Asm. Angelo Santabarbara

Enacts the "consumer wheelchair repair bill of rights act" requiring manufacturers to make available certain documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools necessary for repairing equipment; establishes a timely repair for wheelchair program; deems all wheelchair repairs needed within 5 years of initial prescription medically necessary.

Relates to the sale and possession of self-defense spray devices in the state; removes the requirement that only authorized dealers and pharmacists could sell such devices; provides that no more than two self-defense spray devices may be sold at any one time to a single purchaser; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows collateral loan brokers to send sale notices and surplus funds notifications to borrowers via email or text message instead of traditional mail. Brokers must provide a notice of sale at least 30 days before the sale and a second notice 15 days prior, using the borrower's preferred electronic method (email/text) or mail if chosen. Borrowers can update their contact information at any time before the second notice, and brokers must retain copies of all notices for six years. If electronic notices were used for the sale, the same method must be used for surplus funds notices.

Requires respective changes to service and delivery charges for gas or electric service to be included in the information regarding average proposed rate changes required to be published by the public service commission in certain instances.

Establishes the large projects historic rehabilitation tax credit and the "white elephant" housing historic rehabilitation projects tax credit program for qualified rehabilitation expenditures totaling fifty million dollars or more with respect to a certified historic structure that has been vacant, as determined by local code enforcement or other reasonable means, for at least ten of fifteen consecutive years preceding the date of the taxpayer's application for the rehabilitation credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new eligibility category for special disabled veteran license plates in New York. It directly affects veterans rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), allowing them to qualify for these plates under existing rules. The key change is adding paragraph (e) to the vehicle law, which explicitly includes VA-rated 100% disabled veterans alongside other qualifying conditions like certified physical impairments or blindness. This expands access to the program without altering current requirements for other disability categories.

Requires the department of environmental conservation, after consultation with the environmental facilities corporation and the department of state, to submit an annual agency stormwater expenditure report containing a comprehensive estimate and summary of funds needed and funds spent on stormwater projects under the department of environmental conservation, the environmental facilities corporation, the department of state and other applicable agencies or state authorities.

Authorizes the Department of Veterans' Services to consult and collaborate with relevant offices in the federal department of veterans affairs, the department of health, the state office for the aging and other HCBS experts to develop educational materials for veterans and their families about the accessibility to home and community-based services.

Includes the unaccrued portion of a non-schedule award in the amounts to be payable to and for the benefit of certain persons where a claimant was entitled to death benefits at the time of death.

Enacts the "independent senior housing resident freedom of choice act" to authorize persons in independent housing, shelters and residences to receive services they could otherwise receive if they resided in a private residence.