New York Assembly adopts a slate of awareness resolutions including Down Syndrome and Poison Prevention Week

The New York State Assembly adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions on the floor, approving proclamations that ask the governor and state agencies to observe awareness days and weeks, and offering brief sponsor remarks and personal testimony before voice votes.

Assembly sponsors read the resolutions on the chamber floor and members spoke in support. Mr. Weprin urged colleagues to back a resolution recognizing Stiff Person Syndrome awareness, saying, “Just because the disease is rare does not mean that those afflicted do not matter,” and urging more awareness and research funding. The Assembly adopted that resolution by voice vote.

Members next adopted a resolution remembering essential workers and then took up a measure recognizing March 21 as Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Sponsor Ms. Walsh summarized the day’s history and goals; Assembly Member Sempulinski offered a personal testimony about his daughter Jojo, saying the experience taught him “there’s nothing in this world more precious than my little daughter,” and urged colleagues to support greater inclusion and services. Assembly Member Angeleno highlighted Pathfinder Village as a local program supporting people with Down syndrome and described it as a model of inclusion. The Assembly adopted the Down Syndrome resolution by voice vote.

Lawmakers also adopted a resolution designating March 2026 as Agriculture Week, with sponsors noting the size of New York’s farming sector and thanking farmers for their role in the state’s economy. Finally, the body approved a proclamation designating March 15–21, 2026 as Poison Prevention Week; the sponsor described Poison Prevention Week’s federal origins and cited statistics presented on the floor, including an estimate of more than 2,000,000 potential poisonings nationally and that hundreds of children require emergency treatment each day.

All of the resolutions described on the floor were adopted by voice vote with no recorded roll-call opposition. The Speaker extended floor privileges to a visiting Bronx Garifuna delegation and to community advocate Connie Altamirano, who had been introduced by Members Reyes and Rajkumar during the session. The Assembly adjourned to reconvene at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.