Asm. Jen Lunsford

Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.

Establishes the safe water and infrastructure action program for the purpose of making payments toward the replacement and rehabilitation of certain existing local drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems; applies to any county, city, town, village or public authority drinking water system, storm water system or sanitary sewer system within the state that is not under the maintenance and/or operational jurisdiction of a private entity.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum weekly unemployment insurance benefit in New York to $860, effective October 2025. It directly affects unemployed workers who qualify for benefits under the state's unemployment insurance program, particularly those with lower earnings. The key provision sets $860 as the new floor for all eligible claimants, replacing previous minimums that ranged from $40 to $100. The change applies to all qualifying claimants meeting the base period requirements, ensuring no one receives less than $860 per week in benefits.

Provides for a working families tax credit; directs quarterly prepayment of the credit; provides for a sliding reduction in the credit for incomes which exceed a certain threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates special "epilepsy awareness" license plates for New York residents who choose to purchase them. Owners pay a $25 annual fee on top of regular registration, with all fees deposited into a new "epilepsy awareness fund." The fund finances research and education programs about epilepsy, including scientific studies and public awareness initiatives on seizure prevention and first aid. These programs are managed by the state health department under established public health law.

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Allows for treatment costing less than $1,500 to be done without prior approval, and more clearly defines the list of "pre-authorized procedures" as a floor on treatment as opposed to its current status as a ceiling; allows non-network providers of testing to be compensated at the provider network rate negotiated by the carrier.

Establishes a program for specific individuals to become complex care assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees.

Repeals the provision of law that volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who receive a real property tax exemption for service may not receive the income tax credit for such service.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that medical marijuana, when dispensed under New York's medical marijuana program, must be treated as a "prescription drug" for coverage purposes under specific state programs, including Medicaid (title eleven of social services law), workers' compensation, and elder care programs. It requires these state-run programs to cover medical marijuana but explicitly states it does not mandate coverage by private insurers or health plans. The bill also adds a certification process for dispensaries to be recognized as medical assistance providers under state law. It applies to state programs only, not private insurance, and does not create new coverage requirements beyond the specified state-run systems.