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Senate bill · S9685 (2025-26)

Requires the council on arts to make recommendations on the renaming of the agency buildings located at the empire state plaza

PassedLatest action Jun 3, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A10653, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A10653, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor

Patricia Fahy

State Senator, District 46 · Democratic

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Summary

Requires the council on arts to make recommendations on the renaming of the agency buildings located at the empire state plaza; requires the governor to choose the new agency building names within 60 days after the council's recommendation.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 23, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To rename agency buildings one through four at the Empire state plaza.

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.

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

Committee

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

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

Cosponsors

Gabriella Romero and John T. McDonald III

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)
  • Democratic2

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

The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is one of the most spectacular capital centers in the country. It contains major buildings like the Egg Performance Center, Cultural Education Center as well as office space for thousands of state employees Many of the Plaza build- ings are named after famous people including Erastus Corning, the long- est tenured mayor of any large city the United States (Corning Tower) and Robert Abrams, a long time State Attorney General, (The Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice). The four building that house thou- sands of state employees are named 1,2,3, and 4. The naming of building simple numbers misses a great opportunity to educate New Yorkers. This legislation honors New York's most significant natural resource and/or historical events. This bill sets up a process for the selection of the names by using an existing Council. The Council will recommend options to the Governor. She will be the ultimate decision maker after a robust public engagement process. New Yorkers who the Capital complex visit will be reminded of the great natural resources and historical events of the Empire State. This bill attempts to tackle all the issues that Governor Hochul expressed in her veto (58) of 2025.

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 A10653, the matching Assembly bill.

    (45) (16) (0) (2)

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

    Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationMay 19, 2026Result: passed

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

Full history

  1. Jun 3, 2026

    3RD Reading CAL.1662

    3RD READING CAL.1662

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 3, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 3, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  4. Jun 3, 2026

    Substituted

    SUBSTITUTED FOR S9685

    NY Senate

  5. May 19, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

Show full history (7 earlier events)
  1. Apr 28, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  2. Apr 28, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. Apr 28, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  4. Apr 23, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading CAL.384

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.384

    NY Assembly

  5. Apr 22, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED

    NY Assembly

  6. Apr 1, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

    NY Senate

  7. Mar 19, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

    NY Assembly