Relates to prohibiting the sale or distribution of expanded polystyrene containers that are designed or intended to be used for cold storage beginning January 1, 2026.
Expands the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual average tonnage requirement every two years until 2028; removes exceptions regarding recycler capacity.
This bill requires health insurance plans in the state to cover epinephrine auto-injectors, which are devices used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. It mandates that insurers provide coverage for at least two medically necessary devices per person, ensuring that the total out-of-pocket cost for these items does not exceed $100 annually. The law applies to various types of insurance policies, including major medical plans and group policies, while also accounting for specific federal rules regarding health savings accounts. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, for all policies issued or renewed on or after that date.
Requires a plain and conspicuous printed list of all ingredients listed in order of predominance on diapers sold in the state; imposes a civil penalty of one percent of the manufacturer's total annual in-state sales not to exceed one thousand dollars per package or box on the manufacturer.
This bill, known as the Dyslexia Diagnosis Access Act, mandates that health insurance policies covering physician services must pay for comprehensive neuropsychological exams used to diagnose dyslexia. The legislation aims to address the high cost of these tests, which can exceed six thousand dollars and are often unaffordable for families without coverage. By requiring insurers to include these specific exams, the law ensures that individuals suspected of having dyslexia can access necessary diagnostic evaluations without facing financial barriers. The changes apply to all insurance policies issued, renewed, or modified on or after the act's effective date of January 1st following its passage.
Relates to the statewide presumptive eligibility standard; authorizes local social services districts to utilize child care block grant funds for the presumptive eligibility period.
This law requires hospitals and birthing centers to allow expecting and new mothers to have their doulas present during delivery and post-delivery care. The bill defines a doula as a designated support person and prohibits facilities from denying access to them once admitted. This change ensures that individuals receiving perinatal services can maintain their chosen support system without interference from the healthcare facility.
This bill allows employees of the New York City Board of Education who are represented by the United Federation of Teachers to move their retirement coverage from the board's existing system to the city's Teachers' Retirement System. To make this change, an eligible employee must submit a formal application within one year of becoming qualified for the new system, after which their past service and contributions will be transferred and counted as continuous membership. The legislation applies to all employees in titles represented by the union, regardless of whether they are currently union members, and grants them all the rights and benefits of the Teachers' Retirement System upon transfer.
This bill expands the ability of workers to file claims for mental injuries caused by extraordinary work-related stress. Previously, only specific first responders like police officers and firefighters could make such claims, but this law now applies to all workers. The key provision states that a claims board cannot reject a mental injury claim if it finds the stress experienced was not greater than what typically occurs in a normal work environment. The change aims to provide a clearer standard for evaluating stress-related injury claims across all job types.
This bill, known as "Detective Brian Simonsen's Law," requires wireless service providers to stop services for stolen mobile phones. It mandates that carriers maintain programs to block devices identified as stolen on the GSMA block list, which is a shared industry database. Additionally, the law obligates carriers to report the unique identification numbers of newly stolen phones to this database and to suspend service immediately upon receiving a verified report from a customer. These measures aim to prevent the use of stolen phones on networks while ensuring stolen devices are tracked across the industry.
This bill expands the state's school violence prevention grant program to specifically fund anti-violence education initiatives. It allows schools to receive money for programs that provide trauma support, counseling, and education for students affected by gun violence, as long as these programs are run by nonprofit organizations and exclude any firearm training. To qualify, the funded programs must set clear goals, outline a timeline, and use specific methods to measure progress in reducing violence. The legislation also broadens the list of eligible safety activities to include safe corridors, diversity programs, and collaborative efforts with law enforcement or community groups.
This bill expands the legal definition of aggravated harassment to include the intentional removal or threat of removal of religious clothing or headwear. It applies to anyone who performs this act with the intent to annoy, threaten, or alarm another person based on their race, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. The law treats this specific behavior as a criminal offense regardless of whether the perpetrator's belief about the victim's identity is accurate. Once signed into law, the provision takes effect immediately to provide clearer protections against religious discrimination in public spaces.
