Celebrating Senator Michael N. Gianaris upon the occasion of his designation as the recipient of the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader s Legislative Legacy Award

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 61 co-sponsors

A Senate Resolution honors Senator Michael N. Gianaris for decades of public service and leadership, acknowledging his impact on tenants’ rights, reform, and protections.

ADOPTED

Overview

Bill: J 2318 (Senate Resolution No. 2318)

Session/Jurisdiction: New York, 2025-2026

Sponsor: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (also many co-sponsors)

Type: Resolution recognizing and honoring an individual (not a law with enforceable provisions)

Subject: Celebrating Senator Michael N. Gianaris on receiving the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader’s Legislative Legacy Award

Purpose and intent

To publicly acknowledge and celebrate the career of Senator Michael N. Gianaris.

To recognize his decades of public service, leadership in the Senate, and legislative achievements.

To express gratitude for his contributions to Queens, the state, and various policy areas.

Infuses a ceremonial note, highlighting his legacy and personal attributes in a respectful tribute.

Key provisions and changes

Formal resolution recognizing Gianaris’s service and leadership.

Description of his background, education, career path, and notable legislative accomplishments.

Statements praising his impact on tenants’ rights, housing justice, criminal justice reform, election reform, consumer protections, public safety, and working families.

Acknowledgment of his leadership style, debating skills, strategic acumen, and mentorship.

A ceremonial directive: transmit a copy of the engrossed resolution to Gianaris with “highest esteem and appreciation.”

Closing sentiment: “May the Force be with you” (humorous and lighthearted touch).

Note: As a resolution, there are no statutory mandates, funding provisions, or regulatory changes. The document functions as formal recognition by the Legislature.

Who is affected

Primary: Senator Michael N. Gianaris, in his public role and professional legacy.

Secondary: The New York State Senate and broader public (constituents of Gianaris) who gain a formal acknowledgement of his contributions.

No fiscal or policy changes are imposed on agencies, individuals, or programs by this resolution.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Referral/Introduction: Introduced as a Senate Resolution.

Action history:

May 30, 2026: Referred to Finance (procedural step in the legislative process)
June 1, 2026: Adopted by the Senate (final acknowledgment in the legislative record)

Final step: A copy of the engrossed resolution is transmitted to Senator Gianaris expressing the body’s esteem.

Notable context and themes

The resolution underscores Gianaris’s role in major policy areas (tenants’ rights, housing justice, criminal justice reform, election reform, workers’ protections, transit funding, LGBTQ+ rights, consumer protection, and animal welfare).

It highlights his long career, stall-and-balance leadership in the Senate, and personal anecdotes intended to humanize his public service.

While celebratory, the resolution also serves as a historical record of the Senate’s recognition of prominent members and their legacies.