Women’s Equality Act Passes in Assembly

The Assembly spent nearly four hours debating and then passing the Women’s Equality Act Thursday, though Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos refuses to hold a vote on a measure codifying abortion rights, The Buffalo News writes.

The bill was a 10-point package addressing various women’s issues, including strengthening sexual harassment and human-trafficking laws.

However, an intense debate continued over whether to include protections in the event federal abortion rights laws are ever eliminated.

Senate leaders vowed not to let a bill come to vote that would codify abortion protection provisions into state law if Roe v. Wade were ever overturned.

But Cuomo issued a warning: “The Assembly had the courage to stand up on behalf of the women of New York, and now the Senate must do the same,’’ he said.