Asm. Charles Lavine

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits candidates and officeholders from using campaign funds to pay settlement fees, fines, or penalties related to sexual harassment civil or criminal cases. It directly affects political candidates and elected officials who face legal action involving sexual harassment allegations. The key provision amends election law to explicitly add "payment of any settlement fees, fines or penalties assessed against the candidate in connection with a criminal or civil action involving allegations of sexual harassment" as an ineligible campaign expense. This change clarifies that campaign funds cannot cover costs tied to sexual harassment legal resolutions, separate from other allowable expenses like travel or childcare. The bill takes effect 60 days after becoming law.

Provides assistance to incarcerated individuals being released from correctional facilities for enrollment in safety net assistance, public assistance, supplemental assistance program (SNAP), special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC), the home energy assistance program (HEAP), supplemental security income, and state supplemental payments.

Provides that absentee ballots for all elections shall be made available in Braille and large print, upon request of a blind or visually impaired voter no less than 30 days prior to each election day.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes possessing a flamethrower a class E felony under New York law. It defines a "flamethrower" as any device projecting burning fuel at least three feet, excluding inoperable displays. The law specifically excludes historical flamethrowers (built before 1966 with at least five significant pre-1966 components), those used for agriculture/construction, and flamethrowers owned before the law takes effect. It does not ban manufacturing or restoring components, only possession of active devices meeting the definition. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Enacts the "AC in residencies (AIR) act"; requires the installation of permanent cooling and dehumidification equipment in at least one indoor common gathering space in certain multiple dwellings and multiple residences.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for safe injection sites in New York, creating a program approved by the Department of Health to provide overdose prevention services. It directly affects people who use drugs (participants), community health organizations operating the sites, and local communities through designated locations. Key provisions require sites to offer sterile equipment, overdose monitoring, naloxone access, referrals to treatment, and language-accessible education, while mandating annual reporting on participant numbers and services. The bill also provides legal immunity from arrest or penalties for participants, staff, and property owners who follow approved protocols, ensuring these sites operate without criminal or civil liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits deceptive information and voter suppression in New York elections. It bans knowingly spreading false details about voting times, locations, eligibility rules, registration status, or candidate party affiliations that prevents people from voting (Section 17-151). It also criminalizes using force, authority, or abuse of power to stop someone from voting freely or compel them to vote a certain way (Section 17-153), making both offenses misdemeanors with fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail for first offenses. Repeat violations escalate to felony charges, and the Attorney General gains concurrent authority with district attorneys to prosecute these violations.

Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.

Enacts the "assuring college campus and educational safety and support (ACCESS) act" relating to harassment of students and applicants at educational institutions; describes the circumstances under which harassment at educational institutions is an unlawful discriminatory practice; describes the circumstances under which an educational institution is deemed to have permitted harassment; describes additional circumstances under which a college or university is deemed to have permitted harassment.

Requires health insurance for state officers and employees who receive health insurance benefits from the state to take effect immediately upon employment.