Veterans committee moves 14 bills on veterans and emergency preparedness out of committee

The Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee held its fourth and final meeting on May 18, 2026, and moved a slate of 14 bills out of committee for further consideration, with most measures advanced by voice vote.

The committee considered bills ranging from changes to the New York State Veterans Memorial and Monument registry (S1242A) to proposals establishing a veterans bill of rights (S7708B), clarifying veteran definitions (S4889), and adding hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster (S5729). The chair opened the session, asked the clerk to read each bill title, and the committee proceeded through the agenda with motions, seconds and voice votes. "Let's move to the first bill," the chair said as the meeting opened.

Key measures advanced included: S1242A, revising the veterans memorial and monument registry (reported to finance); S1250B, recognizing military experience for institutional transfer merit (reported); S2069, creating an insurance liaison on the disaster preparedness commission (reported to the floor); S2073, requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to share certain veteran information with the Department of Veterans Services (reported); S3194, defining a period of war for the alternative veterans property tax exemption (reported); S4889, defining the term "veteran" in veterans service law (reported to finance); S5729, adding hazardous air quality to the state's disaster definition (reported to the floor); S7708B, establishing a veterans bill of rights (reported to the floor); S7786B, increasing availability of information about home care services for veterans (reported to the floor); S8055A, adjusting eligibility for admission to New York state veterans homes (reported); S8233, amending the New York City charter to expand opportunities for veteran emerging businesses (recorded to the floor); S8840, enacting the New York emergency responder act (reported to the floor); S8897, directing the veterans service commission to submit a report on coordinated services for veterans with service‑connected disabilities (reported to finance); and S9940, creating a woman's veterans history trail to recognize women in service (reported to finance).

Most items were handled procedurally: the committee chair introduced each bill, the clerk (identified in the transcript as Brian) read titles or bill text as requested, members moved and seconded where recorded, and committee voice votes yielded "Aye" responses and referrals to either finance or the floor. The transcript records no roll-call vote tallies or named vote counts for these measures.

The meeting did not include extended debate on individual bills in the provided transcript; committee members indicated support by voice for each measure and the body then reported the bills to the appropriate next step. The clerk and chair closed the agenda after S9940, and the chair noted the meeting’s conclusion.

What happens next: Each bill will proceed according to its referral — to the finance committee or to the floor for further consideration and potential action by the full chamber. Specific vote tallies and any floor amendments or debates are not recorded in these committee minutes and remain to be determined.