State Assembly Member - District 52
Jo Anne Simon
State Assembly Member - District 52Jo Anne Simon
A disability civil rights lawyer and former teacher of deaf students who has represented the 52nd Assembly District since January 2015 and chairs the Assembly's Committee on Mental Health.
Energy sources and utility costs
In coverageSupports moving to public power, with electric generation and utilities publicly owned and renewable, and opposed siting fossil fuel infrastructure such as the Williams pipeline. Voted for a 2026 law on providing gas service to new customers and sponsors the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S8812, which relates to the effectiveness of the law on providing gas service to new customers, on March 31, 2026; it passed the Assembly 83-61 and was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026. Also sponsors a bill enacting the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act and repealing certain public service law provisions on gas service and sale.
Voted yes on S8812; sponsor of the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act bill · 2026-03-31 · S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026
Schools and reading
In coverageSponsors bills requiring school districts to screen all children early for dyslexia and requiring reading-proficiency assessments and dyslexia screening for incarcerated people without a high school diploma; the second passed the Assembly in January 2026. Her campaign says she founded the annual Dyslexia Awareness Day at the Capitol.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A1325, requiring a reading proficiency assessment and dyslexia screening for certain incarcerated people; voted yes in Assembly floor votes on April 30, 2025 and Jan. 12, 2026. It passed the Assembly on Jan. 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee. Also sponsors a bill requiring school districts to conduct mandatory early screening for dyslexia for all children.
Sponsor of A1325, voting yes on it; sponsor of a bill requiring early dyslexia screening in schools · 2025-04-30 to 2026-01-12 · A1325 passed the Assembly on Jan. 12, 2026; referred to the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee
Health care and medical decisions
In coverageVoted for New York's medical aid in dying law and for a 2026 law barring malpractice insurers from denying coverage or raising rates solely over the legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care drugs. Sponsors bills on notice before adult care facilities close and on assisted outpatient treatment. Her campaign says she helped pass legislation codifying Roe v. Wade into state law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on A136, the medical aid in dying act, on April 29, 2025; it passed the Assembly 81-67 and was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted yes on S8807, on protections for legally protected health activities, on March 31, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026. Sponsor of A5998, on notice requirements before adult care facilities close; voted yes as it passed the Assembly and the Senate on May 29, 2026. Also sponsors a bill enhancing the assisted outpatient treatment program and eliminating the expiration and repeal of Kendra's Law.
Voted yes on A136 and S8807; sponsor of A5998, voting yes on it; sponsor of a Kendra's Law bill · 2025-04-29 to 2026-05-29 · A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; S8807 signed into law as Chapter 128 on June 5, 2026; A5998 passed the Assembly and the Senate on May 29, 2026
Climate and the environment
In coverageVoted to create a state climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund, sponsored laws on a monarch butterfly preservation plan and on alternatives to pesticides in it, and backed laws on electric-vehicle charging. Her campaign says she voted for New York City's original proposal for a fee on plastic bags.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S2129, establishing the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund, on June 8, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 679 on Dec. 26, 2024. Sponsor of A1819, the monarch preservation plan (voted yes April 1, 2025; signed into law as Chapter 620 on Dec. 12, 2025), and A9436, on alternatives to pesticides in that plan (voted yes Jan. 13, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 7 on Feb. 13, 2026). Sponsor of A7091, requiring electric-vehicle charging stations and capable parking spaces to include accessible spaces large enough for wheelchair-accessible vehicles (voted yes April 2, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 618 on Dec. 21, 2024). Voted yes on S1736, requiring electric-vehicle charging stations and ready parking spaces in new construction with off-street parking, on June 5, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024.
Sponsor of A1819, A9436 and A7091, voting yes on each; voted yes on S2129 and S1736 · 2024-04-02 to 2026-01-13 · All five signed into law: A7091 as Chapter 618 and S1736 as Chapter 643 on Dec. 21, 2024; S2129 as Chapter 679 on Dec. 26, 2024; A1819 as Chapter 620 on Dec. 12, 2025; A9436 as Chapter 7 on Feb. 13, 2026
Workers and the economy
In coverageSponsors the Empowering People in Rights Enforcement (EMPIRE) Worker Protection Act and a bill on employees' use of accrued sick, compensatory or vacation time that passed both houses in 2026. Voted for a 2026 law on the attorney general's power to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A1202, on the use of accrued sick time, compensatory time or vacation time; voted yes as it passed the Assembly on May 13, 2026, and it passed the Senate on June 1, 2026. Voted yes on S8811, on the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, on Feb. 25, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026. Also sponsors the EMPIRE Worker Protection Act.
Sponsor of A1202, voting yes on it; voted yes on S8811; sponsor of the EMPIRE Worker Protection Act · 2026-02-25 to 2026-06-01 · A1202 passed the Assembly on May 13, 2026 and the Senate on June 1, 2026; S8811 signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026
Housing
In coverageSays she helped pass New York's Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act and the state's Good Cause eviction law, which protects market-rate renters. Sponsored a 2023 law barring unauthorized installation of devices that control access to common areas of residential buildings.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A2258, prohibiting the unauthorized installation of certain security devices used to control access to common areas of residential buildings; voted yes on May 22, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 637 on Nov. 17, 2023.
Sponsor; voted yes · 2023-05-22 · Signed into law as Chapter 637 on Nov. 17, 2023
Elections and campaign finance
In coverageSponsored the 2025 law repealing the ban on giving voters items of nominal value to get them to the polls. Says she does not accept donations from real estate developers, special interests or corporate PACs, and her campaign says she passed a 2019 campaign finance law closing the LLC loophole.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsor of A1241, repealing provisions that made it a crime to furnish items of nominal value to induce attendance at the polls; voted yes on May 15, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 156 on June 21, 2025.
Sponsor; voted yes · 2025-05-15 · Signed into law as Chapter 156 on June 21, 2025
Public safety and the courts
In coverageSays she sponsored New York's red flag law, meant to help family members, law enforcement and school officials prevent gun tragedies, and spearheaded the effort to create the state's first firearm violence research institute. Sponsors bills on the temporary surrender of firearms by people who may be a danger to themselves or others and on a lower blood alcohol limit for drunken driving.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsors a bill providing for the temporary surrender of firearms when a person may be a danger to themselves or others, and a bill lowering the blood alcohol limit for driving while intoxicated from .08 percent to .05 percent.
Sponsor · Not dated on her sponsored-legislation list · Listed among her sponsored bills; no later action found
State budget and taxes
In coverageVoted against the 2026-27 transportation, economic development and environmental conservation budget bill, which passed the Assembly 110-33, and for the bill carrying major parts of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted no on A10008, the 2026-27 transportation, economic development and environmental conservation budget bill, on May 26, 2026; it passed the Assembly 110-33 and was signed into law as Chapter 58 that day. Voted yes on S9009, enacting major components of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026; signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026.
Voted no on A10008; voted yes on S9009 · 2026-05-26 to 2026-05-27 · A10008 signed into law as Chapter 58 on May 26, 2026; S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026
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