Michelle Hinchey
Democratic · NY · New York State Senator, District 41
Michelle Hinchey is a Hudson Valley state senator first elected in 2020 who chairs the Agriculture Committee and was lead sponsor of free school meals for all New York students. She focuses on farms and local food, rural health care and housing, and clean water.
Where Michelle Hinchey stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (4 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Housing Affordability (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (1 record)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 4 support
Sponsored a law creating a state registry for frontotemporal degeneration, a form of dementia. Doctors and hospitals that diagnose or treat it must report cases to the health department, which keeps the data confidential. The governor signed it as Chapter 479.
October 16, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Led a letter to the federal Environmental Protection Agency signed by 28 other state senators of both parties. The letter asked the agency to rule that the upper Hudson River still needs more PCB cleanup, and to set a timeline for a new study of the work General Electric left behind.
March 27, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
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. She was also a named co-sponsor. The Senate passed it 43 to 17.
May 7, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored the Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act, which set up a state soil health program and a climate resilient farming program to help farmers protect their soil and cut emissions. The governor signed it as Chapter 735.
December 22, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
As lead Senate sponsor of the Universal School Meals Act, got the program into the state budget signed for the 2026 fiscal year. Free breakfast and lunch are now available to all New York public school students, about 2.7 million children.
May 12, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
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 governor signed it as Chapter 541.
November 25, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Sponsored New York's first statewide short-term rental law, which makes hosts register their rentals and requires records to be kept. The governor signed it as Chapter 672.
December 21, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
As lead Senate sponsor of the Universal School Meals Act, got the program into the state budget signed for the 2026 fiscal year. Free breakfast and lunch are now available to all New York public school students, about 2.7 million children.
May 12, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Sponsored a law requiring temporary shelters to hand out menstrual products such as pads and tampons at no cost. The governor signed it as Chapter 72.
February 24, 2022Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 support
As lead Senate sponsor of the Universal School Meals Act, got the program into the state budget signed for the 2026 fiscal year. Free breakfast and lunch are now available to all New York public school students, about 2.7 million children.
May 12, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Voted yes on New York's Concealed Carry Improvement Act, the gun licensing law passed after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the old concealed carry rules. The Senate passed it 43 to 20.
July 1, 2022Supports Gun Control
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Sponsored a law barring medical malpractice insurers from penalizing a doctor or clinic for providing an abortion or other reproductive care that is legal in New York to a patient from another state. The governor signed it as Chapter 221.
June 13, 2022Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
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 · 2 support
Wrote to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement opposing its plan to open an immigration processing center in a former warehouse in the town of Chester, Orange County, and published the letter.
January 15, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Voted yes 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 Civil Rights
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 2 support
Led a letter to the federal Environmental Protection Agency signed by 28 other state senators of both parties. The letter asked the agency to rule that the upper Hudson River still needs more PCB cleanup, and to set a timeline for a new study of the work General Electric left behind.
March 27, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
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. She was also a named co-sponsor. The Senate passed it 43 to 17.
May 7, 2024Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026
Track record — General
General · 1 record
Voted yes 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
Race Michelle Hinchey is in:
- State Senator, District 41 · November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 41; New York · incumbent
Profile last researched September 19, 2026.