Speaker Heastie is a proud product of the New York City public school system, which has informed his lifelong advocacy for increased investment in education statewide. Before joining the Assembly, he served as a budget analyst in the New York City Comptroller’s office. Heastie earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University (SUNY) and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY).

About | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Carl E. Heastie earned a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University and a master's degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from Baruch College of the City University of New York.

Carl previously worked as a budget analyst in the New York City Comptroller’s office.

Speaker Heastie represents the 83rd A.D. in the northeast Bronx and was first elected to the Assembly in 2000.

Carl E. Heastie | New York State Assembly

Carl E. Heastie was elected by his peers as the 100th Speaker of the New York State Assembly on February 3, 2015 – the first African-American to lead the 150-member body. Heastie was first elected to the state Assembly in 2000, and has fought for Northeast Bronx families in Albany for nearly 20 years.

Carl represents the 83rd Assembly District in the northeast Bronx and was first elected to the Assembly in 2000. He was elected Speaker of the New York State Assembly in 2015.

Carl E. Heastie - Assembly District 83 - New York State Assembly

2026 New York General Election

Alongside his Assembly Majority colleagues, Speaker Heastie helped secure $800 million in funding for a Small Business Recovery Grant Program, $40 million in funding for a new Arts Recovery Grant Program and $2.4 billion to ensure families have access to the child care they need to get back to work.

Prior to becoming Speaker, Heastie – a lifelong advocate for workers’ rights – served as chair of the Assembly Labor Committee. Before becoming Speaker he was also the prime sponsor of the Wage Theft Prevention Act that provided a framework for the State Department of Labor to root out incidences of wage theft and help aggrieved workers reclaim their illegally withheld earnings.

No one should have to work multiple jobs just to scrape by. Speaker Heastie helped enact a multi-year minimum wage increase, culminating in a $15 minimum wage in New York City, Long Island and Westchester by 2021.

Lifting Up All New Yorkers | Carl E. Heastie for New York

To ensure New Yorkers aren’t forced to choose between caring for their families and earning a paycheck, Speaker Heastie negotiated and passed a law allowing workers to take up to 12 weeks – when fully implemented in 2021 – of paid family leave to care for a newborn, sick relative or address issues related to a family member’s military service.

Helped secure funding for small-business and arts recovery grants and child care access.

Sponsored the Wage Theft Prevention Act, which created a framework for the Labor Department to address wage theft and help workers recover withheld earnings.

Helped enact a phased minimum-wage increase to $15 in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester by 2021.

Negotiated and passed paid family leave, allowing eligible workers up to 12 weeks to care for family members.

- Helped secure funding for small-business and arts recovery grants and child care access.
- Sponsored the Wage Theft Prevention Act, which created a framework for the Labor Department to address wage theft and help workers recover withheld earnings.
- Helped enact a phased minimum-wage increase to $15 in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester by 2021.
- Negotiated and passed paid family leave, allowing eligible workers up to 12 weeks to care for family members.

Economy

Speaker Heastie has continuously fought to protect our environment, safeguard our families’ health and combat climate change. Earlier this year, he negotiated and passed the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most ambitious plan that any state has enacted into law. The law sets several goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and requiring 100% of New York’s electricity be produced without emissions by 2040.

Protecting the Environment | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Earlier this year, he negotiated and passed the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most ambitious plan that any state has enacted into law. The law sets several goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and requiring 100% of New York’s electricity be produced without emissions by 2040. It also authorizes renewable energy projects in public housing statewide, and advances environmental justice by requiring 35% of overall spending to be spent in historically disadvantaged communities.

To keep our communities clean and protect our precious natural resources, Speaker Heastie secured a ban on most single-use plastic bags in the 2019-20 state budget and passed legislation to prohibit offshore oil and gas drilling in our state’s coastal waters.

He was also instrumental in passing the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017, a $2.5 billion multi-year initiative to protect access to safe, clean drinking water statewide, and has provided critical funding for the program in three consecutive state budgets.

Negotiated and passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets goals for emissions reductions and zero-emissions electricity.

Secured a ban on most single-use plastic bags and passed legislation prohibiting offshore oil and gas drilling in state coastal waters.

Helped pass the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 and fund its investments in safe drinking water in three consecutive state budgets.

- Negotiated and passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets goals for emissions reductions and zero-emissions electricity.
- Secured a ban on most single-use plastic bags and passed legislation prohibiting offshore oil and gas drilling in state coastal waters.
- Helped pass the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 and fund its investments in safe drinking water in three consecutive state budgets.

