Asm. Ken Blankenbush

Maddy summaryBill A 3631 allows New York schools to use state or local funds to purchase whole or reduced-fat New York milk (defined as milk produced, processed, and distributed within New York State) for student meals or sales. It requires the Education Commissioner to notify schools about the provision and mandates a report after two years tracking school participation, milk consumption changes, and state promotion efforts. The bill expires if federal school lunch rules change to permit whole/reduced-fat milk generally or if updated federal dietary guidelines allow it. This policy directly affects public schools in New York seeking to support local dairy producers through school meal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York school districts to purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses (electric or hydrogen-powered with no tailpipe emissions) when buying new vehicles by July 2027. It also mandates that all components and final assembly of these buses and their charging infrastructure must be made in the U.S. unless a waiver is granted for cost or feasibility reasons. Districts facing financial hardship may receive up to two years to comply after a cost-benefit analysis, and the law includes protections preventing workforce displacement for transportation employees during the transition. The full transition to zero-emission school buses must be completed by July 2047, or when all state vehicle fleets meet this standard, whichever comes later.

Provides for the chief administrator of the courts to, upon request by a municipality, ensure the assignment and presence of a uniformed court officer during court proceedings or a law enforcement officer where no uniformed court officer is available.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows home-schooled children residing in a school district to participate in that district's interscholastic sports and driver's education programs. It requires home-schooled students to meet all standard course or activity requirements and pay any applicable fees. The law applies only to districts offering these specific programs, and students cannot simultaneously attend another school within the same district. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking athletic or driver's education opportunities in their residential district.

Provides for instruction in food and agriculture in schools using a curriculum established by the commissioner of education in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets.

Relates to high-usage customers of electric utilities; establishes guidelines for electric service for high-usage customers; relates to water usage of high-usage customers entering into a high-usage contract with an electric utility or large-scale generation provider.

Establishes the New York advanced nuclear energy office; establishes an advanced nuclear energy development fund to provide grants to assist in nuclear energy production in the state; authorizes such energy development fund draw from the environmental bond act of 2022 available for green buildings projects.

Imposes a fee of not less than twenty per centum of transaction amounts equal to or exceeding one thousand dollars on customers who initiate international wire transfers without a valid social security number or taxpayer identification number.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the fee utilities pay to cover state department costs from 1% to one-third of one percent (0.333%) of their gross operating revenue. It applies to most public utilities and the Long Island Power Authority, but excludes entities regulated solely for safety or the power authority itself. Telephone companies pay the reduced rate only on revenue exceeding $500,000 annually. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Establishes the biometric identifier privacy act; requires private entities in possession of biometric identifiers or biometric information to develop a written policy establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information when the initial purpose for collecting or obtaining such identifiers or information has been satisfied or within three years of the individual's last interaction with the private entity, whichever occurs first.