State Senator - District 16

John C. Liu

DemocraticIncumbent

Has represented Senate District 16, which covers parts of Flushing, Fresh Meadows and Bayside in Queens, as a Democrat since 2023, and chairs the Senate Committee on New York City Education.

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

New York City schools

In coverage

Sponsored a 2023 law on New York City's plan, developed with the teachers' and principals' unions, to reduce class sizes starting in September 2023 and reaching all classes by September 2028, and a 2025 law authorizing a survey of instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and creating an advisory committee. Voted for the 2024-25 education budget bill.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S843, on New York City's plan to reduce class sizes starting in September 2023 and reaching all classes by September 2028, with yearly reports; voted yes on Jan. 23, 2023, when it passed the Senate 56-6, and it was signed into law as Chapter 86 on March 3, 2023. Sponsored S7855, authorizing a survey on instruction in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and creating an advisory committee; voted yes on June 10, 2025, it passed the Assembly on June 11, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 639 on Dec. 12, 2025. Voted yes on S8306C, the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024.

Sponsor of S843 and S7855, voting yes on each; voted yes on budget bill S8306C · 2023-01-23 to 2025-06-10 · S843 signed into law as Chapter 86 on March 3, 2023; S7855 signed into law as Chapter 639 on Dec. 12, 2025; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024

NY Senate — S843 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S7855 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S8306 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — About John Liu ↗

Health care and insurance coverage

In coverage

Sponsors a bill requiring certain health insurance policies to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening, which passed the Senate and the Assembly in 2026. Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, signed into law in February 2026, and against a 2024 bill changing physician assistant practice standards, which became law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S634, requiring certain health insurance policies to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening; voted yes on Feb. 24, 2026; it passed the Senate on Feb. 24, 2026, and the Assembly on May 12, 2026. Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on S9038A, modifying physician assistant standards, on June 5, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 520 on Nov. 22, 2024.

Sponsor of S634, voting yes; voted yes on A136; voted no on S9038A · 2024-06-05 to 2026-02-24 · S634 passed the Senate on Feb. 24, 2026, and the Assembly on May 12, 2026; A136 signed into law as Chapter 714 on Feb. 6, 2026; S9038 signed into law as Chapter 520 on Nov. 22, 2024

NY Senate — S634 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — A136 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S9038 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — S634 (2025) ↗

Consumer protection and data privacy

In coverage

Sponsors a biometric identifier privacy act, which passed the Senate 41-20 in June 2026, and a bill protecting minors featured in paid video content that earns money on social media. Sponsored a 2024 law on notices warning of electronic benefit card scams and voted for a 2026 law on the attorney general's power over unfair business practices.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S1422, establishing the Biometric Identifier Privacy Act; voted yes, and it passed the Senate 41-20 on June 3, 2026. Sponsored S825, establishing protections for minors featured in compensated video content on social media or video-sharing platforms; voted yes, and it passed the Senate on June 1, 2026, and was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Sponsored S8050, on notices warning customers of electronic benefits transfer scams; voted yes on Jan. 17, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 70 on Feb. 7, 2024. Voted yes on S8811, on the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices, on Jan. 28, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026.

Sponsor of S1422, S825 and S8050, voting yes on each; voted yes on S8811 · 2024-01-17 to 2026-06-03 · S1422 passed the Senate 41-20 on June 3, 2026; S825 passed the Senate on June 1, 2026, and was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee; S8050 signed into law as Chapter 70 on Feb. 7, 2024; S8811 signed into law as Chapter 94 on March 27, 2026

NY Senate — S1422 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S825 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S8050 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S8811 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — S1422 (2025) ↗

Policing and traffic safety

In coverage

As New York City comptroller from 2010 to 2013, was an early opponent of stop-and-frisk police tactics, pointing to the risks to communities and taxpayers from damaged police-community relations. Sponsored the 2024 law prohibiting reckless driving in parking lots.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S760, prohibiting reckless driving in parking lots; voted yes on S760B on March 6, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 436 on Oct. 23, 2024.

Sponsor of S760, voting yes · 2024-03-06 · Signed into law as Chapter 436 on Oct. 23, 2024

NY Senate — S760 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗

John Liu for New York — About ↗

Campaign finance and court appointments

In coverage

Voted against a 2023 bill changing thresholds and procedures in the state's public campaign financing program, which the governor vetoed, and against a 2023 bill on filling Court of Appeals associate judge vacancies created when the governor appoints a chief judge, which became law.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on S7564, amending the public campaign financing program, including certain thresholds and procedures, on June 9, 2023; it passed both houses that day and was vetoed by the governor on Dec. 27, 2023. Voted no on S6061, providing for appointments to Court of Appeals associate judge vacancies caused by the governor's appointment of a chief judge, on March 30, 2023; it was signed into law on April 10, 2023.

Voted no on S7564 and on S6061 · 2023-03-30 to 2023-06-09 · S7564 vetoed by the governor on Dec. 27, 2023; S6061 signed into law on April 10, 2023

NY Senate — S7564 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S6061 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — S7564 (2023) ↗

Property tax abatements and exemptions

In coverage

Sponsored a 2024 law raising the rate and extending certain deadlines of the green roof tax abatement in a city of one million or more people. Voted against a 2025 bill authorizing retroactive real property tax-exempt status for Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim, which passed the Senate 47-12 and was signed into law in October 2025.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored S6409, raising the tax abatement rate and extending certain deadlines for the green roof tax abatement in a city of one million or more people; voted yes on S6409A on April 2, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 154 on June 28, 2024. Voted no on S8161, authorizing Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim to receive retroactive real property tax-exempt status, on June 12, 2025, when it passed the Senate 47-12; it was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025.

Sponsor of S6409, voting yes; voted no on S8161 · 2024-04-02 to 2025-06-12 · S6409 signed into law as Chapter 154 on June 28, 2024; S8161 passed the Senate 47-12 on June 12, 2025, over his no vote and was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025

NY Senate — S6409 (2023) bill page and floor vote ↗NY Senate — S8161 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — S6409 (2023) ↗

Gas service and energy

In coverage

Voted for a 2025 law on providing gas service to new customers, signed into law in December 2025.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on S8417, relating to the provision of gas service to new customers, on June 12, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 709 on Dec. 19, 2025.

Voted yes on S8417 · 2025-06-12 · Signed into law as Chapter 709 on Dec. 19, 2025

NY Senate — S8417 (2025) bill page and floor vote ↗

NY Senate — S8417 (2025) ↗

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