Dear Constituent, 

Below please find information about this month’s events and initiatives from my office, along with other time-sensitive information and a list of new laws going into effect in October 2025. 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! At a time when our national leaders are trying to tear us apart along lines of difference, it is ever more important for all of us to come together and affirm the quintessentially American value of diversity - e pluribus unum!

Assembly District 95 owes so much of its vibrancy and vitality to the myriad contributions of our Hispanic communities. This month and every month, I am proud to celebrate these contributions and continue working to ensure that our diverse community also enjoys equity, inclusion, and justice.

G’mar Chatima Tovah!

Sending my best wishes for a meaningful fast to everyone observing Yom Kippur this week. My staff will continue to be in the office during the holiday, so please feel free to call (914) 941-1111 or email levenbergd@nyassembly.gov if you need anything. 

Sincerely,

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg

The Village of Croton is hosting a Citizen Emergency Preparedness training this Saturday, October 4 from 10 AM - 12 PM in the Community Room of the Municipal Building (1 Van Wyck St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520). These trainings, taught by New York National Guard members, are intended to teach residents how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other emergency situations. You need not be a Croton resident to participate, and there is no registration fee. Click here to learn more and register.

The state has begun distributing inflation relief checks. At a time when federal policies are pushing prices higher and higher, I am proud that my colleagues in the state legislature were able to partner with Governor Hochul to provide these relief checks for New Yorkers, along with other measures promoting affordability in the most recent state budget. 

You are eligible for an inflation refund check if, for tax year 2023, you:

• Filed Form IT-201, New York State Resident Income Tax Return;
• Reported income within the qualifying thresholds below; and
• Were not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.

Joint tax filers with income up to $150,000 will receive a $400 check. Joint tax filers with income over $150,000 but no greater than $300,000 will receive a $300 check. Single tax filers with income up to $75,000 will receive a $200 check. Single tax filers with incomes over $75,000 but no greater than $150,000 will receive a $150 check. There are no age restrictions for these payments. 

Filers do not need to do anything to receive an inflation refund check; beware of scammers asking you to send information or click links in order to collect your payment. If you filed a tax return for 2023, were within the income limits, and no one else claimed you as a dependent, you will receive a check. Additional information from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance can be found at ny.gov/inflationrefund.

Over the next few episodes of my podcast series, Building Healthy Communities, I'll be spotlighting organizations for which I have secured grant funding. First up in our Grants Spotlight: Riverkeeper! Riverkeeper is a local nonprofit that works to preserve and protect bodies of water in the Hudson Valley through monitoring and advocacy. They have been at the forefront of efforts to protect the Hudson River and its tributaries since the 1960s, and I was proud to secure $20,000 from this year's budget for the purchase of testing equipment for their water quality program.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Shannon Roback, Science Director at Riverkeeper, who shares more about Riverkeeper's mission and programs, including their new water quality data portal, available at data.riverkeeper.org. Click here to watch the episode on my YouTube channel. 

Reminder that I will be hosting a coffee and conversation event at the Black Cow in Croton on Saturday, October 11 from 1-2 PM. Hope to see you there!

My staff hosts mobile office hours to bring the services of the district office to all corners of the district. Stop by for help with anything you might come into the office for: help navigating state agencies, information about state programs, and more. Here are the dates, times and locations for this fall: 

• Thursday, October 16, 1-4 PM: Desmond-Fish Library, 472 NY-403, Garrison, NY 10524
• Thursday, November 20, 1-4 PM: John C. Hart Memorial Library, 1130 E Main St, Shrub Oak, NY 10588

Big changes are coming to healthcare as a result of federal legislation. I will be co-hosting a bilingual healthcare forum and resource fair at the Ossining Public Library with Senator Pete Harckham on Monday, October 27 from 6-8 PM to help residents learn more and prepare in advance. We will be joined by a panel of subject matter experts sharing critical information, particularly for those who are covered by Medicaid, the Essential Plan, or purchase health insurance from New York State of Health. Local partners and care providers will also host tables sharing resources. Join us!

There is still time to comment on the latest draft of the New York Power Authority’s renewable energy strategic plan. Click here to do so any time before 5 PM on Monday, October 6, 2025.

The “Old Traditions, New Beginnings” project aims to give seniors the opportunity to connect with others by sharing their stories, memories, recipes, or whatever legacy they would like to impart to the generations that follow. Contributions to this project are now regularly featured in the River Journal and River Journal North. If you are interested in contributing your own writing (250-1000 words) or volunteering to help others share their contributions, please email district95@nyassembly.gov.

New state laws go into effect every month. Here is a list of laws going into effect in October 2025:

10/1/2025: Ch. 56 of 2025 Part CC. A3006-C/S3006-C

Requires New York City to spend at least $328 million in local funds for child care block grants.

10/1/2025: Ch. 57 of 2025 Part M, A3007-C/S3007-C

Requires general hospitals to report community benefit spending by July 1 of each calendar year.

10/1/2025: Ch. 57 of 2025 Part Q, § 1, A3007-C/S3007-C

Expands coverage for infertility treatment as a result of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, sickle cell treatment, or other medical treatment.

10/26/2025: Ch. 420 of 2025, S1373/SA4910

Creates an option on dog registration applications for a dog owner to donate to a local animal pound or shelter.