Harvey Epstein: Legislative Record
Overview
During his tenure in the New York State Assembly representing District 74, Epstein passed over 50 bills that were signed into law and co-sponsored hundreds of additional measures across housing, environmental policy, education, disability justice, criminal justice reform, immigrant protection, and reproductive healthcare .
Committee Assignments
Epstein served on the Assembly committees on Corrections, Environmental Conservation, Higher Education, Housing, People with Disabilities, and Codes . He chaired the Committee on State-Local Relations and the Subcommittee on Retention of Homeownership and Stabilization of Affordable Housing . He was also a member of the Asian-Pacific American Task Force and the Latino/Puerto Rican Task Force .
Housing Legislation
Two of Epstein's bills were incorporated into the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, the most comprehensive tenant protection legislation passed in New York State in decades . The law eliminated vacancy decontrol, reformed the Individual Apartment Improvement system, limited security deposits to one month's rent, prohibited tenant blacklisting through court information databases, required adequate notice for lease non-renewals, and strengthened protections against retaliatory eviction . Epstein also fought for and secured Mitchell-Lama reforms to maintain affordability in the regulated housing program . He sponsored the pilot program to legalize basement apartments and bring them up to code, signed into law as part of the 2024 state budget . He supported the passage of Good Cause Eviction protections in the same budget cycle .
Environment and Climate Legislation
Epstein helped pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which established a statewide framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 and achieve net-zero emissions . He introduced legislation to create composting programs across state agencies and to reduce statewide plastic consumption .
Education and Disability Legislation
Epstein supported legislation that provided dedicated funding for public schools, after-school programs, early childhood education, and higher education . He also backed measures creating new employment opportunities for people with disabilities .
Criminal Justice Legislation
Epstein advocated for ending the excessive use of solitary confinement, legalizing adult-use marijuana, expunging marijuana-related records, reforming the parole system, and expanding access to college education for incarcerated individuals .
Voting and Civil Rights Legislation
Epstein supported the expansion of early voting for New Yorkers and helped codify Roe v. Wade in New York State law through the Reproductive Health Act, protecting reproductive healthcare access at the state level .
Transit and Infrastructure
Epstein helped pass legislation creating a dedicated funding stream for public transit and testified in support of congestion pricing for Manhattan .
Committee Assignments
As of 2026, Epstein serves as chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection 8. He also sits on the committees on Disabilities, Environmental Protection and Waterfronts, Health, Higher Education, Hospitals, and Workforce Development, as well as the Subcommittee on Senior Centers and Food Security 8.
Caucus Memberships
Epstein chairs the Animal Welfare Caucus, which he founded in early 2026 . He is a member of the Progressive Caucus, the Jewish Caucus, and the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism 8.
Legislation Introduced
In his first Council session, Epstein introduced 17 bills, including legislation addressing housing decisions for transgender, gender nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex individuals; requiring bird-friendly materials in certain existing buildings; protections for construction workers from extreme heat; and measures related to renewable energy credits and building emissions 8.