Asm. Marianne Buttenschon

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7321) would require New York health insurers to cover speech therapy for stuttering when recommended by a physician. It applies to all medical, major medical, and similar insurance plans, eliminating limits on the number of therapy sessions or visits. Coverage must be provided by licensed professionals and clarifies that school-based therapy (like IEPs) does not affect medical coverage for therapy outside educational settings. The bill was vetoed by the governor in October 2025 and did not become law.

Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment and complex rehabilitation technology fee schedule for the same service or item.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the cities of Utica and Rome to impose an occupancy tax of up to 3% on hotel, motel, and bed-and-breakfast stays. It directly affects hotels, motels, and similar lodging facilities in these cities, while exempting permanent residents (staying 90+ days), government entities, and qualifying non-profits. The tax applies to the daily rental rate, with revenue collected by city officials and deposited into the general fund for municipal services. The law specifies collection procedures, refund processes, and limits local tax authority to two-year periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a New York state law that previously prohibited transplant patients from being listed on waiting lists at multiple organ procurement organizations. It directly affects patients awaiting organ transplants who may now be eligible for placement on waiting lists at different facilities within New York. The key change eliminates the specific ban (previously in Public Health Law §4363) that prevented patients from having multiple listings simultaneously. This amendment updates organ allocation rules to allow patients to potentially access multiple transplant programs without violating state policy. The law took effect immediately upon signing on October 16, 2025.

Maddy summaryBill A 3670 requires New York state and city public universities to grant academic credit to eligible veterans without charging fees. It directly affects veterans who are enrolled full-time as undergraduate students at these institutions and have completed military training courses meeting American Council on Education (ACE) standards. The bill mandates that institutions award unlimited credit toward a degree for qualifying military training, with no tuition or fees applied. This policy change simplifies credit recognition for veterans transitioning to civilian higher education.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4718) makes permanent disability benefits for volunteer firefighters who develop heart or coronary artery conditions. It updates a 1977 law by removing an expiration date (previously set for June 30, 2025) that would have ended these benefits. The change directly affects volunteer firefighters whose heart-related disabilities occur after the law's effective date. The bill preserves existing benefits without creating new ones, ensuring continued support for eligible firefighters.

Maddy summaryBill A 4044 makes permanent certain fees that municipalities charge for emergency medical services (EMS), removing a previous four-year expiration date from a 2022 law. This change affects local governments that set and collect these fees for EMS services provided within their jurisdictions. The bill amends existing law to ensure these specific fees remain in place indefinitely, rather than requiring annual renewal. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, applying to all EMS-related fees collected after that date.

Grants certain members or officers of the state police credit for service as a deputy sheriff, county corrections officer, or state corrections officer; two years credit; provides cost shall be borne by member.

Relates to bioheating fuel requirements; allows B100 or B99 biofuel and R100 or R99 renewable fuel to be used to blend with or replace fossil heating oil in order to create bioheating fuel.

Extends the effectiveness of certain sections of law relating to real property tax exemptions for real property owned by volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.