Welcome to the June edition of our newsletter, Policy Matters. This month, we bring legislative updates, information on a class action lawsuit, an announcement on Telesca Center leadership, as well as staff recognition. More below!

Legislative Advocacy Update

The 2026 legislative session ended late on Friday, June 5. With just one week of post-budget session following a delayed state budget, lawmakers raced to pass bills, with many left as the clock ran out. Below are a couple of our our key priorities that passed both chambers – which we have fought hard for and which we’ll be advocating for Governor Hochul to sign. Please read our comprehensive post session overview.

Nonprofit Contracting (S.9761 Mayer / A.10741 Paulin) (S.9855 Mayer / A.11179 Paulin)

The two Contracting bills passed both houses of the legislature this session.

New York nonprofits provide vital services, including legal services. However, delays and inconsistencies in state processes are putting nonprofits at risk of collapse. These bills will ensure nonprofits have access to operating funds and improve transparency and accountability that will strengthen nonprofit operational infrastructures. The first addresses definitions to improve transparency, predictability, and faster reimbursement. The second addresses advancement processes. The bills address issues outlined in the Governor’s veto message last year, and we are hopeful that they will be called up and signed quickly. You can also read the New York Legal Services Coalition statement. Tell Governor Hochul you support New York nonprofits. Show your support by signing on to our sign on letter!

Last week, President and CEO Kristin Brown, in her capacity as President of the Board of Directors of the New York Legal Services Coalition, spoke alongside legislative champions Senator Mayer and Assemblymember Paulin at a press conference in Westchester County, stating the dire need for the bill. Kristin was proud to stand with legislators and statewide nonprofit leaders in the call for Governor Hochul to sign these bills into law to implement changes to nonprofit contracting system.

Westfair Online: Westchester legislators and nonprofits urge Hochul to sign legislation

Codification of the Homeowners Protection Program (S.2627A Kavanagh / A.1625A Solages)

The Homeowners Protection Program (HOPP) provides critical services for homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Codifying HOPP in law will help ensure that the free housing counseling and legal services that thousands of New York homeowners depend on to stay in their homes will exist in perpetuity.

New York Health Information Privacy Act (S.9269 Kreuger / A.10357 Rosenthal)

This bill passed both the Senate and Assembly this session. By signing this bill into law, Governor Hochul would give New Yorkers control over their sensitive electronic health data – especially in apps and other digital tools – and make it harder for law enforcement in hostile states to use those data to prosecute New Yorkers for accessing legally protected healthcare.

Rochester Hospitals Sued for Failing Deaf-Blind Patient

The University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial and Highland Hospitals consistently violated a Deaf-Blind patient’s civil rights by failing to provide her with ASL interpreters, according to a new lawsuit filed recently by Empire Justice Center and Andrew Rozynski of Eisenberg & Baum, LLP. The hospitals’ failure to provide effective communication left the client, Teresa Battisti, unable to understand what was happening to her during two trips to the emergency room and one scheduled surgery over the past three years, including her medical diagnosis, treatment options, and discharge instructions.

Empire Justice and Eisenberg & Baum filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York on the Ms. Battisti’s behalf against the University of Rochester (dba Strong Memorial Hospital) and Highland Hospital of Rochester. The lawsuit alleges the hospitals violated federal and New York State civil rights and consumer protection laws by repeatedly failing to provide in-person ASL interpretation services to Ms. Battisti. We will continue to provide updates as the case progresses.

The full press release is available on our website.

Telesca Center for Justice Names New Executive Director

Mary Loewenguth has been appointed Executive Director of the Telesca Center for Justice in Rochester! While this is a new position for the Telesca Center for Justice, Mary is no stranger to access to justice work. She was among the first to help establish original funding for the Center 20 years ago and will continue to focus her work on fundraising for the partner organizations.

