Asm. Keith Brown

Allows victim impact statements in New York state be video recorded; requires that the members of the parole board and all presiding commissioners for such hearing review all relevant victim impact statements prior to the conduct of a parole hearing and to sign a written attestation confirming that they have done so.

Requires fashion sellers to carry out environmental due diligence for the portions of their business related to wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags, including wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags produced as a private label; establishes a fashion remediation fund.

Maddy summaryBella's Law requires New York's Office of Children and Family Services to investigate potential domestic violence when an individual is accused of or under investigation for animal abuse. Law enforcement must notify the Office of Children and Family Services about such cases, and the Office must determine if the animal abuse is linked to domestic violence or family abuse. The law applies to all animal abuse crimes listed in the bill, including offenses like animal fighting, torture, abandonment, and harming service animals. This policy change mandates coordination between law enforcement and child/family services to address the established connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for threatening to commit violence against police officers with specific intent. It makes it a class C felony to threaten a police officer with the goal of intimidating civilians, influencing government policy, or affecting government conduct through violence. The law applies to anyone who makes such threats, regardless of whether they could actually carry out the threat. This directly affects individuals who make terroristic threats targeting law enforcement officers. The penalty for violating this law is a serious criminal charge, punishable as a class C felony.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies distributing funds digitally (like benefits or payments) to verify recipients' identities and implement stronger security. To create an account, individuals must provide personal details (name, address, date of birth, and two ID types) and choose a unique username. Accessing these accounts will require two-step verification, such as a password plus a code or biometric check. The law applies to all state entities handling digital fund distribution and takes effect one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryBill A 2699 regulates the sale and possession of Kratom. It prohibits the sale or provision of Kratom to individuals under 21 years of age, with civil penalties for sellers who violate this rule. Businesses selling Kratom must post age restriction signs and verify a purchaser's age using specified identification documents, with provisions for electronic transaction scans. The bill also mandates the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study on Kratom's potential health risks and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the maximum age for provisional or permanent appointment as a police officer in certain government departments from 35 to 40 years old. It directly affects applicants for competitive civil service positions in the Department of Environmental Conservation, county, city, town, village, housing authority, or police district police forces. The key change modifies the age requirement for the written examination date, allowing applicants up to age 40 to qualify instead of the previous 35-year limit. This adjustment applies broadly across eligible departments, with specific exceptions for military service time or existing employees under limited circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires attorneys appointed to represent children in certain court proceedings to complete specific training. All such attorneys must receive six hours of initial training and ongoing training as determined by the court. The training must cover domestic violence dynamics, juvenile delinquency law, and how these issues relate to custody, visitation, and child support decisions. It also mandates that training programs and providers receive approval from both the Office of Court Administration and the State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Requires that a claimant alleging that the contents of a website or mobile application that describes goods and services provided at a place of public accommodation constitutes an unlawful discriminatory practice against visually and hearing impaired individuals serve written notice on the owner and provide 60 days to cure the alleged violation prior to commencing an action.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new criminal offenses for threatening violence at specific locations like schools, places of worship, or public gatherings. It establishes "second degree" for individuals under 18 threatening schools or other locations (with a $35,000 fine and 10-100 days detention), and "first degree" for anyone making such threats (a class D felony with a $35,000 fine and 3+ years in prison). The law applies to threats made in writing, verbally, or through any communication method. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and amends existing penal code sections to set these penalties.