VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 3
Suffolk Community College—Associate Degree in Business Management
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Joe DeStefano was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2018 and represents Assembly District 3 in central Brookhaven/Suffolk County. His professional and public-service background includes 27 years as a Public Safety Communication Supervisor in the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, decades of service with the Medford Fire Department and Medford Volunteer Ambulance, and leadership roles in fire-district and municipal employee organizations.
Committee Assignments: Committee on Correction · Committee on Governmental Employees · Committee on Labor · Committee on Transportation · Committee on Ways and Means · Commission on State-Local Relations
Joseph DeStefano emphasizes lowering health care costs and expanding access while opposing single-payer health care in New York. His health-related positions include voting against a 2026 Health and Mental Hygiene budget he said failed families and providers, supporting mental-health resources for first responders and veterans, and protecting home-care access for seniors and disabled residents.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano opposed the Assembly Majority's single-payer health care push, arguing it would raise taxes, put decisions in government hands, and reduce quality of care while suggesting alternatives such as 529-style health care savings accounts.
SourceDeStefano supported the First Responder Peer Support Program Act to create statewide peer-to-peer mental health training and support programs for firefighters, police, EMS personnel, and other first responders.
SourceDeStefano joined colleagues calling to delay New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program transition to avoid disruptions for elderly and disabled residents who rely on Medicaid-funded in-home care.
SourceJoseph DeStefano emphasizes affordability, lower taxes, reduced state spending, lower utility/energy costs, and a more competitive business climate for New York and Long Island. He has also supported labor-backed construction job standards such as project labor agreements and prevailing-wage expansion when tied to public projects.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano supported a Tax Day push for a fiscally responsible state budget that cuts taxes, reins in spending, provides relief to working-class families, and keeps New York competitive.
SourceDeStefano called for changes to state energy policies, arguing that mandates and surcharges are raising costs and creating uncertainty for Long Island families and small businesses.
SourceDeStefano said New York should focus on cutting taxes, eliminating policies and mandates that he says suffocate small businesses, and making life more affordable amid inflation.
SourceDeStefano joined union members in support of expanding prevailing-wage rules to projects receiving public funding, arguing labor standards help ensure qualified workers, safer worksites, fewer injuries, and fewer costly delays.
SourceJoseph DeStefano, Republican Assemblyman for New York State Assembly District 3, generally opposes policies he characterizes as benefits or protections for undocumented immigrants, including driver's licenses, DREAM Act tuition assistance, sanctuary policies, and limits on law-enforcement data sharing. He supports reinstating Trump-era border measures and revoking New York state and New York City sanctuary status.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano criticized the Green Light Bill for granting driving privileges to undocumented immigrants and said the Legislature was prioritizing immigration-related social reform over taxes and business climate issues.
SourceDeStefano opposed the DREAM Act, arguing that taxpayer-funded tuition assistance for undocumented immigrants was an irresponsible use of public money.
SourceDeStefano condemned restrictions on federal agencies' DMV database access, saying information sharing with federal law enforcement was needed for public safety and immigration-related arrests.
SourceIn a 2024 candidate questionnaire, DeStefano said federal officials should reinstate Trump administration border-control measures and that Governor Hochul should revoke sanctuary status for New York state and New York City.
SourceIn a state budget response, DeStefano criticized what he called open-border and sanctuary-state policies and argued migrant-related spending was burdening schools, social services, jobs, and public resources.
SourceJoseph DeStefano’s Climate & Energy position emphasizes affordability, grid reliability, consumer choice, and opposition to New York mandates he says raise utility costs. He supports pausing or rolling back natural-gas and zero-emission school bus mandates while providing ratepayer relief and investing in reliable energy supply.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano joined minority lawmakers calling for energy-cost relief, including up to $400 rebate checks, returning surplus clean-energy funds as utility credits, expanding POWER UP grants, and pausing the natural gas ban and zero-emission school bus requirement.
SourceDeStefano argued that NYSERDA cost estimates showed New York’s CLCPA compliance path could sharply raise gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and household energy costs, and he called for a more affordable and reliable energy approach.
SourceDeStefano supported a proposal to let school districts apply for waivers from statewide zero-emission school bus requirements, arguing the mandate is unrealistic for regions facing cost, capacity, and infrastructure limits.
SourceDeStefano sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul criticizing her push to eliminate sales of gas-powered devices and vehicles, saying the transition could destabilize the economy and burden average New Yorkers.
SourceIn his state budget response, DeStefano opposed oil and gas-fired equipment bans in new and renovated buildings and argued New York should use its own natural gas resources instead of relying on outside energy sources.
