Permits passing a school bus on a public highway with six or more lanes when traveling the opposite direction of the stopped school bus while separated from such school bus by a median or permanent barrier.
Enacts the student journalist education act to protect student speech at educational institutions unless such speech is libelous, an invasion of privacy, or incites students to commit an unlawful act, violate school policies, or to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the school.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends education law to require school districts in cities with at least one million inhabitants to include specific provisions in their school transportation contracts. These provisions mandate the retention or preferential hiring of school bus workers, such as operators, mechanics, dispatchers, and attendants. It also ensures the preservation of their wages, health, welfare, retirement benefits, and seniority when they are hired under these new contract terms. This applies to workers who become unemployed or furloughed due to changes in these transportation contracts.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows students in New York State schools to earn physical education credits by completing state-approved lifeguard certification training courses. It requires the Board of Regents to create rules enabling these courses to count toward the mandatory physical education requirements. The policy directly affects high school students who complete approved lifeguard training programs, potentially reducing the need for separate physical education classes. The change applies only to courses meeting state standards for lifeguard certification, not general physical education instruction.
Updates provisions relating to dignity for all students including curriculum and teacher training requirements designed to prevent student suicide with a focus on LGBTQ students.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4932) designates January 30th each year as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" in New York State. It adds this date to the state's list of official commemorative days, honoring Fred Korematsu - a Japanese American whose legal challenge to WWII internment policies became a landmark civil liberties case. The bill has no legal effect beyond recognizing this day for public observance. It is purely ceremonial, with no new requirements or direct impacts on residents or government operations.
Maddy summaryBill A 7914 establishes a 25-member commission to investigate foreign influence on New York State government employees and elections. The commission will examine weaknesses in laws related to lobbying, public corruption, foreign entity influence on officials, and election integrity, then make reform recommendations. It has authority to request documents or testimony, hold public hearings, and refer evidence of violations to prosecutors. The commission must issue a preliminary report by May 1, 2026, and a final report by May 1, 2027, after which it expires. This bill directly affects state government operations and election processes by creating a structured review mechanism.
Prohibits payment card networks from assessing penalties against small businesses or financial intermediaries who fail to comply with the credit card surcharge notice requirement; declares any clause of a contract, agreement, or arrangement in violation of such provision void.
Relates to access to educational activities by public assistance recipients who are subject to work participation requirements; allows homework expected or required by an educational institution to count towards satisfaction of the work activity requirements for public assistance benefits for participants engaged in certain educational or training activities.
Includes entities that provide employment or services to formerly incarcerated persons in the preferred source exemption for purposes of state purchasing.
