Asm. Dave McDonough

Maddy summaryBill A 4221 prohibits all point source discharges (such as pipes, outlets, or disposal systems) into the Long Island Sound and Great South Bay. It directly affects businesses, industries, or facilities currently releasing waste or pollutants into these water bodies. The law bans both new construction and existing operations of such discharge systems, requiring compliance within one year of enactment. Implementation rules must be finalized before the effective date to enforce the prohibition.

Authorizes counties to lease county land for natural gas exploration, development and production for five years or as long as gas is produced in paying quantities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that batteries used in electric-assist bicycles and electric scooters must be tested and approved by specific accredited laboratories, such as Underwriters Laboratories or labs meeting international ISO/IEC standards. It mandates that these batteries display a certification seal from an approved lab, including those accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 or participating in the OSHA NRTL program. The law directly affects battery manufacturers and sellers of e-bikes and e-scooters, who must ensure compliance before selling or using these devices. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Requires a valid government issued photo identification card be presented when casting a ballot; provides for persons eligible for Medicaid to receive identification cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools in New York to include lessons about gambling risks in health education classes for every grade level, from elementary through high school. It mandates that teachers certified in health education integrate age-appropriate instruction on gambling's dangers alongside existing lessons about alcohol, tobacco, and drug misuse. Schools must teach these topics as part of required health courses, with students demonstrating knowledge through tests or projects. The law applies directly to all public K-12 schools and their health curricula, without creating new standalone classes.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New York State funds pre-kindergarten programs outside New York City. It repeals the previous requirement for competitive selection of programs and instead guarantees funding sufficient to cover all qualifying programs in non-NYC regions. The key change ensures that every eligible pre-K program in these areas receives full funding based on need, rather than competing for limited slots. The bill also maintains the $300 million annual allocation specifically for New York City programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and healthcare providers to share complete electronic medical records with insurance plans' utilization review agents. It mandates that records be shared electronically for individual care reviews and claim processing only, not for billing audits or historical analysis. Health plans must prioritize data security, follow privacy laws, and cannot request duplicate information already in the shared records. The law also restricts plans from routinely demanding full medical records or diagnosis codes during reviews, limiting requests to only necessary information. It directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers, and health insurance plans operating in New York.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to order fingerprint comparisons against statewide and national databases for defendants in criminal cases. It requires courts to determine first that the fingerprints meet federal or state standards, and second that a different outcome was likely if the comparison had been done earlier (e.g., a more favorable verdict or no conviction). The law directly affects defendants seeking to challenge prior convictions based on new fingerprint evidence. It creates a specific legal pathway for courts to review such evidence without changing how fingerprints are collected during investigations. The bill focuses on post-conviction relief, not new investigations.

Expands the veterans tuition awards program to include all persons who were honorably discharged and were residents of the state before and after serving in the armed forces of the United States; provides veterans an award equal to the in-state tuition paid at a state university for each semester the veteran is engaged in undergraduate, graduate or vocational study.

Requires maternal health care providers facilitate a screening for maternal depression, unless refused by the birth mother, within the first six weeks of birth and that such screening be covered by insurance.