SourceJoseph DeStefano, the Republican Assembly member for New York Assembly District 3, emphasizes education policies tied to student safety, local flexibility for school districts, support for service-learning pathways, and selected higher-education affordability measures. He has supported fentanyl-prevention education in grades 6–12, opposed New York’s statewide electric school bus mandate as an unfunded burden on districts, and sponsored education-related bills affecting SUNY/community-college credit and teacher retirement calculations.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano supported the Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers Act, which would require public, private and charter schools to provide fentanyl education, awareness and recognition programming for students in grades six through 12, including overdose recognition and naloxone distribution in schools.
SourceDeStefano supported a proposal allowing school districts to request waivers from New York’s zero-emission school bus requirements, arguing the mandate is unrealistic and imposes high costs and infrastructure burdens on regions such as Long Island.
SourceJoseph DeStefano emphasizes public safety through support for law enforcement, expanded judicial discretion, stronger protections for victims, and first-responder recruitment and wellness. As a sitting New York Assembly member for District 3, he has sponsored multiple public-safety bills in the 2025-2026 session and publicly supported related initiatives.
Specific Actions & Proposals
DeStefano publicly supported the Nassau County Law Enforcement Explorers Program as a model to strengthen law enforcement and develop young public-safety professionals.
SourceNew York State Assembly - Joe DeStefano Biography
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=003&sh=bioFetched: biography, location, education, background
New York State Assembly - Joe DeStefano Committee Membership
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=003&sh=commFetched: committees
New York State Assembly Member Directory
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joe-DeStefano/Fetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA - Joe Destefano New York Candidate
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/joe-destefanoFetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA - New York State Assembly District 3 Election
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/new-york-state-assembly-district-3-74582Fetched: campaignFinance
Open States API documentation/search results
https://docs.openstates.org/api-v3/Fetched: votingRecord
Joe DeStefano 2026 campaign endorsements PDF
https://votejoedestefano.com/wp-content/themes/joe-destefano-theme/assets/DeStefano-ENDORSEMENTS.pdfFetched: endorsements
Messenger Papers candidate spotlight
https://messengerpapers.com/2026/10/candidate-spotlight-assemblyman-joe-destefano/Fetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts Assembly Scorecard 2024
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/uploads/filer_public/b1/1e/b11e9b50-900f-45df-a922-1a3c9feff9a6/2024_ratings_assmb_oct.pdfFetched: endorsements
Vote Smart 2026 New York state legislative candidate list
https://j.futurefacts.votesmart.io/election/2026/L/NY/2026-state-legislative?party=5&stageId=PFetched: endorsements
New York State Assembly - Joseph DeStefano member page
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joe-DeStefano/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - DeStefano Opposes Single-Payer Health Care
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/84950Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Health Budget Falls Short
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/118469Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - First Responder Peer Support Program Act
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/114291Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - A05157 bill summary
https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A05157&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - CDPAP transition delay
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/113483Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Joe DeStefano Member Page
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=003&sh=aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - DeStefano Joins Colleagues, Union Members to Support PLA Legislation
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/108822Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Assemblyman DeStefano Highlights Importance of Tax Day
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/114019Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - DeStefano Warns NYSERDA Memo Confirms Cost Burden of Albany Energy Policies
https://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/117433Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Statement from Assemblyman Joe DeStefano on Taxes and Small Businesses
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/100671Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - DeStefano Supports Expanding Prevailing Wage
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/86021Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member page - Green Light Bill statement
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/87515Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member page - DREAM Act statement
https://www.assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/84625Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member page - Green Light Law statement
https://assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/91070Fetched: issuePositions
Patch candidate questionnaire for Joseph DeStefano, Assembly District 3
https://patch.com/new-york/medford-ny/meet-candidates-joseph-destefano-3rd-assembly-districtFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly member page - state budget response
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/105132Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Directory - Joe DeStefano
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefanoFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly Member Directory — Joe DeStefano
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=003&sh=aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly — DeStefano fentanyl education press release
https://assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/114402Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly — DeStefano electric school bus mandate press release
https://assembly.ny.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/112963Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Legislation — A7908
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7908Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Legislation — A8974
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8974Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Legislation — A8179
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8179Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - Joe DeStefano sponsor page
https://www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/sponsorFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A5198
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5198Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - A05212 bill page
https://www.nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A05212&leg_video=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - A05222 bill page
https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?Actions=Y&Memo=Y&Summary=Y&Text=Y&Votes=Y&bn=A05222&term=Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Open Legislation - A5241
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5241Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Assembly - DeStefano backs youth public safety initiative
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Joe-DeStefano/story/117888Fetched: issuePositions