Democratic lawmakers hope New York will end cash bail for non-violent offenses -- a reform made more complicated by the uncertainty over who may control the state Senate in the coming weeks.

"I would think with a Democratic Senate, it's probably more likely to happen," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "The Senate, throughout our budget discussions, didn't seem very interested at all in bail reform."

Senate Democrats hope to gain full control of the chamber this month, pending the outcome of a special election next week. On Tuesday, Democrats officially united in a closed-door meeting, ending a seven-year rupture as the Independent Democratic Conference officially dissolved.

"There are so many steps," said Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "The step we are experiencing today is the biggest step to being able to really guide policy as a united Senate Democratic conference. I'll take this step and we'll take each step as it comes."

Republicans in the Senate continue to have questions about the details of ending cash bail, including how to define non-violent offenses.

"Would we still be able to accept bail on those particular crimes, or would we look at the defendant's financial means before we made that decision?" said Sen. Fred Akshar (R - Binghamton).

And Republicans insist they aren't opposed to making changes, but say public safety should come first.

"For me, it's really about public safety," Akshar said. "I'm not suggesting for a moment that I'm not receptive or open to having a conversation about criminal justice reform as a whole, but for me, it's about protecting the community and making sure we're having those conversations."

Cashless was one of several criminal justice reforms proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo this year, including more transparency for grand juries as well as faster access to trials.