Robert G. Rolison
Republican · NY · New York State Senator, District 39
Rob Rolison is a Hudson Valley state senator, a former two-term Poughkeepsie mayor and Dutchess County Legislature chairman, and a retired town police detective. He focuses on public safety, protections for domestic violence victims, and utility tax relief.
Where Robert G. Rolison stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Government Efficiency (2 records), Government Spending Reduction (1 record),
Opposes
Civil Rights (1 record)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Voted yes on the Climate Change Superfund Act, which charges large oil and gas companies for part of the cost of climate damage in New York. The Senate passed it 43 to 17.
May 7, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 2 support
Sponsored a bill to make the state utility regulator hold a public hearing in the affected region at least 90 days before it approves any utility rate increase. The Senate energy committee advanced the bill in May 2025.
May 15, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
As mayor of Poughkeepsie, vetoed six Common Council changes to the city's 2017 budget. The changes counted on $570,045 in new money from higher bus fares, building fees and taxi rates that the council had not yet passed the laws to collect.
December 16, 2016Supports Government Efficiency
Source: patch.com · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support
As mayor of Poughkeepsie, vetoed the Common Council's $15,000 hire of an outside law firm to review the city's waterfront plan. The council sued on December 29, 2020 to overturn the veto, and Rolison filed his own suit to defend the mayor's authority under the city charter.
December 29, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: midhudsonnews.com · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support
Joined a press conference with other lawmakers and the father of Gabby Petito to back a bill he co-sponsored that makes police use a set of risk questions at domestic violence calls to spot victims in danger of being killed.
June 4, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Clean Slate Act, which seals many old criminal convictions after a waiting period once a sentence is finished. The Senate passed it 37 to 25.
June 9, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Co-sponsored Melanie's Law, which lets judges issue orders of protection covering the family and household members of a domestic violence victim, whatever their age. The Senate passed it unanimously on June 8, 2023.
June 8, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Offered an amendment on the Senate floor for a one-year holiday from taxes and surcharges on utility bills and a two-year holiday from green energy taxes. Every member of the Senate majority voted against it.
March 9, 2026Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
Voted yes on the SAFE for Kids Act, which bars social media companies from feeding children algorithm-driven feeds without a parent's consent. The Senate passed it 61 to 0.
June 6, 2024Supports Data Privacy
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 oppose
Voted no on the Clean Slate Act, which seals many old criminal convictions after a waiting period once a sentence is finished. The Senate passed it 37 to 25.
June 9, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 1 support
Voted yes on the Climate Change Superfund Act, which charges large oil and gas companies for part of the cost of climate damage in New York. The Senate passed it 43 to 17.
May 7, 2024Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Sponsored a law letting the town of Union Vale in Dutchess County take a piece of town park land out of park use and lease it to a company for a wireless tower. The governor signed it as Chapter 329.
August 15, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Joined the Senate Republican conference's Anti-Semitism Working Group, a six-member group that meets with people around the state and makes recommendations on responding to antisemitic incidents.
February 5, 2026
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted no on the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which lets a terminally ill adult ask a doctor for medicine to end their own life. The Senate passed it 35 to 27.
June 9, 2025
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored a law raising the cap on the tax Dutchess County charges on hotel and motel rooms from 4 percent to 5 percent. The governor signed it as Chapter 523.
November 22, 2024
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
The Police Benevolent Association of New York State, a union of about 1,100 state law enforcement officers, endorsed him for his 2024 state Senate race.
September 19, 2024
Source: pbanys.org · researched September 20, 2026
A state Supreme Court justice dismissed a lawsuit brought against the city of Poughkeepsie and Rolison as mayor. The activist who sued had claimed the city wrongly withheld ten years of police records he asked for under the state's open records law.
April 11, 2021
Source: midhudsonnews.com · researched September 20, 2026
Race Robert G. Rolison is in:
- State Senator, District 39 · November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 39; New York · incumbent
Profile last researched September 19, 2026.