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Senator James Sanders Jr. Announces Senate Passage of Bill S.3695 to Protect Small Businesses from Predatory Lending
Albany, NY — Senator James Sanders Jr. proudly announces the Senate passage of S.3695, a critical consumer‑protection bill that prohibits the use of confessions of judgment in contracts for financial products or services. This legislation represents a major step forward in safeguarding New York’s small businesses from predatory lenders who have long exploited this legal loophole.
A confession of judgment allows a lender to obtain a court judgment against a borrower without ever filing a lawsuit. For years, unscrupulous lenders have used this tactic to seize assets, drain bank accounts, and financially devastate tens of thousands of small businesses — including many that never missed a payment.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and they deserve protection from predatory practices that threaten their survival,” said Senator James Sanders Jr. “Confessions of judgment have been weaponized against hardworking entrepreneurs. With S.3695, we are closing the door on this abuse once and for all.”
Under S.3695, lenders will no longer be permitted to include confessions of judgment in any contract or agreement for a financial product or service. This ensures that disputes must go through proper legal channels, giving small businesses the due process they deserve.
The bill now heads to the Assembly for consideration.
“Today’s vote is a victory for fairness, transparency, and economic justice,” Senator Sanders added. “We will continue fighting to ensure that every small business in New York has a fair chance to grow and thrive.”
For more information, please contact the Office of Senator James Sanders Jr.
Office of Senator James Sanders Jr.
Phone: (718) 523-3069
See NYS Senator Sanders'
Good, Bad, and the Ugly Of
the 2026-2027 State Budget
After The Sponsor's Messages Below...
Good, Bad, and the Ugly Of
the 2026-2027 State Budget
After The Sponsor's Messages Below...
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SENATOR JAMES SANDERS JR. SHARES HIS OPINION ON
The FY 2026-27 STATE BUDGET:
THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY
The FY 2026-27 STATE BUDGET:
THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY
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| Tap or Click Graphic Above For a Larger View |
Queens, NY – Senator James Sanders Jr. supports much of what the FY 2026-27 Enacted State Budget had to offer with some reservations. A major theme of this year’s state budget is improving affordability for residents of Southeast Queens and for all New Yorkers. Senator Sanders strongly approves expanding Universal Pre-K, lowering utility costs, strengthening education, and protecting healthcare.
“A state budget needs to have something for everyone to benefit from. The budget is a statement of our priorities and what we care about. We care about children, families, seniors, veterans, among others. We care about all New Yorkers. We care about quality education, accessible healthcare, a clean environment, safe streets, and affordable housing and transportation. We are about justice. I believe this budget takes us in this direction,” said Senator Sanders.’
This budget makes critical investments in local governments, public safety, transportation, housing, and community resources to strengthen neighborhoods at a time when ICE and other federal agencies continue to target immigrant communities. This budget protects immigrants by including restrictions on ICE access to sensitive locations, banning new 287(g) agreements, and ensuring constitutional protections for all New Yorkers.
While the budget is generally positive, Senator Sanders is critical about the weakening of our environmental law. “Along with environmental organizations, I was deeply disappointed in the significant rollback to the state’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). At a time when climate change gets worse every year, and Southeast Queens gets the brunt of its impact including flooding, the state cannot afford to retreat,” said Senator Sanders.
Senator Sanders believes the budget failed to increase the taxes on the very richest among us to the extent that economic justice demands. He said, “this is the United States of America, not the United States of Billionaires.” Senator Sanders is the chief sponsor of a bill S.1237-A to restore collecting the Stock Transfer Tax, which is a sales tax on stocks that New York collected and kept from 1905 to 1981. The state would raise billions of dollars in revenue every year mostly from out of state wealthy stock speculators.
Each year the Senator Sanders likes to categorize the budget into The Good, The Bad & The Ugly;
Please see breakdown Below.
