Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C-Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks) joined a bipartisan group of legislators from the New York State Assembly and Senate with advocates from Donate Life for a press conference highlighting the critical need to boost organ, eye and tissue donation across the state. Over 8,000 New Yorkers are currently on the transplant waiting list. The event focused on practical steps to make registration easier and save more lives.

Smullen, a longtime champion for the Donate Life cause, joined colleagues in calling for stronger action.

“New Yorkers are generous and want to do the right thing to help their neighbors, but we must remove every unnecessary barrier to registration,” said Smullen. “That is why I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that would allow New Yorkers to easily register with the Donate Life Registry by simply checking a box when filing their state income tax returns. A few seconds during tax season could add thousands of new donors and give hope to the thousands of families anxiously waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”

Smullen’s advocacy is deeply personal. In March 2024, his 14-year-old son, Alexander John “AJ” Smullen, tragically passed away following a traffic accident.

His sacrifice went on to save or improve the lives of five people. Since then, Smullen has worked across party lines to honor AJ’s legacy by expanding access to the Donate Life Registry.

New York continues to lag behind the national average in donor registration rates despite having one of the highest demands for transplants. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 75 more through tissue and eye donation. Lawmakers emphasized that simple opportunities like the proposed tax-return checkbox can meaningfully close the gap between need and supply.

The bipartisan group urged all eligible New Yorkers to register today at donatelifeny.org or through the DMV and called on the full Legislature to advance measures that strengthen the state’s donation system.