Asm. Michael Cashman

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a real property tax exemption for the primary residences of surviving spouses of firefighters who died in the line of duty. It allows local governments and school districts to automatically exempt up to 50% of the assessed value of these homes from taxation, though they retain the option to reduce this percentage if they choose. The law defines eligible firefighters broadly to include paid members of various fire departments and extends the benefit to properties held in trust or by cooperative apartment corporations, while excluding certain types of housing. Additionally, the bill requires the state to develop and publish a list of documents that prove eligibility for this tax relief.

Establishes a real property tax exemption of up to fifty percent of the assessed valuation of such real property for surviving spouses of state and county correction officers who died in the line of duty and such property constitutes the primary resident of such surviving spouse.

Extends the time period from eighteen years to twenty-five years that a school shall be guaranteed recovery of energy performance contract costs from energy savings incurred by school districts over that time period.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3223) would allow eligible veterans to fish for free in all state parks managed by state agencies. It specifically covers veterans who served on active duty with an honorable discharge, including those with qualifying conditions or specific LGBT veteran status as defined in existing law. The state office responsible for parks would need to create rules to implement this free access, with the policy taking effect 90 days after enactment. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.

Requires each utility to take appropriate safety precautions regarding electrical hazards, including developing plans to promptly de-energize downed wires within two hours of notification of the location of such downed wires from a municipal emergency responder and promptly secure such wires within six hours in the case of events that are not considered emergencies.

Provides that for taxable years beginning on and after January first, two thousand twenty-six, a resident taxpayer who serves as an active volunteer firefighter or as a volunteer ambulance worker shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed equal to eight hundred dollars; provides for a real property tax exemption under certain circumstances to an enrolled member of an incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department or incorporated voluntary ambulance service residing in such city, village, town, school district, special district, fire district or county.

Allows an authority having jurisdiction over a volunteer fire department or fire company in a county, city, town, village, fire district, or fire protection district to provide volunteer firefighters with a stipend of a nominal fee for responses to calls and for certain standby services; includes volunteer firefighters within the labor law definition of "employee" of a federal, state or municipal government of political subdivision thereof; establishes the volunteer fire service nominal compensation assistance fund.

Enacts the "deed protection act" in relation to prohibiting a mortgage banker or mortgage loan servicer from commencing, maintaining, or proceeding with a foreclosure action on a mortgage loan where such mortgage banker or mortgage loan servicer knows or has reason to know that the mortgage securing such loan is dependent on a deed, conveyance, or other instrument affecting title to residential real property that was procured by fraud, forgery, or other unlawful means.

Requires mandatory background checks for persons employed by or volunteering at any business corporation, not-for-profit corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership that regularly provides instructional, recreational or extracurricular services to minors, including but not limited to dance studios, gymnastic schools, martial arts academies, sports training facilities, music schools and performing arts schools, tutoring and academic enrichment centers; provides for enforcement and penalties; prohibits certain people from owning such businesses.

Requires the division for small-business to publish a small business compliance guide and post such guide to the division for small-business's website.