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Higher Education Committee reports nine bills to the floor, holds one for clarification
Summary
The New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education considered 10 bills on March 4, 2025; nine were reported out of committee and one was held for clarification with the State Education Department.
The New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education considered 10 bills on March 4, 2025. The committee reported nine measures (most to the floor; SB3458 was reported to the Finance Committee) and held SB3966 for further clarification with the State Education Department and sponsors.
Below are each bill’s sponsor, a one‑line summary from the committee record, memos of support or opposition if noted, and the committee outcome as recorded in the March 4 transcript.
Votes at a glance
- S2387 (Felder): Allows persons over age 65 to take up to nine credit hours per semester on a space‑available basis without charge at SUNY and CUNY campuses. No memos recorded. Motion moved by Senator Johnson; seconded by Senator May. Outcome: reported to the floor.
- S3236 (Cooney): Allows registered pharmacy technicians to practice in any pharmacy under the direct personal supervision of a licensed pharmacist. No memos recorded. Motion moved by Senator Jackson; seconded by Senator May. Outcome: reported to the floor.
- S3458 (Stavisky): Phases out certain mandatory university fees for graduate students serving as teaching/research assistants beginning in 2026; preserves Graduate Student Association activity fee. No memos in opposition. Motion moved by Senator Jackson; seconded by Senator May. Outcome: reported to Senate Finance Committee for fiscal review (see separate article).
- S3966 (Stavisky): Creates a limited permit/preceptorship pathway for out‑of‑state dentists to practice in federally qualified health centers and pursue New York licensure. Memos in support from New York State Academic Dental Centers and the Community Healthcare Association of New York. Outcome: bill held for further staff/sponsor clarification; not reported.
- S4548 (Stavisky): Permits dentists to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. No memos recorded. Motion moved by Senator Webb; seconded by Senator Jackson. Outcome: reported to the floor.
- S4559 (Stavisky): Requires appointment of a Title VI coordinator at every college and university in the state (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Memo in support from the New York Jewish Agenda. Outcome: reported to the floor (effective 180 days after enactment as stated in bill text).
- S4685 (Szygowski): Expands community college trustee boards from 10 to 11 members and adds an ex officio, non‑voting faculty or staff member. Memo in support from NYSIC; joint memo in opposition from New York Community College Trustees and the New York Community College Association of Presidents. Committee discussed executive session access and confidentiality concerns; sponsors said they would consider tightening language. Motion moved by Senator Jackson; seconded by Senator Webb. Outcome: reported to the floor, with sponsors signaling possible amendment.
- S4892 (Dimiskey): Allows licensed physical therapist assistants, under direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist, to perform patient‑related activities as assigned. Memo in support from the American Physical Therapy Association, New York. Motion moved (committee record indicates Senator Griffo moved; Senator Jackson seconded). Outcome: reported to the floor (effective one year after enactment as stated in bill text).
- S5275 (Bailey): Permits athletic trainers licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction to provide athletic training services to visiting athletes, team personnel, or performing arts groups with limitations. No memos recorded. Outcome: reported to the floor.
- S5392 (Scarcela‑Spann): Permits certain not‑for‑profit corporations to engage in professional engineering, land surveying, or geology work for conservation projects if activities are performed by licensed professionals; memos in support from Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, and The Nature Conservancy; memos in opposition from the New York State Council of Professional Geologists and the New York State Society of Professional Engineers. Motion seconded by Senator Webb. Outcome: reported to the floor.
Several bills drew brief policy questions rather than extensive debate; senators asked staff for fiscal estimates, confidentiality safeguards for ex officio members of college boards, and confirmation that professional work would still be performed by New York‑licensed engineers.
The committee concluded its meeting at 10:56 a.m.; the chair said the package of reported bills will move forward for consideration by the full Senate as appropriate and that the held measure (S3966) will return for committee action after technical review.
