Asm. Ken Blankenbush

Allows for the removal of members of the state board of parole by a majority vote in the senate and the assembly; requires three or more members of such board personally interview potential parolees; requires that the determination to parole an incarcerated individual be unanimous.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York residents who received a Bronze or Silver Star military medal (or their spouses) to obtain special license plates displaying "Bronze star recipient" or "Silver star recipient." To qualify, applicants must provide proof of the award and pay a $10 one-time fee (in addition to standard registration costs), with the state allocating $5,000 after one year to offset plate production expenses. The special plate is issued only to the recipient themselves - not to their spouse - and follows standard plate application procedures.

Waives the registration fee and service charge for distinctive plates for volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services where the applicant has attended twenty-five percent or more of the emergency calls for the previous year.

Requires that any rules or regulations promulgated by the department of environmental conservation pursuant to the climate action fund are subject to a vote of the legislature and must be approved by a majority vote prior to implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the village of Canton to lower the speed limit to 40 miles per hour on a specific segment of East Main Street (between mile markers 11 7506 1320 and 11 7506 1332). It directly affects drivers traveling on that street segment within the village of Canton. The bill requires the village's governing body to formally establish the reduced speed limit through a local law, ordinance, or similar official action. The change takes effect immediately upon adoption by the village.

Establishes the parole board accountability act which requires incarcerated individuals who are released on parole, via a vote that is not unanimous, be placed in the community where one of the two board members primarily reside; establishes the procedure of which of the two board member's community the releasee shall be released to.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain property owners from requiring scaffolding safety measures during building work. Specifically, it removes the obligation for farm owners, owners of single- or two-family homes, and owners of multiple dwellings when they contract work but don't direct or control it (e.g., hiring a contractor for repairs). The change applies only to these owners in the specified scenarios, not to contractors or property owners who manage the work. Safety requirements for scaffolding remain in place for all other cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to admit evidence of other sexual offenses committed by a defendant in cases where they're accused of a sexual offense, directly affecting defendants in such trials. It permits this evidence only if it's relevant to proving motive, intent, absence of accident, a common plan, or the defendant's identity, and requires the court to confirm its value outweighs potential prejudice. Prosecutors must disclose any such evidence to the defense at least 15 days before trial, including summaries of witness testimony. The rule applies to cases involving offenses defined under specific sections of the penal law and takes effect 60 days after becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals arrested for specific sex offenses against victims under 13 years old to provide a DNA sample at the time of arrest. It directly affects people charged with felonies listed in New York's penal law involving child sexual abuse. The law mandates DNA collection unless the person already has a sample in the state DNA database, and includes procedures for courts to order sample collection if refused. It also establishes safeguards to expunge DNA records if charges are dismissed, convictions are overturned, or the case results in a non-DNA-collecting outcome.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education as a component of physical education courses upon request by 10 or more enrolled students. It mandates that schools provide curriculum covering hunting/fishing seasons, allowable species, license requirements, recreational opportunities, and historical context of these activities. The curriculum must be developed jointly by the education and environmental conservation departments and align with existing licensing course content. This policy directly affects high school students and physical education programs in New York State, adding structured outdoor skills education to existing PE offerings.