THE GOOD
Strong Wins & High‑Impact Investments
🛡️ Protecting Immigrant Neighbors
NYS Bivens Act / Civil Rights Act
Codifies Plyler v. Doe
Schools protected from ICE without a warrant
Ban on 287(g) & IGSA immigration enforcement agreements
Law enforcement must show face & ID
Sensitive locations shielded from ICE
Limits on data collection & sharing
⚡ Lowering Utility Costs
Utilities must return excess revenue
Scrutiny of exec salaries & rate hikes
Inflation‑capped rate proposals
Blue‑ribbon commission on rising utility costs
Direct Assistance
$1B POWER Rebates (up to $200)
$150M EmPower+
$40M Weatherization
$2M GAP Fund
$2.75M for PULP
👶 Childcare & Education
$2.4B Child Care Assistance (40% increase)
NYC: 2‑Care + 3‑K expansion
UPK funding +$561M (52.5%)
K‑12: $39B total
$395M for universal school meals
New weights for homeless & foster youth
🎓 Higher Education
Expanded Opportunity Promise Scholarship
$200M CUNY maintenance
$200M SUNY maintenance
Capital & operating boosts across CUNY/SUNY
🌱 Environment & Climate
$1B Sustainable Futures Fund
$450M Environmental Protection Fund
$750M Clean Water
Zero‑emission transportation funding
Municipal EV rebates up to $30K
🚨 Public Safety
3D‑printed gun restrictions
Ban on convertible pistols (2027)
$22.5M SNUG
$77M NYPD subway presence
Stronger buffer zones for places of worship
“Safe by Design” online protections for minors
🏥 Healthcare & Mental Health
$750M targeted healthcare investments
$400M for hospitals
$240M for nursing homes
$500M for distressed hospitals
Expanded reproductive health funding
🏘️ Housing & Local Government
$140M NYCHA
$85M Mitchell‑Lama
$75M upstate PHAs
$40M vacant apartment rehab
SCRIE/DRIE income limit raised to $75K
$1.5B direct aid to NYC
$695M NYC MFA
👷 Workers & Community
Tier 6 contribution caps lowered
Retirement age lowered for teachers (30 yrs → age 58)
No tax on tips (up to $25K)
$138M for hunger relief
Expanded veteran benefits
THE BAD
Progress Made — But Not Enough
⚡ Utility Reform Gaps
Utilities still control “critical upgrades”
Longer rate case timelines may delay relief
🏚️ Housing Funding Too Small
NYCHA needs tens of billions, not millions
No statewide housing construction mandate
🚓 Public Safety Without Structural Reform
Heavy enforcement spending
Limited investment in crisis response & violence interruption
👷 Tier 6 Still Incomplete
No full parity with Tier 4
Reforms limited to certain workers
THE UGLY
What’s Missing — And What New Yorkers Deserved
🏠 No Major Housing Plan
No 421‑a replacement
No Good Cause Eviction
No statewide production strategy
🚇 No Long‑Term MTA Rescue Plan
No new revenue stream
No transformative investment
💰 No Major Tax Reform
No millionaire’s tax expansion
No corporate tax overhaul
No wealth tax
🧠 Mental Health Underfunded
No statewide Daniel’s Law expansion
Limited non‑police crisis teams
🌍 Climate Funding Too Low
$1B far below the $10–15B/year needed for CLCPA goals
Get The Recap of
Senator Sanders' Bills & Legislation That
Passed in 2026 Played in Video Below...
Senator Sanders' Bills & Legislation That
Passed in 2026 Played in Video Below...
Sponsor's Messages Below
Author Max Miller Releases
New Self-Help Book
“Blame It on the Feel of Pain”
About Detangling From Past Pain
New Self-Help Book
“Blame It on the Feel of Pain”
About Detangling From Past Pain
Get ready for a transformational journey toward inner peace as indie author Max W. Miller’s new self-help release, Blame It On The Feel Of Pain, inspires readers in a witty, down-to-earth book. Truth and compassion are foretold, using poetic frames called ‘The Wises,’ and the help of opinionated little emojis bringing laughter and thought-provoking conclusions throughout.
The author encourages her readers, whom she also calls partners, to stop wrestling with the hard knocks of the past. She expresses how voluntarily walking back into time precedes trauma healing. Confronting lingering pains is a step toward strength and hope for the future. ‘Blame It’ delves into the author’s life experiences, bringing to life the importance of using Full Circle Moments to find resolutions.
Throughout Blame It On The Feel Of Pain, the reader grows to understand through a unique interpretation that what we are destined to become grows out of the years we’ve already traveled. Further, our future hinges on how we address the pains of the past. Other expressions focus on how desires in the present are carved out of having a clear vision that old, lingering strongholds must be defeated. A history of suffering is a prerequisite for becoming fed up enough to demand enjoyment now!
To Get On the Road To Overcoming Your Trauma See Her Exclusive Interview
Order Her Book Blame It On The Feel Of Pain
See Max Miller's Other Articles on The Southeast Queens Scoop
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Be Encouraged And Inspired With...
New Children’s Picture Book Honoring A Mother-Son Bond And Black Hair Pride
See How Author Shellice Beharie pays tribute to the memory of her loving son in her debut picture book, "PRINCE AND HIS MOTHER’S CROWN: Tales Within my Mother’s Hair."
This read-aloud narrative communicates that in their early stages of childhood boys can find comfort and creativity in their mother’s tresses. Checkout this is very uplifting reading for our challenging times: Click Here. Or to order: Click Here
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While there are brilliant persons on the Autism Spectrum celebrated today, very little media stories focus on people, especially women of color. Our co-publisher's new bio-pic "nZinga's Spectrum In 3D," is a moving and inspirational documentary on how a young Black woman RISES to overcome her challenges.
nZinga Austin is also the Co-publisher of Our Black News Scoop and Southeast Queens Scoop. The documentary of about 1/2 hr long is getting rave reviews.Checkout Nzinga's Spectrum in 3D now Click Here. Please share
While there are brilliant persons on the Autism Spectrum celebrated today, very little media stories focus on people, especially women of color. Our co-publisher's new bio-pic "nZinga's Spectrum In 3D," is a moving and inspirational documentary on how a young Black woman RISES to overcome her challenges.
nZinga Austin is also the Co-publisher of Our Black News Scoop and Southeast Queens Scoop. The documentary of about 1/2 hr long is getting rave reviews.
Checkout Nzinga's Spectrum in 3D now Click Here. Please share
Posted by community events coordinator, Nzinga Lonstein Austin, is a prolific blogger who writes on the entertainment industry and issues for people with developmental and physical challenges.She is presently in high school looking to have a career in video, film, and media. You can see more of her entertainment writing on Lonstein Movies.
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