Asm. Ken Blankenbush

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts snowmobiles registered solely for sport fishing on frozen water or access to hunting/trapping lands from standard registration fees and additional fees under other laws. It requires a distinct color registration sticker for these snowmobiles and imposes a $200 fine for operating them for other purposes. The policy directly affects snowmobile owners using vehicles for these specific winter activities on frozen water, not general recreational use. The bill creates a new registration category with defined eligibility and enforcement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants accidental death benefits to David Morse, the parent of firefighter Peyton Morse, who died on March 12, 2021, while employed by the city of Watertown. It allows David Morse to file for benefits under existing retirement laws (sections 361 and 361-a of the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law), with prior payments to him or his son deducted from future benefits. The state of New York covers all costs, and the law takes effect immediately. This is a specific case bill for one family, not a change to general policy.

Includes aggravated threat of mass harm, making a threat of mass harm, aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment in the first degree, menacing in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the first degree, and aggravated harassment in the first degree in being eligible for bail; makes aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm eligible to be considered hate crimes; increases the penalties for aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm.

Relates to enacting the biomass fired exception program providing an exception for certain biomass fired electric generation facilities to the definition of a fossil fuel-fired facility for purposes of a CO2 budget trading program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new annual spending growth cap for state operating funds, directly affecting the governor and legislature when creating budgets. The cap limits yearly increases in state spending to the average inflation rate from the prior three years (calculated using the Consumer Price Index). It requires the governor to certify budget compliance and gives the comptroller authority to verify limits, with exceptions only for emergencies declared by the governor and approved by a two-thirds legislative vote. The bill does not change the rainy day fund's capacity, as the title's mention of that detail isn't elaborated in the actual provisions.

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish contraband screening at correctional facilities including canines at the entrances and a third-party secure vendor mail program.

Deems home instruction which is compliant with the provisions of article 65 of the education law and the home instruction requirements prescribed in the commissioner of education's regulations to be substantially equivalent in amount and quality to the instruction given to students of like age and attainments at the public schools of the city or district where the student resides.

Authorizes the posting by each municipality of turtle crossing signs on local roads located within such municipality; empowers the state commissioner of transportation to develop and implement rules and regulations authorizing municipalities to post turtle crossing signs on local roads located within the municipality.

Provides for insurance premium reductions for successful completion of a fraud prevention course, known as the New York auto fraud prevention program.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the location of new cannabis retail stores and on-site consumption facilities. It prohibits new licenses for storefronts within 500 feet of school grounds (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings) and within 200 feet of houses of worship (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings). These rules apply only to new licenses issued after the bill's effective date. The law directly affects cannabis businesses seeking to open new locations in the state.