Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda was first elected to represent the 32nd Senate District in April 2018. His diverse district covers large parts of the South and Central Bronx. He previously served for three terms as the Assemblyman for the 87th Assembly District.
A staunch advocate for his constituents and the people of the state of New York, Senator Sepulveda has been a champion of bolstering economic opportunity, diversity, and social service reforms, especially as they affect middle and working-class families.
As Senator, he has been a leader in criminal justice reform, working to change the culture of distrust between communities of color and the police and to correct inherent racial biases in the justice system. During the 2019 Legislative Session, he oversaw the historic criminal justice reforms in ending cash bail, early discovery, and speedy trial. He continues to lead on legislation supporting rehabilitation and reentry, ending solitary confinement, creating civilian oversight of the state correctional system, and more.
His efforts as Assemblymember included sponsoring a bill to create a board to review civilian deaths and near-deaths involving police officers, a bill requiring videotaping of all engagements between uniformed officers and individuals in the community, and advocating for Raise the Age legislation to prevent 16- and 17-year-olds from being charged as adults.
Senator Sepúlveda has become a recognized leader in Albany as an advocate for immigrant rights in New York, as the lead sponsor of two of the state’s most impactful and historic immigration bills: the NY State Jose Peralta DREAM Act and the Green Light Bill, which respectively expanded access to higher education and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Senator Sepúlveda has continuously advocated for increased funding for community health and mental health services. His efforts to raise the visibility among legislators and key opinion leaders of the alarming suicide rate in the Latina teen population proved fruitful most recently when Governor Cuomo announced the formation of the New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force. The Senator also worked closely with Mayor de Blasio in 2014 to secure funding for universal pre-kindergarten in New York City.
As a representative of one of the lowest income districts in the state and with an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of his constituents, Senator Sepulveda is deeply engaged in his community and creating opportunities for educational and economic justice. His district office’s top priority is to provide reliable, excellent, and unrivaled constituent services, on issues including housing, healthcare, social services, and more. He regularly hosts free workshops, job fairs, and resource fairs in the community.
For his legislative and community service efforts, he is the recipient of a number of government, community, and educational awards.
Senator Sepúlveda earned his bachelor’s from Hofstra University and his law degree from Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law. He is one of two Latinx attorneys in the New York State Legislature.