State Assembly Member - District 39
Catalina Cruz
State Assembly Member - District 39Catalina Cruz
Has represented Assembly District 39 (Corona, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and parts of Rego Park and Middle Village) since January 2019.
Small businesses and street vending
Wants more street-vending licenses and safe working conditions for street vendors, one of the commitments to immigrant families on her campaign platform.
Catalina Cruz campaign website — priorities ↗Immigrant New Yorkers and state law
In coverageWants more funding for legal services, English classes, migrant crisis response and mental health services for immigrant New Yorkers, and 3-K and after-school access regardless of immigration status. Prime sponsor of bills on public benefits regardless of status and a right to counsel in immigration court.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A3057, requiring courts to notify non-citizen defendants of potential deportation or denial of citizenship before accepting a plea; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on May 17, 2023; it passed the Senate on June 8, 2023 and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 22, 2023. Sponsored A8837, establishing the Staff Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York State military immigrant family legacy program in the Department of Veterans' Services; voted yes on June 4, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 625 of the Laws of 2024 on Dec. 21, 2024. Also prime sponsor of bills providing eligibility for state or local public benefits regardless of immigration status, a right to legal counsel in immigration court and an emergency expedited temporary work permit act, and sponsor of a bill barring denial of a free public education over citizenship or immigration status.
Sponsor of A3057 and A8837, voted yes on both; prime sponsor or sponsor of further immigration bills listed on her Assembly sponsor page · 2023-05-17 to 2024-12-21 · A3057 passed both houses and was vetoed Dec. 22, 2023; A8837 signed into law as Chapter 625 of 2024 on Dec. 21, 2024; the other bills' status is not stated on her sponsor list
Workers' pay, benefits and safety
In coverageSupports protecting workers' right to organize, combating wage theft by holding employers accountable, and stricter workplace health and safety requirements. Sponsored the Construction Reporting Pay Act, now law, and a bill on injured workers' benefits that passed both houses in 2026.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A6950, the Construction Reporting Pay Act, which requires that each laborer, worker or mechanic employed by a contractor who reports for work at an employer's request or permission be paid at least four hours at the prevailing wage; voted yes on June 1, 2026; passed the Senate June 4, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 291 on Sept. 9, 2026. Sponsored A8482, prohibiting insurance carriers and employers from withholding certain benefits from injured workers based on attachment to the labor market; voted yes on May 27, 2025 and on the final Assembly vote on May 13, 2026; passed the Senate on June 4, 2026. Also sponsors bills on protecting employees from extreme heat and requiring employers to provide neonatal intensive care leave.
Sponsor of A6950 and A8482, voted yes on both; sponsor of bills on extreme heat and neonatal intensive care leave · 2025-05-27 to 2026-09-09 · A6950 signed into law as Chapter 291 on Sept. 9, 2026; A8482 passed the Assembly May 13, 2026 and the Senate June 4, 2026
Tenants, housing supply and homebuying
In coverageSupports stronger tenant protections against unjust evictions, support for small landlords, and more housing built through programs and construction that do not displace existing families and include union labor. Sponsored a 2026 law prohibiting unfair residential real estate service agreements.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A9467, prohibiting unfair residential real estate service agreements; voted yes on Jan. 13, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 21 on Feb. 13, 2026. Voted yes on S8306, the 2024-25 state budget bill for education, labor, housing and family assistance, on April 20, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Also sponsors a bill prohibiting limits on the length of stay at homeless shelters and emergency congregate housing.
Sponsor of A9467, voted yes; voted yes on S8306; sponsor of a bill on homeless-shelter stay limits · 2024-04-20 to 2026-02-13 · A9467 signed into law as Chapter 21 on Feb. 13, 2026; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024
Criminal justice and public safety
In coverageWants to end qualified immunity and to increase penalties for workplace discrimination and hate crimes. Sponsored the 2023 law providing for automatic sealing of certain criminal convictions and a law signed in 2024 on the offenses of rape in the first, second and third degrees.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored A1029, providing for the automatic sealing of certain convictions; voted yes on June 9, 2023, when it passed both houses; signed into law as Chapter 631 on Nov. 16, 2023. Sponsored A3340 on the offenses of rape in the first, second and third degrees; voted yes when it passed the Assembly on Feb. 14, 2023; passed the Senate June 6, 2023; signed into law as Chapter 777 on Jan. 30, 2024. Also sponsors a bill making technical corrections to the Clean Slate law.
Sponsor of A1029 and A3340, voted yes on both; sponsor of a bill making technical corrections to the Clean Slate law · 2023-02-14 to 2024-01-30 · A1029 signed into law as Chapter 631 on Nov. 16, 2023; A3340 signed into law as Chapter 777 on Jan. 30, 2024
Health care, end-of-life and reproductive care
In coverageWants state funding so anyone, regardless of income or immigration status, can get birth control, abortion or other reproductive health care. Co-sponsored and voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, now law, and sponsored a law requiring hospitals to set up violence prevention programs.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Co-sponsored A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act; voted yes on April 29, 2025, when it passed the Assembly 81-67; signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Sponsored A203, requiring hospitals to establish a violence prevention program; voted yes on June 11, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 618 on Dec. 12, 2025. Voted yes on S8307, the 2024-25 health and mental hygiene budget bill, on April 19, 2024, when the Assembly passed it 99-47; signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024. Also sponsors a bill requiring pharmacies to stock emergency contraception.
Co-sponsor of A136 and sponsor of A203, voted yes on both; voted yes on S8307; sponsor of an emergency contraception bill · 2024-04-19 to 2026-02-06 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A203 signed into law as Chapter 618 on Dec. 12, 2025; S8307 signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024
Climate and energy
In coverageSupports passing the NY HEAT Act and making New York a global leader in the transition to renewable energy. Voted for the 2024 laws creating a climate change adaptation cost recovery program and requiring electric vehicle charging in certain new construction.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S2129, establishing the climate change adaptation cost recovery program, on June 8, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 679 on Dec. 26, 2024. Voted yes on S1736, requiring electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle ready parking spaces in certain new construction, on June 5, 2024, when the Assembly passed it 90-55; signed into law as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted yes on S8812, on the effectiveness of state law provisions on gas service to new customers, in the final Assembly vote on March 31, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026.
Voted yes on S2129, S1736 and S8812 · 2024-06-05 to 2026-04-10 · S2129 signed into law as Chapter 679 on Dec. 26, 2024; S1736 signed into law as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024; S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026
Subway and bus fares and service
In coverageOpposes additional transit fare increases and wants yearly funding to make every train station compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, plus more service in transit deserts. Sponsors a bill barring the disclosure of riders' individualized fare payment data.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on A8808, the 2024-25 state budget bill for transportation, economic development and environmental conservation, on April 18, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 58 on April 20, 2024. Also sponsors a bill prohibiting the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority and the New York City Transit Authority from disclosing individualized fare payment data.
Voted yes on A8808; sponsor of a fare payment data bill · 2024-04-18 to 2024-04-20 · A8808 signed into law as Chapter 58 on April 20, 2024; the fare data bill's status is not stated on her sponsor list
State budget
In coverageSays she helped pass state budgets that secured about $1 million directly for local hospitals, schools and libraries. Voted for S9009, enacting major components of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9009, enacting major components of the state fiscal plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year, on May 27, 2026, when the Assembly passed it 91-52 with 7 excused; signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026.
Voted yes on S9009 · 2026-05-27 · Signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026
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