Asm. Billy Jones

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $10 one-time service charge for veterans applying for special license plates in New York. It directly affects veterans of the U.S. armed forces who currently pay this additional fee when requesting veterans-themed license plates. The bill removes the $10 charge from multiple sections of the vehicle and traffic law, while maintaining the standard registration fee. Veterans will no longer pay this extra fee for these plates, though regular registration costs remain unchanged. The change applies to all existing veterans' plate programs covered by the amended law.

Enacts the affordable waste reduction act"; defines terms; provides for registration of producer responsibility organizations and service providers; establishes the producer responsibility advisory board; provides for department of environmental conservation responsibilities; provides for producer responsibility advisory board, organization, producer and service provider responsibilities; creates a recyclable or compostable covered materials lists and exempt materials list; establishes producer fees; provides for service provider reimbursement; makes related provisions.

Designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree as a class E felony; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the second degree as a class D violent felony offense; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the first degree as a class B violent felony offense.

Provides that the tax levy limit shall be equal to a zero percent increase over the prior year tax levy when the difference between the total amount of taxes levied for the prior year less the tax levy limit results in a negative number.

Establishes the volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan; provides requirements for eligibility to receive awards under such plan; provides circumstances under which such award will be converted to a student loan.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3589, "Protects library access to electronic literary materials") bans restrictive clauses in contracts between publishers and libraries for electronic literary materials (e-books and digital audiobooks). It specifically prohibits terms that limit libraries' core functions, such as restricting loans, limiting preservation copies, or controlling loan periods. The law applies to licensing agreements for literary monographs (single-volume works) and declares such prohibited terms unenforceable, with libraries able to seek remedies under state law. It does not apply to contracts between libraries and aggregators (companies licensing multiple publishers' collections).

Exempts income earned by a head of household or any person in the household from certain job training or adult education programs from the determination of need for public assistance programs.

Permits award of crime victim assistance funds to victims of overdoses, where such overdoses cause death and were the result of deception, surreptitious delivery, or third-party administration of a controlled substance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's Commissioner of Health to establish regional minimum hourly reimbursement rates for home care providers serving Medicaid patients. It directly affects home care agencies and providers who employ home care aides, mandating rates that cover all necessary costs - including base wages, benefits, payroll taxes, operational expenses, and compliance costs. The rates must be set regionally based on actual service costs, adjusted annually to reflect labor law changes, and published publicly. Providers must justify any contract rates below these minimums, and the comptroller can audit contracts to ensure adequacy. The goal is to ensure reimbursement rates support fair wages and operational needs for home care workers under Medicaid.

Imposes an additional tax surcharge on certain non-primary residence class one and class two properties in a city with a population of one million or more.