Directs the department of health to develop state food guidelines for foods purchased, served, and sold by state agencies, programs, and institutions and on state property.
Relates to low or moderate income housing developments; allows local zoning boards of appeals to approve affordable housing developments; provides for an appeals process to the division of housing and community renewal; creates a state zoning board of appeals within the division to hear such appeals; directs the division to conduct a study to integrate low income housing tax credit applications with the zoning application process under this act.
Includes correctional facilities and local correctional facilities as publicly-assisted housing accommodations for purposes of the division of human rights; defines correctional facilities and local correctional facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.2 billion permanent fund to improve wages and benefits for New York's childcare workforce. It directly affects licensed childcare providers that accept families using the state's Child Care Assistance Program, requiring them to use at least 75% of funds for direct caregivers (like teachers), 10% for administrators, and the rest for program quality or expansion. The fund mandates that providers meet a new minimum compensation scale (developed with worker input) aiming to align childcare wages with public school educators. The Office of Children and Family Services will distribute funds based on factors like serving high-need children, underserved communities, and enrollment, with annual reporting requirements.
Relates to procedures relating to driving while ability impaired by drugs; defines impairment and intoxication; updates procedures for field testing of drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs to include the use of oral/bodily fluid tests; provides that refusal to submit to such field tests is specified to be a traffic infraction; makes related provisions.
Relates to the term "income" for purposes of the school tax relief exemption; adds 401(k) and 403(b) accounts to the list of eligible income deductions when determining Enhanced STAR eligibility.
Decreases the frequency of lock-down drills in schools; directs that such drills shall be implemented with a trauma-informed approach; permits parents to opt their children out of such drills.
Requires high-sugar beverages to be labeled with a safety warning stating that the beverage contains 100% or more of the FDA recommended daily intake of added sugar.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the New York State Thruway Authority to offer a 50% toll discount to eligible farmers transporting agricultural products. It directly affects farmers who qualify for a tax exemption under New York’s tax law (Section 606, Subparagraph A), as defined by agriculture and markets law. To receive the discount, farmers must provide their tax exemption certificate to the Thruway Authority, which will then issue E-ZPass tags for automatic application. The discount applies only to regular tolls (not surcharges or non-commercial vehicle travel) and takes effect January 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryBill A 1615, known as the "area speed limits act," modifies the process by which cities, villages, and certain towns establish speed limits on local highways and roads. The bill removes the current requirement for these local legislative bodies to base new speed limits on specific engineering considerations and factors. It also eliminates the need for these speed limits to be certified by a licensed professional engineer. This change grants local governments more direct authority in setting area speed limits within their jurisdictions.
