Assembly opens April 19 session with prayer; leaders set Ways and Means meeting, dispense with journal reading

The New York State Assembly convened on April 19, 2026, opening with a prayer from Father Louis Kona and quickly moving through procedural business as leaders set committee meetings and approved a motion to dispense with further reading of the journal.

Father Louis Kona prayed for "wisdom and understanding" for the chamber and urged that representatives "work together amid differences to achieve the common good," an invocation that referenced citizens "from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point." The prayer was introduced by Assembly member Mr. Ra, who described Father Kona's background and asked that the priest be granted the privileges of the floor. The Speaker formally extended those privileges.

Shortly thereafter, Assembly member Mr. Fahl moved to dispense with the further reading of the journal for Sunday, April 19; the motion carried "without objection," and the Clerk did not read the full journal aloud. Mr. Fahl also read an inspirational quote aloud to the chamber: "Work hard in silence. Let your success make the noise," attributed in the transcript to "unknown."

Leaders used the opening minutes to outline the day's schedule. Members were told they had a main calendar and a debate list on their desks; the Speaker asked the Ways and Means and Rules Committees to meet in the Speaker's Conference Room to prepare a calendar for floor consideration. The member announcing the schedule said the chamber would take up resolutions on page 3, consent four new bills onto the calendar beginning with an item announced in the transcript as "calendar 3 42" on page 37, and then take up listed debate items including measures identified by sponsor names (Otis and Barrett). The same member warned majority members that a conference would be needed after floor work and said the minority planned to offer a motion to discharge at the conclusion of the day's business.

By unanimous voice agreement the chamber stood at ease on Mr. Fahl's motion, pausing the formal session for the committee meetings and floor preparation.

What happened next: committee meetings (Ways and Means and Rules) were called to convene; the transcript does not record the outcome of those meetings or any floor votes beyond the procedural dispensation of the journal.