The 181st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 8, 1975, to August 5, 1976, during the first and second years of Hugh Carey's governorship in Albany.

Background The U.S. Department of Justice found fault with the congressional, senatorial and Assembly districts in Manhattan and Brooklyn under the apportionment of 1971, and ordered a revision to safeguard the rights of minorities.Legislative Expert Sees Hurdle to Redistricting in The New York Times on April 3, 1974 (subscription required) The legislature enacted an amendment to the 1971 apportionment, remapping the legislative districts in Manhattan and Brooklyn, during a special session on May 29 and 30, 1974.Redistricting Has Usual Result in The New York Times on June 2, 1974 (subscription required) On July 1, the U.S. Department of Justice accepted the revised districts as passed by the legislature.U.S. ACCEPTS PLAN ON DISTRICTS HERE in The New York Times on July 2, 1974 (subscription required)

Thus, under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938 and the U.S. Supreme Court decision to follow the One man, one vote rule, re-apportioned in 1971, and amended in 1974, by the legislature, 60 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. Senate and Assembly districts consisted of approximately the same number of inhabitants, the area being apportioned without restrictions regarding county boundaries.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Courage Party, the Free Libertarian Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Communist Party, the Socialist Labor Party and the Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1974 New York state election was held on November 5. Congressman Hugh Carey and State Senator Mary Anne Krupsak were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, both Democrats. Carey defeated the incumbent Governor Malcolm Wilson. The elections to the other five statewide elective offices resulted in a Republican Attorney General with Liberal endorsement; a Democratic State Comptroller with Liberal endorsement; a Republican U.S. Senator with Liberal endorsement; and two Democratic judges of the Court of Appeals, one of them with Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats/Liberals 3,029,000; Republicans/Conservatives 2,220,000; Courage 12,500; Free Libertarians 10,500; Socialist Workers 9,000; Communists 5,000; Socialist Labor 4,500; and Labor 3,000. Gathering from the results for the other offices, the strength of the Liberals was about 400,000 votes, and the Conservatives about 250,000. However, Conservative Barbara A. Keating polled more than 800,000 votes for U.S. Senator.

Of the seven women members of the previous legislature, State Senator Mary Anne Krupsak (Dem.), a lawyer of Amsterdam, was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York, and became ex officio president of the state Senate; and five of the other six—State Senators Karen Burstein, a lawyer of Lawrence, and Carol Bellamy, a lawyer of Brooklyn; and Assemblywomen Elizabeth Connelly (Dem.), of Staten Island; Estella B. Diggs, of the Bronx; and Rosemary R. Gunning (Cons.), a lawyer of Ridgewood, Queens—were re-elected. Linda Winikow, of Spring Valley, was also elected to the state Senate. Jean Amatucci (Dem.), a registered nurse of White Lake; Mary B. Goodhue (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; and Marie M. Runyon (Dem.), of Manhattan, were also elected to the assembly.

The 1975 New York state election was held on November 4. No statewide elective offices were up for election. One vacancy was filled in the Legislature: Jeannette Gadson, of Brooklyn, was elected to the assembly.

On February 10, 1976, Gerdi E. Lipschutz (Dem.), of Queens, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly, making her the eleventh woman member of the Legislature of 1976, surpassing the previous record of eight in the 166th New York State Legislature (1947–1948).

Sessions The legislature met for the first regular session (the 198th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1975; and adjourned sine die in the morning of July 12.Longest Session Since 1911 Is Ended in The New York Times on July 13, 1975 (subscription required)

Stanley Steingut (Dem.) was elected Speaker.

Warren M. Anderson (Rep.) was re-elected temporary president of the state Senate.

The legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on September 4, 1975;Legislators Reluctantly Go to Albany For Special Session on Fiscal Crisis in The New York Times on September 5, 1975 (subscription required) and adjourned sine die in the early morning of September 9.CAREY PLAN TO HELP CITY VOTED BY ASSEMBLY, 80–70 in The New York Times on September 9, 1975 (subscription required) This session was called to take measures concerning the financial crisis of New York City.