Energy & the Environment

As of September 9, 2026, Carl E. Heastie’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

In 2019, Speaker Heastie led the Assembly Majority in reforming New York’s antiquated electoral process with the passage of a comprehensive legislative package to ensure every voter is able to exercise their constitutional right to vote. The package included legislation that established a nine day early voting period and streamlined the voter registration process.

Led passage of election reforms establishing nine days of early voting and streamlining voter registration.

- Led passage of election reforms establishing nine days of early voting and streamlining voter registration.

Voting & Elections

After leading the People’s House in decriminalizing marijuana possession in 2019, in 2021 Speaker Heastie and his Assembly Majority colleagues passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), making New York the 15th state in the U.S. to legalize the adult use of marijuana for individuals 21 and older.

He negotiated and passed the 2019-20 state budget, which eliminated discriminatory cash bail. The budget also reaffirmed the right to a speedy trial to prevent New Yorkers from spending months and even years behind bars awaiting their day in court.

Criminal Justice Reform | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Under previous law, the prosecution could repeatedly declare that they were ready for trial, only to ask the judge for more time in court. Speaker Heastie also reformed the discovery process to ensure defendants aren’t left in the dark until the day the trial begins and aren’t forced to take plea deals without all the available information at their disposal.

In 2017, Speaker Heastie fought to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18 because a young person shouldn’t be sent to an adult prison facility because of a nonviolent offense. Before New York made this long-overdue change, it was one of only two states that prosecuted all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults.

While these long-overdue reforms are a step in the right direction, there’s still more to do to address inequality in the criminal justice system. Going forward, Speaker Heastie will continue fighting for further restrictions on the use of solitary confinement.

In 2021, Heastie led the Assembly Majority in passing the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act to end the inhumane use of solitary confinement for vulnerable people and create more humane and effective alternatives.

The epidemic of gun violence has claimed countless lives and devastated communities across New York State. We can’t simply rely on thoughts and prayers to stop the bloodshed, which is why Speaker Heastie has passed commonsense gun safety reforms. In 2018, he negotiated and passed the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act, which bars individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes from purchasing or possessing firearms.

Combating Gun Violence | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Earlier this year, Speaker Heastie passed a host of additional laws that establish an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) – also known as the Red Flag law – to keep guns away from people who are a threat to themselves or others; ban bump stocks and other similar devices; ensure potential gun purchasers can’t get firearms before clearing a background check; ban undetectable guns; and require safe storage of firearms if there’s a child living or present in the home.

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse contend with physical scars and unimaginable trauma, meaning that it can take years or even decades before they’re ready to even disclose the abuse to another person. To give more survivors the opportunity to seek justice, Speaker Heastie fought for and passed the Child Victims Act. The law extends the criminal and civil statutes of limitations and creates a one-year “look-back window” for victims to hold their abusers accountable in court even if the statute of limitations has expired.

Child Victims Act | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Led the Assembly Majority in decriminalizing marijuana possession and legalizing adult marijuana use for people 21 and older.

Negotiated and passed a state budget that eliminated cash bail and reaffirmed the right to a speedy trial.

Reformed criminal discovery rules to provide defendants with information before trial and plea decisions.

Fought to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

Plans to pursue further restrictions on solitary confinement after leading passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act.

Negotiated and passed the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act, barring people convicted of domestic-violence crimes from buying or possessing firearms.

Passed firearm-safety laws establishing extreme-risk protection orders, banning bump stocks and undetectable guns, and requiring safe storage in homes with children.

Fought for and passed the Child Victims Act, extending civil and criminal filing deadlines for childhood sexual-abuse survivors.

- Led the Assembly Majority in decriminalizing marijuana possession and legalizing adult marijuana use for people 21 and older.
- Negotiated and passed a state budget that eliminated cash bail and reaffirmed the right to a speedy trial.
- Reformed criminal discovery rules to provide defendants with information before trial and plea decisions.
- Fought to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18.
- Plans to pursue further restrictions on solitary confinement after leading passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act.
- Negotiated and passed the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act, barring people convicted of domestic-violence crimes from buying or possessing firearms.
- Passed firearm-safety laws establishing extreme-risk protection orders, banning bump stocks and undetectable guns, and requiring safe storage in homes with children.
- Fought for and passed the Child Victims Act, extending civil and criminal filing deadlines for childhood sexual-abuse survivors.

Public Safety

Speaker Heastie has fought to boost the state’s investment in education to ensure every student has the resources and support they need to thrive. Since 2015, he has helped secure more than $3.5 billion in additional school aid funding.

Investing in Education | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Since 2015, he has helped secure more than $3.5 billion in additional school aid funding. To shift the focus from high-stakes testing to students’ individual learning needs, he successfully eliminated the state mandate that tied teacher and principal evaluations to student performance on standardized tests.