Mary comes into the role having previously worked as the Executive Director of the Monroe County Bar Association and the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar from 2001 to 2015, and for Clerk of the Court for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York from 2016 to February 2026.

Telesca Center for Justice is a revolutionary, collaborative model of four legal organizations committed to using the power of the law to stabilize lives. The Telesca Center provides civil representation to individuals with low income in Monroe County by bringing together resources and people who share a vision for a fairer, brighter community for all. It is home to Empire Justice Center, JustCause, Legal Assistance of Western NY (LAWNY), and Legal Aid Society of Rochester, and is celebrating 20 years of providing free legal services to the Greater Rochester community and surrounding areas.

Find additional coverage: https://nydailyrecord.com/2026/06/15/mary-loewenguth-named-executive-director-telesca-center-rochester/

Make a Big Impact on Community Member’s Pocket Books: Volunteer with CASH!

CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) is currently recruiting tax preparation and client support volunteers for the upcoming tax season. No previous tax prep experience is needed; CASH provides IRS-certified training and ongoing support for all volunteers.

One of the ways Empire Justice Center promotes financial justice and financial wellbeing is through the CASH Program, which offers free tax preparation and other financial wellness services for low-to-moderate income families through a team of dedicated volunteers.

Every year, CASH saves working families in Monroe County thousands of dollars in paid tax preparer fees and helps them get, keep, and grow their money by increasing incomes through greater use of essential tax credits, such as the Child tax credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, and volunteers make all of this possible!

Interested individuals can sire up on our website. Contact CASH Volunteer Program Manager, David Langley with any questions.

Celebrating Pride Month!

On Friday, June 5, our LGBTQ+ Rights Sr. Attorney, Lettie Dickerson & Policy Communications Director, Alex Dery Snider, attended Governor Kathy Hochul‘s Annual Pride Brunch at the Executive Mansion in Albany.

On Friday, June 12, we hosted a trans and nonbinary name change clinic in collaboration with Legal Aid Society of NENY at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, and on Sunday, June 14, we joined the BIPOC Pride Parade, hosted by In Our Own Voices. Shoutout to Policy Manager America Rivera and Jordan Daniels, Student Loan Paralegal + our other Albany staff who joined us to table!

We’re incredibly proud to kick off Pride Month alongside advocates, community leaders, and allies from across New York State, and to be part of the work to protect and expand the rights of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.

Staff Recognition

Just in time to celebrate Pride Month, we’re incredibly excited to announce Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Amy Schwartz-Wallace, as the recipient of the 2026 Legal Services Justice Award from the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, a national honor recognizing an advocate whose work advances justice and equity for low-income LGBTQ+ and HIV+ communities.

For more than two decades at Empire Justice Center, Amy has been a driving force in advancing legal protections, dignity, and access to justice for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. Through statewide advocacy, litigation, training, and policy reform, her work has helped shape systems supporting survivors of violence, transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, and LGBTQ+ families across New York.

Amy also played a key role in the landmark Dickerson v. Thompson cases, which expanded access to New York courts for the dissolution of out-of-state civil unions, a critical step forward in legal recognition before marriage equality became law nationwide.

Beyond her legal work, Amy has trained and mentored thousands of attorneys, advocates, judges, and service providers, strengthening the systems that support vulnerable communities every day.

This award reflects the extraordinary impact Amy has had in advancing justice and expanding legal protections for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.

Join us in congratulating Amy!

Thank You For Reading

If you’d like to keep up with our policy work, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn or visit the Policy Central page on our website.

We are now on Bluesky (@empirejustice.bsky.social) and Instagram (@empirejusticecenter)! 

You can contact our offices directly if you need civil legal help.

Sign up to receive advocacy action alerts! We’ll share opportunities at key moments to take action on policies that will help the law work for all New Yorkers.

We Are Hiring! 

Are you a dedicated, determined and passionate advocate who wants to make a significant impact on the lives of low-income New Yorkers? Check out our open positions!

The Empire Justice Policy Team