Asm. Gabriella Romero

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "utility ratepayer protection act," requires utilities (like electricity and gas companies) to get explicit approval from both legislative houses before raising customer rates. Utilities must submit a detailed report 180 days in advance, including justification for the increase and their current financial status. The legislature can reject proposed rate hikes they deem unnecessary to cover service costs, preventing increases from taking effect without a majority vote in both chambers. This directly affects utility companies and their customers by adding legislative oversight to rate changes.

Requires continuing teacher and leader education to include courses, programs and activities related to immigrant focused trauma-informed practices to support students who are dealing with adverse childhood or adolescent experiences as a result of immigration status.

Provides that gas, electric, or combination gas and electric corporations shall not be permitted to retain revenues derived from their actual return on equity in excess of authorized rates of return on equity.

Directs the commissioner of education to develop and maintain a publicly accessible statewide attendance and absenteeism dashboard to be posted publicly on the state education department's website.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new progressive income tax structure for high-income New York taxpayers by creating multiple tax brackets with increasing rates as income rises. It directly affects New York residents earning above certain thresholds, with the highest rates applying to incomes over $5 million (up to 24% for some filing statuses). Key provisions include setting specific tax rates for different income ranges - for example, 10.90% for incomes over $25 million and 24% for incomes over $20 million for certain filers. The bill modifies existing tax law to implement these bracketed rates, replacing previous structures.

Establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees; sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns.

Provides for automatic voter registration and pre-registration for persons applying for certain department of motor vehicles documentation, and for persons applying for or re-enrolling in Medicaid; allows individuals to decline such automatic registration and pre-registration.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6316) makes statements made by a deceased person under their belief they were about to die admissible as evidence in court, for both civil and criminal cases. It directly affects legal proceedings where such statements might otherwise be excluded as hearsay. To be used, four conditions must be proven: the person knew death was near, made the statement voluntarily, wasn't led by questioning, and was mentally sound at the time. The law codifies an existing legal exception into statute with these specific requirements.

Establishes protections for adults sixty years of age or older, or at least the age of eighteen and who, because of mental or physical impairments, are unable to manage their own resources or protect themselves from financial exploitation without assistance from others.