Speaker Heastie also helped create the Excelsior Scholarship program, which provides free college tuition to state universities and colleges for low- and middle-income students.

Yet sadly, structural barriers have made it difficult for members of underserved communities and people of color to succeed. To address this inequality, Speaker Heastie was instrumental in making New York the first state to commit to former President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative in 2016. The program is focused on closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps that young men, and particularly young men of color, face.

Giving Young People Opportunities to Succeed | Carl E. Heastie for New York

Speaker Heastie has also successfully fought to provide continuous funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program, which connects young people between the ages of 14 and 24 with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of career fields through paid summer work experiences

Helped secure more than $3.5 billion in additional school aid since 2015.

Eliminated the state requirement tying teacher and principal evaluations to student standardized-test performance.

Helped create the Excelsior Scholarship program, which provides tuition-free state college for eligible low- and middle-income students.

Helped make New York the first state to commit to the My Brother's Keeper Initiative, focused on opportunity gaps for young men of color.

Fought to provide continuous funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program's paid work experiences for people ages 14 through 24.

- Helped secure more than $3.5 billion in additional school aid since 2015.
- Eliminated the state requirement tying teacher and principal evaluations to student standardized-test performance.
- Helped create the Excelsior Scholarship program, which provides tuition-free state college for eligible low- and middle-income students.
- Helped make New York the first state to commit to the My Brother's Keeper Initiative, focused on opportunity gaps for young men of color.
- Fought to provide continuous funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program's paid work experiences for people ages 14 through 24.

Education

Earlier this year, Speaker Heastie and his Assembly colleagues took action to right this historic wrong. The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 made the state’s tenant protections permanent and eliminated the vacancy bonus, which gave landlords a financial incentive to force out rent-stabilized tenants. It also limits rent increases from major capital improvements (MCIs), prohibits retaliatory eviction, prevents landlords from blacklisting potential tenants, limits security deposits to one month’s rent and bans lease application fees.

Affordable Housing | Carl E. Heastie for New York

The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 made the state’s tenant protections permanent and eliminated the vacancy bonus, which gave landlords a financial incentive to force out rent-stabilized tenants. It also limits rent increases from major capital improvements (MCIs), prohibits retaliatory eviction, prevents landlords from blacklisting potential tenants, limits security deposits to one month’s rent and bans lease application fees.

As the cost of living continues to rise and wages remain stagnant, it’s critical to ensure all New Yorkers have a safe, affordable place to call home, whether they are homeowners or renters. Speaker Heastie fought to increase access to affordable housing by securing a multi-year, $2.5 billion investment in 2016 to create and preserve New York’s affordable housing stock.

Speaker Heastie fought to increase access to affordable housing by securing a multi-year, $2.5 billion investment in 2016 to create and preserve New York’s affordable housing stock. To support the more than 400,000 residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings, Heastie has secured over $500 million in capital funding since 2015. This funding is critical in ongoing efforts to address persistent habitability issues and update building infrastructure.

Helped enact the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, making tenant protections permanent and eliminating the vacancy bonus.

Secured a multiyear $2.5 billion investment to create and preserve affordable housing.

Secured more than $500 million in capital funding for New York City Housing Authority buildings since 2015.

- Helped enact the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, making tenant protections permanent and eliminating the vacancy bonus.
- Secured a multiyear $2.5 billion investment to create and preserve affordable housing.
- Secured more than $500 million in capital funding for New York City Housing Authority buildings since 2015.

Housing & Urban Development

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Carl E. Heastie

- Sponsored the Wage Theft Prevention Act, which created a framework for the Labor Department to address wage theft and help workers recover withheld earnings.
- Helped enact a phased minimum-wage increase to $15 in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester by 2021.
- Negotiated and passed paid family leave, allowing eligible workers up to 12 weeks to care for family members.

- Negotiated and passed a state budget that eliminated cash bail and reaffirmed the right to a speedy trial.
- Reformed criminal discovery rules to provide defendants with information before trial and plea decisions.
- Fought to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18.
- Plans to pursue further restrictions on solitary confinement after leading passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act.
- Negotiated and passed the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act, barring people convicted of domestic-violence crimes from buying or possessing firearms.
- Passed firearm-safety laws establishing extreme-risk protection orders, banning bump stocks and undetectable guns, and requiring safe storage in homes with children.
- Fought for and passed the Child Victims Act, extending civil and criminal filing deadlines for childhood sexual-abuse survivors.

- Secured a multiyear $2.5 billion investment to create and preserve affordable housing.
- Secured more than $500 million in capital funding for New York City Housing Authority buildings since 2015.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

James Washington-Ward

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.