May 29, 2026
Reference Changed to Ways and Means
REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
May 18, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
May 6, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Feb 20, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 6, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate

Read the record

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