Senator Scarcella-Spanton Leads First Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs Committee Meeting of the 2026 Legislative Session
Editor’s note: Staten Island’s Congresswoman recently welcomed the new Veterans Affairs secretary to the Staten Island Community Clinic. Senator Gillibrand recently discussed efforts to assist veterans that she has announced and begun. And one of our contributors shared a positive veterans story with us, where the power of kindness triumphed over mental illness and neglect.
ALBANY, NY – On February 3rd, 2026, Senator Scarcella-Spanton held the first meeting of the New York State Senate Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee of the 2026 legislative session. During the meeting, seven bills passed the committee, four of which are sponsored by Senator Scarcella-Spanton herself.
The bills aim to provide critical support and resources for veterans and their families in New York State. The following bills were introduced by Senator Scarcella-Spanton and passed the committee:
- S.2067 (Scarcella-Spanton) – Establishes a Veteran Career Assistance Program within SUNY and CUNY, requiring coordination between the Director of Veterans’ Services and university leadership to assist veterans with resume writing and employment placement services.
- S.2070 (Scarcella-Spanton) – Directs the Department of Veterans’ Services to establish and maintain a searchable statewide database of resources available to veterans, service members, and their families. The bill was vetoed in 2024 as duplicative, though DVS was directed to review and incorporate additional information into its website.
- S.7765 (Scarcella-Spanton) – Requires the creation of a New York State veterans’ and service member law book compiling statutes, case law, regulations, and commentary related to veterans’ rights and benefits, aimed at making information more accessible.
- S.8968 (Scarcella-Spanton) – Establishes a Veteran Suicide Mortality Review Board to identify trends and contributing factors in veteran suicide deaths, assess service gaps, and coordinate prevention efforts with state and federal agencies.
Additionally, the following legislation was introduced by Senator Scarcella-Spanton’s colleagues in the State Senate and passed the committee:
- S.896A (Martinez) – Requires local comprehensive emergency management plans to include accommodations for individuals with animal companions. The amended version adds county animal response teams to the list of local emergency assistance partnerships.
- S.1188 (Addabbo) – Provides veterans’ organizations with a 120-day grace period to correct building or health code violations before fines are imposed.
- S.1788 (Hinchey) – Extends eligibility for an additional real property tax exemption to veterans who served on submarines or on classified missions during a period of war.
“I remain deeply committed to ensuring that our veterans and military families have the resources, support, and recognition they deserve in New York. Advancing legislation that makes a difference in the lives of our veterans, active-duty service members, and their families is a responsibility I will continue to take very seriously in the 2026 session. I look forward to building on the momentum we’ve established in 2025 and keeping the needs of our service members and veterans at the forefront of our efforts in the legislature this year,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
Senator Scarcella-Spanton was appointed as Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, and is a member of the Committees on Civil Service and Pensions, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Disabilities, Labor, and Women’s Issues.
Banner Image: Senator Jess with Public Advocate. Image Credit – Public Advocate
