Asm. John McDonald

Maddy summaryThis bill requires transit authorities and their subsidiaries to ensure accessible buses (wheelchair-friendly) are available within a three-mile service area of any bus line. It mandates that 65% of all regularly operated buses must be accessible, achieved by requiring all newly purchased, leased, or brought-into-service buses (except those for temporary shortages) to be accessible until the 65% threshold is met. The law directly affects public transit agencies like the MTA, ensuring better access for transportation-disabled riders, including wheelchair users, on fixed-route bus services. Key provisions include the 65% accessibility target and the 3-mile service area requirement for accessible buses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6835) removes a legal barrier preventing testimony about medical review meetings in malpractice cases. It specifically allows doctors, hospitals, or other medical professionals to testify about discussions held during medical quality review meetings if they are named as parties in a malpractice lawsuit. Currently, such meetings and testimony are protected from disclosure under New York law. The change applies to reviews related to patient care, treatment disputes, or fees involving physicians, dentists, podiatrists, or hospital administrators. This policy shift directly affects medical professionals and patients involved in malpractice litigation where review meeting details were previously shielded.

Requires the registration and issuance of license plates for bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters that can exceed twenty-eight miles per hour with battery assistance up to and exceeding seven hundred fifty watts.

Provides assistance to incarcerated individuals being released from correctional facilities for enrollment in safety net assistance, public assistance, supplemental assistance program (SNAP), special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC), the home energy assistance program (HEAP), supplemental security income, and state supplemental payments.

Prohibits licensees from relying on artificial intelligence for tracking and advertisement purposes and using such artificial intelligence to create personalized advertisements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands an existing tax credit for farmers to cover the cost of constructing housing for farm workers. It specifically allows farmers to claim the credit for standard construction materials and labor used to build residential housing occupied by workers employed in their farming operations. The change modifies the tax law to include housing construction under the "eligible costs" for the credit, which previously applied only to equipment and production-related property. This directly affects farmers who build housing for their agricultural workforce in New York. The policy change is a straightforward expansion of an existing tax incentive, with no new eligibility requirements beyond the current credit framework.

Authorizes physicians and pharmacists to enter into collaborative practice medication adherence protocols for their patients; makes permanent certain provisions relating to authorizing pharmacists to perform with physicians in certain settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all operators of e-bikes, electric scooters, and motor-driven cycles to wear helmets meeting commissioner standards, regardless of age. It amends vehicle laws to mandate helmets for these vehicles during operation, specifying helmets must fit securely with straps fastened. The law applies universally - no age exemptions exist - and defines "wearing a helmet" as having a properly secured helmet. It covers all users of these devices, including adults and minors, without exceptions.

Establishes the disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligible state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits; provides for the investing of any net savings realized by the program back into the New York state health insurance program for the purpose of eliminating or limiting the impact of any premium rate or other cost increases that would be the responsibility of an employee or retiree.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes intentionally causing extreme pain to companion animals (like dogs, cats, and household pets) a class E felony. It defines "aggravated cruelty" as conduct intended to cause extreme pain or carried out in a depraved/sadistic manner, while excluding lawful activities such as hunting, veterinary care, or dispatching diseased animals. Convicted individuals may lose ownership of the animals involved and forfeit them to humane societies. The law repeals an outdated provision and adds these definitions and penalties to New York’s penal code. It directly affects individuals who commit severe animal cruelty against companion animals, not farm animals.