State Senator - District 23

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

DemocraticIncumbent

State senator for District 23, which covers the North and East Shores of Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn.

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

Public safety and criminal justice

In coverage

Voted in 2024 against ending the lifetime ban on jury service for people with felony convictions and against raising New York City's red-light camera limit to 600 intersections, and in 2026 against a bill changing the rules on how close cannabis dispensaries may be to schools and houses of worship.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on S206B on June 6, 2024; it passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted no on S2812A on June 6, 2024; it passed the Senate 41-20 and was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024. Voted no on S9155 on Feb. 11, 2026; it passed the Senate 35-24 and was signed into law that day.

Voted no on S206B, S2812A and S9155 · 2024-06-06 to 2026-02-11 · S206 vetoed Dec. 21, 2024; S2812 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 23, 2024; S9155 signed into law Feb. 11, 2026

NY Senate — S206 (2023) floor votes ↗NY Senate — S2812 (2023) floor votes ↗NY Senate — S9155 (2025) floor votes ↗

NY Senate — S206 (2023) floor votes ↗

Family costs, taxes and the state budget

In coverage

Advocates universal child care; her campaign says she secured $350 million for a supplemental child tax credit. Voted against the 2024-25 budget bill for education, labor, housing and family assistance, and against bills letting Albany County tax short-term rentals and the town of Copake add a real estate transfer tax. Says what most people want for their families is "to feel safe where you live and able to afford where you live."

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on S8306C on April 19, 2024; it passed both houses that day and was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Voted no on S9273, letting Albany County tax short-term rentals, on June 3, 2024; it was vetoed on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted no on A6918A, letting the town of Copake add a real estate transfer tax for a community preservation fund, on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 524 on Nov. 21, 2025.

Voted no on S8306C, S9273 and A6918A · 2024-04-19 to 2025-06-12 · S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024; S9273 vetoed Dec. 21, 2024; A6918 signed into law as Chapter 524 on Nov. 21, 2025

NY Senate — S8306 (2023) floor votes ↗NY Senate — S9273 (2023) floor votes ↗NY Senate — A6918 (2025) floor votes ↗

Jessica for New York campaign website ↗

Police and first-responder benefits

In coverage

Sponsored four bills that became law: raising the NYPD mandatory retirement age from 63 to 65, on how the salary base for New York City police pensions is determined, on World Trade Center benefits, and permitting accidental death benefits to be awarded to Anthony Varvaro's beneficiaries. Her campaign says she secured 20-year pensions for first responders.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S5053 (NYPD retirement age); it passed the Senate June 2 and the Assembly June 3, 2026, and was signed into law as Chapter 311 on Sept. 28, 2026. Sponsored S7808 (police pension salary base), signed as Chapter 312 on Sept. 28, 2026. Sponsored S4554 (World Trade Center benefits), signed as Chapter 390 on Sept. 10, 2025. Sponsored S7586 (Varvaro death benefits), signed as Chapter 313 on Sept. 11, 2024.

Sponsor of S5053, S7808, S4554 and S7586 · 2024-09-11 to 2026-09-28 · All four signed into law: S7586 as Chapter 313 (Sept. 11, 2024), S4554 as Chapter 390 (Sept. 10, 2025), S5053 as Chapter 311 and S7808 as Chapter 312 (Sept. 28, 2026)

NY Senate — S5053 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S7808 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S4554 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S7586 (2023) ↗

Jessica for New York campaign website ↗

Veterans

In coverage

Chairs the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. Sponsored a law making state tuition awards available to certain veterans, including Vietnam, Persian Gulf and Afghanistan veterans, and a bill giving public employees extra paid leave for military duty. Her campaign says she passed legislation prioritizing housing for veterans and lowering their taxes.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S747 (veterans' tuition awards); it passed the Senate 61-0 on Jan. 28, 2025, and was signed into law as Chapter 75 on Feb. 14, 2025. Sponsored S3318 (paid military leave for public employees); it passed the Senate June 10 and the Assembly June 17, 2025, and was vetoed on Dec. 12, 2025.

Sponsor of S747 and S3318 · 2025-01-28 to 2025-12-12 · S747 signed into law as Chapter 75 on Feb. 14, 2025; S3318 vetoed Dec. 12, 2025

NY Senate — S747 (2025) ↗NY Senate — S3318 (2025) ↗

Jessica for New York campaign website ↗

Maternal health care

In coverage

Sponsors a bill requiring health insurance contracts to cover postpartum pelvic floor therapy for new mothers, which passed the Senate in June 2026. Her campaign says she secured over $1 million to launch the CUNY School of Midwifery.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S4917 and voted for it; it passed the Senate on June 4, 2026, and was referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee.

Sponsor of S4917; voted yes · 2026-06-04 · Passed the Senate June 4, 2026; referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee

NY Senate — S4917 (2025) ↗

Jessica for New York campaign website ↗

Jobs and apprenticeships

In coverage

Sponsored a law requiring contractors and subcontractors doing construction work on covered renewable energy systems to have apprenticeship agreements. Her campaign says she secured apprenticeships for green jobs.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S8752; it passed the Senate 57-0 on Jan. 20, 2026, and was signed into law as Chapter 37 on Feb. 13, 2026.

Sponsor of S8752; voted yes · 2026-01-20 · Signed into law as Chapter 37 on Feb. 13, 2026

NY Senate — S8752 (2025) ↗

Jessica for New York campaign website ↗

Election and city charter rules

In coverage

Voted for earlier versions of a bill barring conflicts of interest among board of elections employees, then against its final version, which became law. Voted against a 2025 bill repealing certain rules on adopting a new or revised city charter proposed by a charter commission.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S612 on Jan. 10, 2023, and on S612C on May 21, 2024, and no on S612D on June 3, 2024; S612 was signed into law as Chapter 639 of the Laws of 2024 on Dec. 21, 2024. Voted no on A3665A on June 12, 2025; it passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 5, 2025.

Voted on S612 (yes twice, then no on the final version) and no on A3665A · 2023-01-10 to 2025-06-12 · S612 signed into law as Chapter 639 of 2024 on Dec. 21, 2024; A3665 vetoed Dec. 5, 2025

NY Senate — S612 (2023) floor votes ↗NY Senate — A3665 (2025) floor votes ↗

NY Senate — S612 (2023) floor votes ↗

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