Asm. Karen McMahon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies in New York to cover medically necessary hearing aids for children under 18. It mandates coverage for devices purchased from registered hearing aid dispensers or licensed audiologists, including services like recasing and new molds. Coverage is limited to one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 24 months, unless a child's hearing changes significantly within that period. Insurance plans may still apply standard deductibles or copayments for this coverage.

Establishes a blue envelope program for persons with mental health disorders, behavioral disorders and persons who are neurodivergent to be provided with blue envelopes to keep their identification, vehicle registration, and other related documents to improve their safety during law enforcement interactions; requires the municipal police training council to promulgate rules and regulations requiring training and instruction for all police officers with respect to the blue envelope program.

Requires pharmacies to provide prescription drug readers or other means of access to individuals who disclose they have difficulty seeing or reading standard print labels on prescription drug containers; defines "prescription drug reader" to mean a device which is capable of audibly conveying information contained on the label of a prescription drug; makes exceptions.

Extends the duration of certain brownfield redevelopment and remediation tax credits with respect to a site located within the Renaissance Commerce Park situate within the city of Lackawanna, Erie county.

Directs the state to provide annual base funding to community colleges operating under the university of the state of New York; requires funding to be indexed to inflation; requires annual reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a licensing requirement for lactation consultants in New York State, establishing a new "lactation consultant licensing board" to oversee the profession. It defines the "practice of lactation consultation" as evaluating and managing breastfeeding issues, providing preventive care, and collaborating with other healthcare providers - services directly affecting families seeking infant feeding support. To practice, individuals must obtain a license through this board, which will be composed of seven licensed consultants (with specific experience requirements) and one public member. The law aims to protect public health by ensuring consultants meet standardized education and experience criteria before providing clinical care.

Provides for the licensing of professional and clinical music therapists encompassing the assessment, evaluation, and the therapeutic intervention and treatment of mental, emotional, developmental and behavioral disorders through the use of music.

Creates a school budget tax cap exemption for expenditures resulting from settlements or jury awards for civil actions brought against school districts under the child victims act.

Increases the handling fee paid by a deposit initiator to a dealer or operator of a redemption center from three and one half cents to five cents per container; decreases the amount of quarterly payments a deposit initiator must pay the commissioner of taxation and finance from eighty to forty-seven percent of the balance of initiator's refund value account; provides for registration as a redemption center.

Maddy summaryBill A 4015 seeks to increase the financial penalties for certain speeding violations, directly affecting drivers convicted of these offenses. It raises the maximum fine for exceeding the speed limit by up to ten miles per hour, from $150 to $175. For drivers caught speeding more than thirty miles per hour over the limit, the maximum fine increases from $600 to $700. These revised penalties will apply to violations occurring on or after January 1, 2026.