NYC Council Introduction 1408

intro.nyc/1408-2025 2024-2025 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Study and report on burial capacity on Hart Island.
Sponsored by Diana I. Ayala
Introduced: October 9, 2025

This bill would require the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) and any other relevant New York City agency head, to conduct a study to analyze Hart Island’s capacity for future public burials under existing burial procedures. In conducting the study, the DSS commissioner would be required to solicit input and feedback from family members of those buried at Hart Island. As part of the study, the agency heads would be required to assess whether the procedures should be changed and develop recommendations to implement any changes determined to be appropriate. Finally, DSS would have to submit to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council a report containing the study findings and recommendations. The agency heads would have to post such report to their respective websites.

Approved by Committee November 12, 2025

Committee on General Welfare Votes 5:0:0
Diana I. Ayala (Absent)
Alexa Avilés (Absent)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Absent)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Absent)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)

Approved by Council November 12, 2025

Votes 45:0:0
Adrienne E. Adams (Affirmative)
Diana I. Ayala (Absent)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Erik D. Bottcher (Affirmative)
Justin L. Brannan (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Absent)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald J. Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Absent)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Absent)
Robert F. Holden (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Affirmative)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Kristy Marmorato (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Affirmative)
Darlene Mealy (Affirmative)
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Francisco P. Moya (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Affirmative)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Keith Powers (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Affirmative)
Rafael Salamanca, Jr. (Affirmative)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Absent)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)