VoterLens
New York State Senate District 5
State University of New York at Albany—Bachelor of Arts; Hofstra University School of Law—Juris Doctor
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Steven D. Rhoads is a Republican/Conservative New York State Senator representing the 5th Senate District. He is an attorney, a Wantagh volunteer firefighter for over 30 years, and a former Nassau County Legislator who was first elected to the State Senate in 2022 and re-elected in 2024.
Committee Assignments: Ethics and Internal Governance · Labor · Budget and Revenue · Health · Judiciary · Procurement and Contracts
Steven D. Rhoads, the Republican/Conservative New York State Senator for District 5, has focused health-care-related legislative activity on expanding coverage and access, including medical care for injured workers, dependent health insurance protections, prescription drug supply-chain transparency, EKG coverage after coronavirus vaccination, and easier outpatient substance-use treatment access.
Steven Rhoads emphasizes cutting taxes, lowering the cost of living, reducing regulation and state spending, and improving New York's business climate to retain residents, jobs, and economic activity. His Economy & Jobs record centers on broad personal-income-tax relief, tax exemptions for tips and overtime, affordability measures, and opposition to employer/worker regulations he views as burdensome.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rhoads supported Senate Republican legislation to eliminate New York state income taxes on cash tips and overtime pay so workers could keep more of their earnings.
SourceRhoads backed a Senate Republican affordability report recommending income-tax cuts, lower energy and housing costs, and reduced burdens on businesses and households.
SourceSteven Rhoads, Republican/Conservative state senator for New York Senate District 5, has taken a restrictive position on immigration, criticizing New York's sanctuary policies, federal border policy, and state spending tied to migrants or undocumented immigrants. He opposed expanding state health coverage mechanisms to certain undocumented residents and argued that resources should prioritize citizens and people legally in the country.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rhoads joined Long Island Republican officials calling on Governor Hochul to rescind New York's sanctuary-state executive policy, saying the state should stop asking taxpayers to fund the migrant crisis.
SourceDuring a budget hearing, Rhoads said the migrant crisis stemmed from the Biden administration allowing large numbers of people into the country and leaving cities and states to handle the consequences.
SourceRhoads argued on the Senate floor that taxpayer-funded surplus or federal funds should first go to New York citizens and people legally in the country rather than undocumented immigrants.
SourceSteven D. Rhoads, Republican/Conservative state senator for New York Senate District 5, emphasizes energy affordability, reliability, and consumer choice while opposing New York climate mandates he characterizes as costly or unrealistic. His record includes co-sponsoring measures to repeal or limit green-energy mandates and voting against a renewable-energy siting/interconnection bill on state reforestation lands.
Steven D. Rhoads, Republican New York State Senator for District 5, emphasizes local control, parental rights, school safety, and student safety on campuses. His education-related actions include sponsoring legislation on the Wantagh school mascot dispute and bills to restrict state funding for higher-education institutions that permit terrorist-designated organizations or related campus activities.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Rhoads states that he has championed students and parents by securing funding for local schools, expanding school-safety initiatives such as the Rave Panic Alarm System, and standing for parental rights in education.
SourceSteven Rhoads frames public safety as a top priority, emphasizing tougher bail rules for fentanyl and terrorism-related offenses, support for law enforcement tools and training, school safety, and fentanyl prevention education. As the Republican/Conservative state senator for New York's 5th Senate District, his public-safety record includes sponsoring or co-sponsoring bills focused on bail eligibility, overdose prevention, school resource officers, and police training.
NYSenate.gov
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads/aboutFetched: biography, hometown, education, background, committees
Patch
https://patch.com/new-york/bellmore/candidate-profile-steve-rhodes-state-senateFetched: age, hometown, education, background
MyRepTracker
https://www.myreptracker.com/new-york/legislators/ny-senate-5-steve-rhoads/voting-record?page=1Fetched: votingRecord
OpenStates-derived office page via Election.org
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-5Fetched: votingRecord
Newsday
https://newsday.atexcloud.io/opinion/endorsements/steven-d-rhoads-state-senate-district-5-long-island-election-2026-y9y11gwvFetched: endorsements
Voters For Animal Rights
https://vfar.org/?vfar_endorsement=2026-candidate-endorsement-questionnaire-for-nys-senate-nys-assembly-and-us-houseFetched: endorsements
Sway
https://www.sway.co/candidate/steven-d-rhoads-fce07a91-21e9-4cee-9b75-61ab11c033efFetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/uploads/filer_public/f2/02/f202ff2c-c444-49b0-b57d-795cc2cf2b3c/2024_ratings_senate_oct.pdfFetched: endorsements
Turning Point Action
https://www.tpaction.com/scorecard/state/bills/senate/ny/nys000882026Fetched: endorsements
Medical Society of the State of New York
https://www.mssny.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/MSSNY-2023-Legislator-Scorecard-2.pdfFetched: endorsements
NYSenate.gov - About Steven D. Rhoads
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - About Steven D. Rhoads
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Bill S9110
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9110Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Rhoads tax cut press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/steven-d-rhoads/senator-rhoads-proposes-largest-middle-class-tax-cut?page=8Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - No Tax on Tips and Overtime press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/steven-d-rhoads/senate-republicans-introduce-no-tax-our-tips-overtimeFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Affordable New York report press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/steven-d-rhoads/senator-rhoads-senate-republican-conference-unveil?page=8Fetched: issuePositions
Vote Smart - Steve Rhoads voting record
https://j.futurefacts.votesmart.io/candidate/164089/steve-rhoads?categoryId=&p=2&type=V%2CS%2CR%2CE%2CF%2CPFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate bill page for S2237B
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S2237Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate press release on ending sanctuary-state status
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/jack-m-martins/li-senators-call-governor-protect-welfare-and-safety?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
NYC Mayor's Office transcript of budget testimony
https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2024/02/transcript-mayor-adams-delivers-testimony-before-new-york-state-senate-finance-assembly-waysFetched: issuePositions
American Wire News report on Coverage for All debate
https://americanwirenews.com/new-york-state-dems-approve-giving-low-cost-health-care-to-illegals-with-feds-footing-the-bill/Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Steven D. Rhoads about page
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Affordable Energy, Not Albany Mandates
https://www.nysenate.gov/affordable-energy-not-albany-mandatesFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senate and Assembly Republicans Urge Public Input on New State Energy Plan
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/steven-d-rhoads/senate-and-assembly-republicans-urge-public-input-new?page=4Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1031
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1031Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1167
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1167Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S3652
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3652Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S8607
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8607Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S4408
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4408Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senator Steven D. Rhoads official profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S307
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S307Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S725
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S725Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S8466
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8466Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S1118
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1118Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S5667
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5667Fetched: issuePositions