Get Updates!
Membership
Through our Emgage Action New York Metro chapter, we are here to provide you updates in real-time on our legislative priorities, engagement with the New York State (NYS), New York City (NYC), and New Jersey (NJ) governments regarding the initiatives most important to our community, advocacy efforts, as well as the most crucial legislation we’re tracking.
We are here to be your one-stop shop to stay up-to-date on the multitude of legislative actions taking place in the NYS, NYC, and NJ governments, while letting you know how you can stay politically engaged.
NJ A3820/S2869 – An undemocratic law prohibiting 2.4 million unaffiliated and/or independent voters in New Jersey from receiving mail-in ballots, receiving instead a form to declare their party affiliation. This law presents a major roadblock to exercising one’s civic duty.
Ensure Halal Food in NYS Schools
School Curriculum in NYC on Religious Diversity
Eid as a Holiday in NYS
Disparity Studies on Arab Americans in NYS and NYC
NEW YORK MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA (MENA) COALITION:
NY S 6584: To require separate collection categories for White, Middle Eastern, and North African groups
Last Action: On Jun 8, 2023, bill passed Senate. Delivered to State Assembly and referred to Governmental Operations.
NY S 6584 title: Relates to the collection of certain demographic information by certain state agencies, boards, departments and commissions
Summary: Section one amends section 170-e of the executive law to require that every state agency, board, department or commission that directly collects demographic data regarding the ancestry or ethnic origin of a New York resident disaggregate Middle Eastern and North African from the White demographic and one another, to collect separate data on each major Middle Eastern and North African group. This section also indi- cates that ancestry and ethnic origin categories shall not be mutually exclusive.
Primary Sponsors: Mike Gianaris (D)
HALAL FOOD IN SCHOOLS:
NY A 2449: Halal Food in Public Schools (Only city school districts with +15% Muslim population)
Last Action: On Jan. 26, 2023, bill referred to Assembly Committee on Education
A 2449 title: Requires certain public schools to provide Halal food during lunch
Summary: Amends the education law by requiring all cities or counties that have a population of one million or more to provide Halal food to any student who has a dietary restriction or requirement, at no cost. This will only apply to city school districts that have a Muslim population of fifteen percent or more. The “Muslim population” shall include persons, adults and children, who are fully or partially of Muslim descent, include all those persons and ethnic groups identified as Muslim by the United States census bureau.
Primary Sponsors: Charles Fall (D)
DIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS:
NYC Council Res 476: Provide all grade levels with curriculum focusing on religious diversity
Last Action: On Feb. 2, 2023, this Resolution was referred to Comm by Council to the Committee on Education
NYC Council Res 476 title: NYC Dept of Education to consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide all grade levels with a curriculum that focuses on religious diversity.
Summary: NYC Department of Education must consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide:
Primary Sponsors: Shahana K. Hanif (D), Pierina Ana Sanchez (D), Tiffany Cabán (D), Shekar Krishnan (D), Kalman Yeger (D), Crystal Hudson (D), Oswald Feliz (D), Shaun Abreu (D), Kristin Richardson Jordan (D), Alexa Avilés (D), Kevin C. Riley (D)
VOTING RIGHTS:
NJ A 3820: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballots
Last Action: enacted on July 28, 2022.
A 3820 title/summary: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballot for primary election; requires election officials to provide such voters certain notices; prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation or designation for certain elections.
Primary Sponsors: Rob Karabinchak (D), Sadaf Jaffer (D), Sterley Stanley (D), Joe Cryan (D), Vin Gopal (D)
NEW YORK MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA (MENA) COALITION:
NY S 6584: To require separate collection categories for White, Middle Eastern, and North African groups
Last Action: Last Action: On Jun 8, 2023, bill passed Senate. Delivered to State Assembly and referred to Governmental Operations.
NY S 6584 title: Relates to the collection of certain demographic information by certain state agencies, boards, departments and commissions
Summary: Section one amends section 170-e of the executive law to require that every state agency, board, department or commission that directly collects demographic data regarding the ancestry or ethnic origin of a New York resident disaggregate Middle Eastern and North African from the White demographic and one another, to collect separate data on each major Middle Eastern and North African group. This section also indi- cates that ancestry and ethnic origin categories shall not be mutually exclusive.
Primary Sponsors: Mike Gianaris (D)
HALAL FOOD IN SCHOOLS:
NY A 2449: Halal Food in Public Schools (Only city school districts with +15% Muslim population)
Last Action: On Jan. 26, 2023, bill referred to Assembly Committee on Education
A 2449 title: Requires certain public schools to provide Halal food during lunch
Summary: Amends the education law by requiring all cities or counties that have a population of one million or more to provide Halal food to any student who has a dietary restriction or requirement, at no cost. This will only apply to city school districts that have a Muslim population of fifteen percent or more. The “Muslim population” shall include persons, adults and children, who are fully or partially of Muslim descent, include all those persons and ethnic groups identified as Muslim by the United States census bureau.
Primary Sponsors: Charles Fall (D)
DIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS:
NYC Council Res 476: Provide all grade levels with curriculum focusing on religious diversity
Last Action: On Feb. 2, 2023, this Resolution was referred to Comm by Council to the Committee on Education
NYC Council Res 476 title: NYC Dept of Education to consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide all grade levels with a curriculum that focuses on religious diversity.
Summary: NYC Department of Education must consult with faith-based organizations to develop and provide:
Primary Sponsors: Shahana K. Hanif (D), Pierina Ana Sanchez (D), Tiffany Cabán (D), Shekar Krishnan (D), Kalman Yeger (D), Crystal Hudson (D), Oswald Feliz (D), Shaun Abreu (D), Kristin Richardson Jordan (D), Alexa Avilés (D), Kevin C. Riley (D)
VOTING RIGHTS:
NJ A 3820: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballots
Last Action: enacted on July 28, 2022.
A 3820 title/summary: Prohibits unaffiliated mail-in voters from receiving mail-in ballot for primary election; requires election officials to provide such voters certain notices; prohibits mail-in ballot envelopes from containing visible political affiliation or designation for certain elections.
Primary Sponsors: Rob Karabinchak (D), Sadaf Jaffer (D), Sterley Stanley (D), Joe Cryan (D), Vin Gopal (D)
