State Assembly Member - District 81

Jeffrey Dinowitz

DemocraticIncumbent

Assembly member for the 81st District in the Bronx since winning a special election on Feb. 15, 1994, and chair of the Assembly Codes Committee.

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

Housing and tenant protections

In coverage

Calls housing and tenant matters the district's biggest issue and says preserving existing affordable housing, including Mitchell-Lama, is vital alongside building new units. Says he secured $10 million for the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative and $1 million for Park Reservoir, and that the pandemic eviction moratorium he passed saved thousands from eviction.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S8306, the 2024-25 state budget bill for education, labor, housing and family assistance, in the April 20, 2024 Assembly floor vote; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Sponsor of A8494, requiring owners and agents of multiple dwellings to give residents' names and contact information to emergency personnel; voted yes in the Jan. 22, 2024 Assembly floor vote; signed into law as Chapter 1 on Jan. 26, 2024.

Voted yes on S8306; sponsor of A8494 and voted yes on it · 2024-01-22 to 2024-04-20 · S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024; A8494 signed into law as Chapter 1 on Jan. 26, 2024

New York State Assembly — S8306 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A8494 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗Bronx Times — Assembly District 81 candidates reflect on their campaigns ↗

The Riverdale Press — Candidate interviews: Dinowitz and Evers compete for Assembly seat ↗

Buses, subways and bridge tolls

In coverage

Says he has pushed for more buses and better service, especially on the Bx10, and sponsored a bill passed in 2018 to keep MTA funding from being used for other state expenses. Sponsors bills for MTA half fares for veterans and for rider representation on the MTA board, and says he secured a full Henry Hudson Bridge toll rebate for Bronx residents in 2019.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on A8808, the 2024-25 state budget bill for transportation, economic development and environmental conservation, in the April 18, 2024 Assembly floor vote; signed into law as Chapter 58 on April 20, 2024.

Voted yes on A8808 · 2024-04-18 · Signed into law as Chapter 58 on April 20, 2024

New York State Assembly — A8808 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — Jeffrey Dinowitz, sponsored legislation ↗New York State Assembly — Jeffrey Dinowitz, member page ↗

The Riverdale Press — Candidate interviews: Dinowitz and Evers compete for Assembly seat ↗

School funding and college tuition

In coverage

Supports increasing state aid to New York City schools to address historic funding inequities, and lists public school funding among his priorities. Sponsors a bill for tuition-free SUNY, CUNY and community colleges, and sponsored the 2026 law letting veterans transfer unused tuition awards to eligible immediate family members.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsor of A9476, expanding the veterans tuition awards program so unused benefits can be transferred to eligible immediate family members; voted yes in the Jan. 13, 2026 Assembly floor vote; signed into law as Chapter 22 on Feb. 13, 2026.

Sponsor of A9476; voted yes · 2026-01-13 to 2026-02-13 · Signed into law as Chapter 22 on Feb. 13, 2026

New York State Assembly — A9476 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — Jeffrey Dinowitz, sponsored legislation ↗The Riverdale Press — Incumbents Ritchie Torres and Jeffrey Dinowitz secure primary victories ↗

New York State Assembly — Jeffrey Dinowitz, member biography ↗

Health care and medical aid in dying

In coverage

Co-sponsored the Medical Aid in Dying Act, law since 2026, and sponsored a 2024 law requiring nursing homes to post more ratings and a camp vaccination bill that passed both houses in 2026. His campaign says he co-sponsored the single-payer NY Health Act and was main sponsor of the law removing non-medical school vaccine exemptions.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Co-sponsor of A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act; voted yes in the April 29, 2025 Assembly floor vote; signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Sponsor of A2188, on posting additional nursing home ratings; voted yes in Assembly floor votes on May 18, 2023 and March 28, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 336 on Sept. 27, 2024. Sponsor of A3254, requiring children at overnight camps and summer day camps to be vaccinated against specified diseases; voted yes on April 28, 2026, when it passed the Assembly; it passed the Senate on May 19, 2026. Voted yes on S8307, the 2024-25 health and mental hygiene budget bill, on April 19, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024.

Co-sponsor of A136; sponsor of A2188 and A3254; voted yes on all three and on S8307 · 2023-05-18 to 2026-05-19 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; A2188 signed into law as Chapter 336 on Sept. 27, 2024; A3254 passed the Assembly April 28, 2026 and the Senate May 19, 2026; S8307 signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A2188 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A3254 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — S8307 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗

Friends of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz campaign website ↗

Climate, energy and utility costs

In coverage

Lists policies to mitigate climate change among his priorities. Voted for 2024 laws making companies that contributed significantly to greenhouse gas buildup pay a share of climate adaptation costs and requiring EV charging in certain new construction, and sponsored a bill creating a state utility consumer advocate that the governor vetoed in 2025.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S2129, creating the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund, on June 8, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 679 on Dec. 26, 2024. Voted yes on S1736, requiring electric vehicle charging stations and EV-ready parking spaces in certain new construction, on June 5, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted yes on S8812, on provisions of law about providing gas service to new customers, in the final Assembly floor vote on March 31, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026. Sponsor of A2468, creating a state office of the utility consumer advocate; voted yes on June 9, 2025, when it passed the Assembly; it passed the Senate on June 13, 2025 and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 5, 2025.

Voted yes on S2129, S1736 and S8812; sponsor of A2468 and voted yes on it · 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; A2468 vetoed Dec. 5, 2025

New York State Assembly — S2129 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — S1736 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — S8812 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A2468 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗

The Riverdale Press — Incumbents Ritchie Torres and Jeffrey Dinowitz secure primary victories ↗

Product safety, courts and consumer protection

In coverage

Sponsored the 2024 law setting standards for making and selling lithium-ion batteries and a 2023 law barring employers from asking workers and job applicants for access to their personal online accounts. Voted for a 2026 law on the attorney general's power against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, and sponsors a bill requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsor of A4938, setting standards for the manufacture and sale of lithium-ion batteries; voted yes in the final Assembly floor vote on May 6, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 195 on July 11, 2024. Sponsor of A836, barring employers from requesting that an employee or applicant disclose a way to access a personal electronic account; voted yes on March 21, 2023, when it passed the Assembly; it passed the Senate on May 22, 2023 and was signed into law as Chapter 367 on Sept. 14, 2023. Sponsor of A4899, letting the chief administrator of the courts require and provide annual training on bail, recognizance and commitment; voted yes on May 15, 2023, when it passed the Assembly; it passed the Senate on May 16, 2023 and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 22, 2023. Voted yes on S8811, on the attorney general's power to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, in the Feb. 25, 2026 Assembly floor vote; signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026.

Sponsor of A4938, A836 and A4899 and voted yes on each; voted yes on S8811 · 2023-03-21 to 2026-03-27 · A4938 signed into law as Chapter 195 on July 11, 2024; A836 signed into law as Chapter 367 on Sept. 14, 2023; A4899 vetoed Dec. 22, 2023; S8811 signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026

New York State Assembly — A4938 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A836 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — A4899 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — S8811 (2025-26 session) actions and floor votes ↗New York State Assembly — Jeffrey Dinowitz, sponsored legislation ↗

New York State Assembly — A4938 (2023-24 session) actions and floor votes ↗

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