Asm. Phil Steck

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes designated "first responder safety zones" along highways near emergency vehicle facilities (like fire stations or ambulance bases), covering up to 660 feet. It requires clear road markings (white hash marks) and signs, sets a 15 mph speed limit within these zones, and mandates that drivers yield to emergency vehicles entering or operating within them. Violating these rules incurs fines ($500 for first offense, $1,000 for second). The law directly affects drivers operating vehicles near emergency facilities and aims to improve safety for responders during emergencies.

Requires health insurance policies include coverage for anesthesia for the entire duration of a procedure for which a licensed medical practitioner has issued an order for such anesthesia.

Relates to the provision of grants to eligible school districts to cover the costs of school resource officers employed at schools in such districts; authorizes boards of cooperative educational services to enter into contracts with local police entities to provide school resource officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that batteries used in electric-assist bicycles and electric scooters must be tested and approved by specific accredited laboratories, such as Underwriters Laboratories or labs meeting international ISO/IEC standards. It mandates that these batteries display a certification seal from an approved lab, including those accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 or participating in the OSHA NRTL program. The law directly affects battery manufacturers and sellers of e-bikes and e-scooters, who must ensure compliance before selling or using these devices. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools in New York to include lessons about gambling risks in health education classes for every grade level, from elementary through high school. It mandates that teachers certified in health education integrate age-appropriate instruction on gambling's dangers alongside existing lessons about alcohol, tobacco, and drug misuse. Schools must teach these topics as part of required health courses, with students demonstrating knowledge through tests or projects. The law applies directly to all public K-12 schools and their health curricula, without creating new standalone classes.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New York State funds pre-kindergarten programs outside New York City. It repeals the previous requirement for competitive selection of programs and instead guarantees funding sufficient to cover all qualifying programs in non-NYC regions. The key change ensures that every eligible pre-K program in these areas receives full funding based on need, rather than competing for limited slots. The bill also maintains the $300 million annual allocation specifically for New York City programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to order fingerprint comparisons against statewide and national databases for defendants in criminal cases. It requires courts to determine first that the fingerprints meet federal or state standards, and second that a different outcome was likely if the comparison had been done earlier (e.g., a more favorable verdict or no conviction). The law directly affects defendants seeking to challenge prior convictions based on new fingerprint evidence. It creates a specific legal pathway for courts to review such evidence without changing how fingerprints are collected during investigations. The bill focuses on post-conviction relief, not new investigations.

Provides a green infrastructure tax abatement for the construction of green infrastructure projects on certain properties in a city of one million or more.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2188) updates New York's public assistance employment programs to prioritize well-paying, stable job training. It requires social services districts to develop employment plans that strongly consider training for "sustainable wage" jobs (defined as 185% of the poverty line, adjusted regionally) and "nontraditional" careers (like skilled trades or tech fields where one gender is under 25% employed). The bill mandates that these plans, developed with input from education providers and employers, specifically prioritize such opportunities for participants with high school diplomas or GEDs. It applies to individuals in public assistance programs seeking employment, ensuring their job training aligns with federal work requirements while focusing on higher-wage pathways.

Requires that public schools provide instruction on climate change, including but not limited to identifying the causes and impacts of climate change on individuals, environments and communities, and learning to evaluate solutions.