Julie Menin: Legislative Record
Council Member Legislation (2022 to 2025)
During her first two terms representing District 5, Menin sponsored more than 17 pieces of legislation that were enacted or advanced through the Council . Her legislative output made her one of the most prolific lawmakers in the body during this period .
Her childcare package, signed into law in November 2022, included three bills: Introduction 485-A, which required the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to create a citywide directory of childcare programs available in designated citywide languages; Introduction 486-A, which established a Child Care Advisory Board responsible for conducting annual needs assessments and issuing reports on the city's progress toward universal childcare; and Introduction 487-A, which required the creation of an online portal providing information on childcare subsidies .
Menin sponsored the Healthcare Accountability Act, which created a first-in-the-nation Office of Healthcare Accountability tasked with monitoring and reining in excessive hospital and healthcare pricing in New York City . She also passed legislation codifying the right to reproductive health services within city law and creating a one-stop web portal for all city business licenses to ease regulatory burdens on small businesses .
Additional legislative accomplishments during her first two terms included bills addressing hotel worker protections, consumer protection measures, and resolutions calling on the state to increase Medicaid reimbursement for doula care . She co-chaired the Council's Women's Caucus and used that platform to advance maternal health legislation .
Speaker-Era Legislation (January 2026 to Present)
In the current legislative session beginning January 2026, Menin has introduced 12 bills as primary sponsor and co-sponsored an additional nine bills introduced by other Council members 5.
Among her earliest actions as Speaker, Menin introduced Introduction 0001-2026, establishing a plan for security perimeters adjacent to places of religious worship, which was enacted as part of the Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act . She also introduced Introduction 0002-2026, requiring approval for emergency procurements and submission of contracts for audit, which was enacted in February 2026 5.
Introduction 0003-2026 called for a study and report on the feasibility and impact of siting data centers in New York City 5. Introduction 0004-2026 proposed prohibiting pricing increases based on real-time demand at food service establishments, commonly known as surge pricing at restaurants 5. Introduction 0005-2026 established criminal penalties for providing false information in contracting, which was enacted 5.
Introduction 0010-2026 required the Department of Education to report on outreach to parents about the NYC Scholars program, supporting the college savings account initiative 5. Introduction 0967-2026, introduced later in the session, proposed establishing a quadrennial regulatory review commission to systematically examine city regulations affecting businesses 5.
Budget and Oversight Actions as Speaker
As Speaker, Menin led the Council's fiscal year 2027 budget response, which proposed an alternative spending path that avoided property tax increases, reserve drawdowns, or reductions in critical services . The Council's independent economic forecast projected nearly $2 billion more in tax revenue than the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 .
The final $125.8 billion budget agreement reached with Mayor Mamdani on June 30, 2026, included $53 million for universal college savings accounts, $54 million in baselined funding for the Fair Fares transit discount expansion, $175 million in new rental assistance through a restructured housing voucher program, and $350 million added to the city's general reserve .
In January 2026, the Council overrode vetoes issued by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams on legislation strengthening worker protections and increasing housing affordability . Menin also created a standalone Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education and restructured all 36 Council committees and four subcommittees .
Oversight and Accountability Initiatives
Menin has signaled an intent to use the Council's subpoena power more aggressively than her predecessors, though she has specified that subpoenas would be directed at corporations engaged in predatory practices rather than at city agencies . She announced the launch of public dashboards to advance transparency and equity in the city budget process . She also secured a commitment from the Corporation Counsel to release 9/11 documents that had previously been withheld .
The Council under Menin's leadership passed landmark legislation limiting the terms of emergency contracts, building on procurement reforms aimed at increasing transparency and reducing opportunities for waste and fraud in city contracting .