Asm. Brian Manktelow

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4761) prohibits New York state agencies from contracting with entities that boycott certain U.S. allies, defined as NATO members, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Ireland, and other specified nations. It requires the commissioner to publish an annual list of boycotting entities and mandates contractors to certify they are not on this list when bidding for state contracts. Exemptions allow limited exceptions for past boycotts that ceased or for critical services essential to state operations. The law creates a formal process for entities to challenge their inclusion on the list and for agencies to enforce compliance through contract penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's family court procedures to tighten when youth court cases may be transferred to family court. It requires courts to deny such transfers if defendants caused serious injury, displayed weapons (including firearms), or committed certain sexual offenses as defined in criminal law. The bill repeals section 725.15 of the criminal procedure law and updates victim notification rules for dispositional hearings. These changes directly affect youth defendants, family courts, and prosecutors handling cases involving minors.

Directs the public service commission in consultation with NYSERDA to conduct a full cost benefit analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of renewable energy systems in the state of New York and to compare such directly with other methods of electricity generation within nine months after the effective date and every four years thereafter.

Authorizes the village of Sodus Point, in the town of Sodus, county of Wayne to allow golf carts on certain streets under the exclusive control and jurisdiction of such village.

Provides that the "Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag" shall be the official state flag for the raising of awareness of veteran suicide; directs the commissioner of general services to establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 tax credit for taxpayers who must replace tires damaged by potholes on state or local roads. It directly affects vehicle owners who incur costs from pothole-related tire failures, reducing their income tax liability by up to $1,000 per year. To claim the credit, taxpayers must provide proof of the pothole damage to the tax commissioner, and any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward as an overpayment. The credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2025, and is limited to one replacement per vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4786) establishes a legal presumption that shared parenting is in the best interests of minor children in family court custody cases. It directly affects parents, courts, and children involved in divorce, separation, or custody disputes by shifting the burden of proof: a parent seeking sole custody must now prove shared parenting would be harmful, rather than the other way around. Key provisions include requiring courts to presume shared parenting unless proven detrimental, mandating parenting plans, and explicitly protecting parents who act in good faith to protect children from abuse or domestic violence. The bill modifies New York's domestic relations law to prioritize frequent contact with both parents while maintaining exceptions for safety concerns.

Relates to establishing the lump sum allocation advisory committee (Part A); relates to requiring transparency, identification and disclosure of certain appropriations (Part B); relates to withholding the salaries of the governor, agency commissioners and deputy commissioners for failing to meet certain reporting deadlines (Part C); relates to creating a tax rate reduction board to look at personal income tax and corporate franchise tax rates (Part D); relates to conducting an audit of all state economic development programs (Part E); relates to prohibiting certain political contributions by individuals appointed to entities that oversee lump sum appropriations (Part F); relates to prohibiting certain third party contracts (Part G).

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two New York State tax credits: the Empire State Film Production Credit and the Empire State Film Post-Production Credit. It removes these incentives from the state tax code, directly affecting film production companies that previously qualified for these tax breaks. The repeal eliminates specific provisions in the tax law that allowed eligible film producers to reduce their state tax liability by a percentage of qualified production costs. This is a straightforward policy change that ends these financial incentives without altering other tax structures.