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Assembly proclaims April 2025 Lyme and tick‑borne disease awareness month, members call for more funding for research and outreach
Summary
The New York State Assembly adopted Resolution No. 310 proclaiming April 2025 as Lyme and tick‑borne disease awareness month and heard lawmakers and guests urge increased funding for testing, research and public education.
The New York State Assembly adopted Assembly Resolution No. 310 proclaiming April 2025 as Lyme and tick‑borne disease awareness month and used floor time to highlight research and outreach needs on tick‑borne illnesses.
Assemblymember Barrett, who sponsored the resolution and hosted an awareness event in the Legislative Office Building, said climate change has expanded the geographic range of ticks across New York and that “we have not invested adequately in the Lyme and tick borne disease” response, citing work at SUNY Upstate’s lab as an example of research that needs more support. She told colleagues the month was moved from May to April to encourage earlier public preparedness, and noted that ticks can be active “whenever the temperature is above 45 degrees.”
Assemblymember Cassey, representing Suffolk County, said Lyme and other tick‑borne diseases are “quiet epidemics” on Long Island and throughout the state and urged people to check for ticks after outdoor activity. Cassey said she and family members live with Lyme disease and thanked researchers and resource centers, including the Regional Tick‑Borne Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook, for ongoing work on prevention and treatment.
Guests at the Assembly event included Dr. Saravan Thangamani of the Thangamani Lab at SUNY Upstate Hospital, Elizabeth Balfour of the Central New York Lyme and Tick Borne Disease Alliance, Olivia Abrams of Project Lyme (and inventor of TickMitt), and Maribeth Rubinstein of the Carey Institute, who were introduced on the floor as part of the awareness activities and a resource table in the LOB.
The resolution was adopted by voice vote. The floor record shows the clerk read the item as Assembly No. 310 and the chair declared the resolution adopted after the voice vote.
While lawmakers emphasized public education and prevention (including year‑round vigilance when temperatures exceed 45 degrees), Barrett also described limited state funding for testing and research and urged continued support for diagnostic and laboratory efforts that identify infected ticks and coinfections. No specific appropriation or funding motion appeared on the floor for consideration during the session.
