New York State Senator Jessica Ramos of Queens is facing scrutiny after records revealed she submitted multiple reimbursement requests in 2023 for travel expenses that appear to have been previously paid using her State Senate campaign funds. This practice raises concerns about potential double billing, which is prohibited under state ethics rules.

State Senate guidelines require legislators to certify that expenses submitted for reimbursement have not already been covered by other sources, such as campaign accounts. Despite these requirements, documents show that Ms. Ramos repeatedly claimed Amtrak tickets for travel to and from Albany that were originally paid for with campaign funds. Some reimbursement receipts explicitly list her campaign committee, “Ramos for State Senate,” as the payer, while others show credit card numbers associated with her campaign account.

The State Senate secretary, Alejandra Paulino, approved the reimbursements even though the supporting documents indicated the expenses had been covered by the campaign. Ms. Ramos did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the matter.

Mike Murphy, spokesman for Senate Democrats, declined to provide detailed information on oversight procedures but acknowledged the situation was unacceptable. “We are open to reviewing and strengthening our policies and review practices to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

The disclosures followed a report detailing Ms. Ramos’s billing practices, which also included charging hotel rooms to her campaign while collecting per diem payments for lodging from the state. An analysis of travel records spanning 2021 to 2025 revealed over $30,000 in potentially overlapping charges to both her campaign and the state reimbursement system. To date, there is no record of Ms. Ramos reimbursing her campaign for these expenses.

All identified receipts bearing signs of dual billing were linked to Esther Rosario, Ms. Ramos’s former chief of staff and campaign consultant. In a statement, Ms. Rosario said she had used the campaign credit card to purchase train tickets following precedent and instructions she believed to be proper. She denied any personal financial gain.

It remains unclear who applied redactions on some receipts or whether any concerns were raised during the approval process by Senate officials. Ethics experts have cited this case as evidence that oversight on legislator travel reimbursements remains insufficient despite reforms implemented after prior scandals.

The Legislature tightened rules in 2015, following earlier cases where members billed for travel that did not occur, leading to criminal convictions in some instances. The measures introduced required proof of physical presence in Albany and limited the use of campaign funds for travel expenses.

Following the recent revelations, the State Senate formally referred the matter to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government for investigation. Government watchdogs emphasized the need for stronger external oversight, criticizing the Legislature’s current self-policing approach.

Susan Lerner, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Common Cause New York, said the situation highlights the Legislature’s lack of transparency and accountability. “This is an unfortunate example of why an entity cannot police itself,” she noted.

As investigations continue, the case raises questions about enforcement of ethical standards and financial controls within New York’s legislative body.