Joseph A. Griffo

Voted against New York's main climate law, which set legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move the power grid to clean sources. It passed 41 to 21.

June 18, 2019Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law creating a state program that pays incentives to builders of new affordable homes that meet green building standards. The Senate passed it 63 to 0 and the governor signed it.

December 18, 2017Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law banning the sale of powdered and crystalline alcohol in New York. The Senate passed it 62 to 0 and the governor signed it.

August 14, 2015Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against a law giving farm workers overtime pay, a day of rest each week and the right to join a union. It passed 40 to 22.

June 19, 2019Opposes Labor Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against repealing the state rule that kept police disciplinary records secret. The repeal passed 40 to 22 after the killing of George Floyd.

June 9, 2020Opposes Anti-Corruption

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Publicly backed a full state ethics commission inquiry into how the Assembly handled a sexual harassment case against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. He also pressed his own bill to limit how long legislative leaders can serve.

September 25, 2012Supports Anti-Corruption

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted for New York's property tax cap. The law limits how much school districts and local governments can raise property taxes each year. It passed 57 to 5.

June 24, 2011Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted for the Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year window for adults to sue over past sexual abuse. It passed 62 to 0.

April 26, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted for the Child Victims Act, which gave people abused as children more time to sue and to press charges. It passed 63 to 0.

January 28, 2019Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted for a law setting one standard of consent for sexual assault cases at every college in New York. It also gave students a bill of rights. It passed 63 to 0.

June 17, 2015Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law adding several synthetic stimulant drugs to New York's list of banned controlled substances. The Senate passed it 59 to 0 and the governor signed it.

September 12, 2013Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law making sexual contact with a child under 13 by an adult aged 21 or older first-degree sexual abuse, a felony. The Senate passed it 60 to 1 and the governor signed it.

May 17, 2011Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the 2019 tenant protection law. It limited rent increases and made it harder for landlords to evict tenants or leave rent regulation. It passed 36 to 26.

June 14, 2019Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law creating a state program that pays incentives to builders of new affordable homes that meet green building standards. The Senate passed it 63 to 0 and the governor signed it.

December 18, 2017Supports Housing Affordability

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law giving volunteer firefighters disability benefits when they get certain cancers linked to firefighting. The Senate passed it 62 to 0 and the governor signed it.

October 22, 2017Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against New York's new concealed carry law, passed after the Supreme Court struck down the old permit rules. It added training rules and barred guns from many public places. It passed 43 to 20.

July 1, 2022Opposes Gun Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against New York's red flag law. It lets a judge take guns from a person found to be a danger to themselves or others. It passed 42 to 21.

January 29, 2019Opposes Gun Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the NY SAFE Act, the gun law passed weeks after the Newtown school shooting. It widened the ban on assault weapons and required background checks on private gun sales. It passed 43 to 18.

January 14, 2013Opposes Gun Control

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the Reproductive Health Act, which wrote abortion rights into New York state law. It passed 38 to 24 and became law.

January 22, 2019Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals many old criminal convictions after a waiting period. It passed 37 to 25.

June 9, 2023Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York. It let voters sue over local election rules that weaken minority voting power. It passed 43 to 20.

May 31, 2022Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the HALT Act, which limits solitary confinement in New York prisons and jails to 15 days. It passed 42 to 21.

March 18, 2021Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the Green Light law, which let people get a New York driver's license without proof of immigration status. It passed 33 to 29.

June 17, 2019Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against a bill banning discrimination based on gender identity or expression in jobs, housing and public places. It passed 42 to 19 and became law.

January 15, 2019Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the Marriage Equality Act, which let same-sex couples marry in New York. It passed the Senate 33 to 29 and became law.

June 24, 2011Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against a bill to let same-sex couples marry in New York. The Senate rejected it 24 to 38.

December 2, 2009Opposes Civil Rights

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which lets a terminally ill adult ask a doctor for life-ending medication. It passed 35 to 27.

June 9, 2025

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against moving most local elections outside New York City to even-numbered years, so they share a ballot with state races. It passed 39 to 23.

June 9, 2023

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Voted against the law legalizing marijuana for adults in New York and creating a licensed market for it. It passed 40 to 23.

March 30, 2021

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Received the Golden Trumpet Award from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. The group gave it for his work on bills expanding cancer coverage for volunteer firefighters.

January 30, 2017

Source: fasny.com · researched September 20, 2026

Joined the Senate Rules Committee, which decides which bills reach the floor. He also joined the Transportation Committee while keeping his energy chairmanship.

January 13, 2017

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law that legalized professional mixed martial arts events in New York and set safety and licensing rules for them. The Senate passed it 48 to 14 and the governor signed it.

April 14, 2016

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Became chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, which handles state laws on electricity, utilities and broadband.

January 23, 2015

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026

Wrote the law joining New York to an agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The Senate passed it 57 to 4 and the governor signed it.

April 15, 2014

Source: nysenate.gov · researched September 20, 2026