State Assembly Member - District 47

William Colton

DemocraticIncumbent

Has represented District 47 in the Assembly since 1997 and serves as the Assembly's Majority Whip.

Serving as Assembly Member

Overview Issues Support Money Events Record

Schools, gifted programs and school safety

In coverage

Wants to expand gifted classes admitted by merit and to keep the specialized high schools and their admissions test, the SHSAT. Sponsors a bill requiring New York City's Education Department to create more gifted and talented programs, and sponsored the 2023 law making Asian Lunar New Year a school holiday.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Prime sponsor of A1881, requiring the New York City Department of Education to create more gifted and talented programs and classes; referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026. Sponsored A7768, declaring Asian Lunar New Year a school holiday, and voted yes on June 10, 2023; signed into law as Chapter 359 on Sept. 9, 2023.

Prime sponsor of A1881; sponsor of A7768, voted yes · 2023-06-10 to 2026-01-07 · A1881 referred to the Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026; A7768 signed into law as Chapter 359 on Sept. 9, 2023

New York State Assembly — A1881 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A7768 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — William Colton sponsored legislation ↗

VOTE411 Voter Guide (League of Women Voters) — William Colton's answers ↗

Public safety and criminal justice

In coverage

Sponsored a bill letting judges set bail or order jail before trial for people charged with hate crimes. Voted against the Keep Police Radio Public Act in 2025, which the governor vetoed, and against a 2024 bill, which became law, on certificates of relief from disabilities (which lift some legal barriers for people with criminal convictions).

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored A1789 (2023-24 session), adding hate crimes to the offenses for which a court may fix bail or commit a defendant to the sheriff's custody; in the Assembly Codes Committee as of Jan. 3, 2024, its latest recorded action. Voted no on A3516, the Keep Police Radio Public Act, on June 5, 2025; the governor vetoed it on Dec. 19, 2025. Voted no on A7194, on certificates of relief from disabilities, on May 16, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 620 on Dec. 21, 2024.

Sponsor of A1789; voted no on A3516 and A7194 · 2024-01-03 to 2025-06-05 · A1789 in the Assembly Codes Committee as of Jan. 3, 2024; A3516 vetoed Dec. 19, 2025; A7194 signed into law as Chapter 620 on Dec. 21, 2024

New York State Assembly — A1789 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A3516 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A7194 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

New York State Assembly — A1789 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

Voting access and redistricting

In coverage

Supports expanding early voting sites and hours in New York. Voted against a 2025 bill on how city charter revision proposals go to voters, which the governor vetoed.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on A3665, which repeals provisions on city charter commission proposals that limit the submission of questions to a city's voters, on June 10, 2025; the governor vetoed it on Dec. 5, 2025.

Voted no · 2025-06-10 · Vetoed by the governor on Dec. 5, 2025

New York State Assembly — A3665 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

VOTE411 Voter Guide (League of Women Voters) — William Colton's answers ↗

State budget and taxes

In coverage

Voted for state budget bills in 2024 and 2026. Sponsors a bill giving K-12 public and private school teachers a state income tax deduction of up to $500 a year for school supplies they pay for themselves.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted yes on A8803, the Aid to Localities budget bill, on April 19, 2024; signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024. Voted yes on S9009, which enacts major parts of the 2026-27 state budget, on May 27, 2026; it passed the Assembly 91-52 and was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026.

Voted yes on A8803 and S9009 · 2024-04-19 to 2026-05-27 · A8803 signed into law as Chapter 53 on May 1, 2024; S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026

New York State Assembly — A8803 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — S9009 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

New York State Assembly — William Colton sponsored legislation ↗

Rent rules and homeless shelters

In coverage

Supports stronger rent regulations and better Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption benefits to keep older and working-class tenants in their homes. Opposes a proposed homeless shelter on 86th Street, and sponsors a bill barring homeless shelters within 500 feet of a school, place of worship or transit facility, except a shelter or food program run by a place of worship.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsors A10638, which would prohibit locating homeless shelters within 500 feet of a school, place of worship or transit facility, except a shelter or food program run by a place of worship; referred to the Assembly Cities Committee on March 13, 2026.

Sponsor · 2026-03-13 · Referred to the Assembly Cities Committee on March 13, 2026

New York State Assembly — A10638 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗VOTE411 Voter Guide (League of Women Voters) — William Colton's answers ↗

New York State Assembly — William Colton member page ↗

Medical aid in dying and hospital care rules

In coverage

Voted in April 2025 against the Medical Aid in Dying Act, and in February 2026 against a bill setting medication requirements for medical aid in dying, which became law. Also voted against a 2025 bill requiring hospitals to report their rule-based care exclusions (care a hospital does not provide under its own rules) for the state to publish; the governor vetoed it.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Voted no on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on April 29, 2025. Voted no on A9515, on requirements for providing medication for medical aid in dying, on Feb. 4, 2026; it passed the Assembly 83-62 and was signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted no on S3486, requiring the health commissioner to collect each hospital's rule-based exclusions and publish them, on June 11, 2025; it passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 19, 2025.

Voted no on A136, A9515 and S3486 · 2025-04-29 to 2026-02-04 · A136 Assembly floor vote April 29, 2025; A9515 signed into law as Chapter 1 on Feb. 6, 2026; S3486 vetoed Dec. 19, 2025

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A9515 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — S3486 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

New York State Assembly — A136 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

Subways, buses and driving

In coverage

Sponsors bills, both passed by the Assembly in 2026, requiring the MTA to tell riders about bedbug infestations within 24 hours and giving community boards notice of subway and bus service changes. Also sponsors bills for free bus fares for students and for seniors, and one on defenses to parking tickets.

✓ Track record — what they've actually done

Sponsored A1906, requiring a system to notify riders of bedbug infestations on MTA subways, trains and buses within 24 hours, and voted yes; it passed the Assembly on March 25, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee. Sponsored A2010, requiring notice to community boards and local elected officials of New York City Transit service changes, and voted yes; it passed the Assembly on Feb. 24, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee. Sponsored A1994, allowing certain defenses to parking violations despite a default judgment, and voted yes on May 14, 2025 and April 28, 2026; it passed the Assembly on April 28, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.

Sponsor of A1906, A2010 and A1994, voted yes on each · 2025-05-14 to 2026-04-28 · A1906, A2010 and A1994 passed the Assembly in 2026 and were referred to the Senate Transportation Committee

New York State Assembly — A1906 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A2010 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A1994 (2025) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

New York State Assembly — William Colton sponsored legislation ↗

Climate, recycling and waste

In coverage

Voted for the 2024 law creating a climate change adaptation cost recovery program and fund, and sponsored a bill requiring New York City to collect recyclables in parks and playgrounds, which the governor vetoed. Served as the attorney in the lawsuit that stopped the Southwest Brooklyn Incinerator from reopening.

✓ 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; it passed the Assembly 92-49 and was signed into law as Chapter 679 of 2024 on Dec. 26, 2024. Sponsored A3933, requiring cities of one million or more to collect recyclables at parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities, and voted yes on May 17, 2023; it passed both houses and was vetoed on Dec. 22, 2023.

Voted yes on S2129; sponsor of A3933, voted yes · 2023-05-17 to 2024-06-08 · S2129 signed into law as Chapter 679 of 2024 on Dec. 26, 2024; A3933 vetoed Dec. 22, 2023

New York State Assembly — S2129 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗New York State Assembly — A3933 (2023) bill record (summary, actions, floor votes) ↗

New York State Assembly — William Colton member page ↗

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Others running for State Assembly Member - District 47

JRJohn J. Ricottone