The legislature met for another special session at the State Capitol in Albany on November 13, 1975.Indicted Speaker of Assembly Given Ovation by Colleagues in The New York Times on November 14, 1975 (subscription required) On November 25, a help package worth $200 million was enacted to avert the financial breakdown of New York City.COMPROMISE WON; Minority Caucus Gets Concessions to Back Fiscal Package in The New York Times on November 26, 1975 (subscription required) They adjourned sine die on December 20, after enacting an increase of $600 million in state taxes.ALBANY APPROVES $600 MILLION TAX BY A CLOSE MARGIN in The New York Times on December 21, 1975 (subscription required)

The legislature met for the second regular session (the 199th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1976;For the Legislature, End Marks Beginning in The New York Times on January 8, 1976 (subscription required) and adjourned sine die in the morning of June 30.A 19-Hour Windup Closes '76 New York Legislature in The New York Times on July 1, 1976 (subscription required)

The legislature met for yet another special session at the State Capitol in Albany on August 4, 1976;Albany Ready to Approve Court Reorganization Plan in The New York Times on August 5, 1976 (subscription required) and adjourned sine die on the next day.STATE TAKEOVER OF COURT COSTS VOTED IN ALBANY in The New York Times on August 6, 1976 (subscription required) This session was called to consider Governor Carey's proposed court reform.CAREY RECALLING THE LEGISLATURE in The New York Times on July 30, 1976 (subscription required)

State Senate

Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Franz S. Leichter changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of the session. Assemblyman Anthony V. Gazzara was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District Senator Party Notes1stLeon E. Giuffreda* Republican2ndBernard C. Smith* Republican3rdCaesar Trunzo* Republican4thOwen H. Johnson* Republican5thRalph J. Marino* Republican6thJohn R. Dunne* Republican7thJohn D. Caemmerer* Republican8thNorman J. Levy* Republican9thKaren Burstein* Democrat10thJohn J. Santucci* Democraton December 30, 1976, appointed as D.A. of Queens CountyCarey Appoints Santucci as Queens District Attorney in The New York Times on December 31, 1976 (subscription required)11thFrank Padavan* Republican12thJack E. Bronston* Democrat13thEmanuel R. Gold* Democrat 14thJohn J. Moore* Democratdied on January 18, 1976Anthony V. Gazzara* Democraton March 2, 1976, elected to fill vacancyGazzara Wins Special Vote For State Senate in Queens in The New York Times on March 3, 1976 (subscription required)15thMartin J. Knorr* Republican 16thA. Frederick Meyerson* Democratin March 1976, appointed to the New York City Criminal CourtHoward E. Babbush Democraton April 27, 1976, elected to fill vacancy17thMajor Owens Democrat 18thChester J. Straub* Democratresigned in December 1975Thomas J. Bartosiewicz Democraton February 10, 1976, elected to fill vacancyDEMOCRATS WIN SPECIAL ELECTIONS in The New York Times on February 11, 1976 (subscription required)19thJeremiah B. Bloom* Democrat20thDonald Halperin* Democrat21stWilliam T. Conklin* RepublicanDeputy Majority Leader22ndAlbert B. Lewis* Democrat23rdVander L. Beatty* Democrat24thJohn J. Marchi* RepublicanChairman of Finance25thCarol Bellamy* Democrat26thRoy M. Goodman* Republican27thManfred Ohrenstein* DemocratMinority Leader28thCarl McCall Democrat29thFranz S. Leichter* Democrat30thRobert García* Democrat31stIsrael Ruiz Jr. Democrat32ndJoseph L. Galiber* Democrat33rdAbraham Bernstein* Democrat34thJohn D. Calandra* Republican35thJohn E. Flynn* Republican36thJoseph R. Pisani* Republican37thBernard G. Gordon* Republican38thLinda Winikow Democrat39thJay P. Rolison Jr.* Republican40thRichard E. Schermerhorn* Republican41stDouglas Hudson* Republican42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr. Democrat43rdRonald B. Stafford* Republican44thFred Isabella Democrat45thHugh Douglas Barclay* Republican46thJames H. Donovan* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* Republicanre-elected Temporary President48thEdwyn E. Mason* Republican49thMartin S. Auer* Republican50thTarky Lombardi Jr.* Republican51stWilliam T. Smith* Republican52ndFrederick L. Warder* Republican53rdJohn D. Perry Democrat54thFred J. Eckert* Republican55thJoseph A. Tauriello* Democrat56thJames D. Griffin* Democrat57thJess J. Present* Republican 58thvacant Senator-elect Thomas F. McGowan (R) was appointed to the New York Supreme CourtDale M. Volker Republicanon February 4, 1975, elected to fill vacancyGOP Calls Election Rebuff for Carey in the Watertown Daily Times, of Watertown, on February 6, 197559thJames T. McFarland* Republican60thLloyd H. Paterson* Republican

Employees Secretary: Albert J. Abrams, resigned 1976 Roger C. Thompson, in 1976

State Assembly

Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."