Increases the number of judges in family court to 67; adds twelve additional judges to the civil court of the city of New York; adds additional family court judges to Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Erie, Jefferson, Nassau, Rensselaer, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the New York veterans tuition awards program to include all resident veterans, regardless of whether they served in active combat. Currently, eligibility is limited to those who served in specific conflicts like the Vietnam or Persian Gulf wars and received certain expeditionary medals. The change removes the requirement for combat service, allowing any New York resident who served in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions to qualify for tuition assistance. The program provides funding equivalent to up to eight full-time semesters of study at approved colleges or vocational schools, with the award amount based on the lower of state university tuition or the actual cost charged by the institution.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's harassment laws to classify the removal or threat of removing religious clothing as a crime of aggravated harassment in the second degree. It directly affects individuals who may have their religious garments taken or threatened to be taken away by someone intending to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm them. The law specifies that this act is criminal when motivated by the perpetrator's beliefs or perceptions about the victim's race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics, regardless of whether those beliefs are accurate. By adding this specific behavior to the list of prohibited physical contacts, the legislation expands the scope of what constitutes criminal harassment in public spaces.
Prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from penalizing pharmacies for providing customers certain information relating to the costs of prescription medications and services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires gun dealers to implement specific security measures to stop the installation and use of pistol converters on semi-automatic firearms. A pistol converter is defined as a device that allows a single trigger pull to fire multiple shots rapidly, effectively turning a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. To comply, businesses must adopt policies that include inventory checks, screening procedures, and steps to prevent the sale or modification of products with these devices. The law applies to all gun dealers and takes effect immediately upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Fashion Environmental Accountability Act, requires large fashion retailers to conduct standardized environmental due diligence on their supply chains and creates a remediation fund to address harms. It applies to businesses selling new clothing, shoes, or bags with over $100 million in annual revenue, excluding used clothing sellers and most multi-brand retailers. Companies must map their suppliers across four tiers, from raw material providers to finished goods manufacturers, and report on their efforts to prevent or mitigate environmental damage. The legislation mandates that these reports be independently verified and published using open data principles, while defining a "living wage" as a key standard for worker compensation.
Relates to rechargeable battery recycling; adds a battery used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist to the definition of "rechargeable battery"; provides that a battery manufacturer may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute rechargeable batteries in the state unless the battery manufacturer is implementing or participating under an approved plan; allows a city with a population of one million or more to enforce through its own agencies.
Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires payment card networks and merchant acquirers to use specific international codes for businesses that sell firearms and ammunition in New York. Starting in May 2025, these financial intermediaries must assign the designated code to licensed gun dealers and ammunition sellers to ensure their transactions are properly classified. The law includes enforcement measures where the Attorney General can issue notices, seek court injunctions, and impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation if the required codes are not used. By standardizing how these transactions are categorized, the legislation aims to improve data tracking for firearm and ammunition sales within the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing the state constitution to allow the legislature to adjust the number of Supreme Court justices in each judicial district based on population. Under the new rules, the number of justices could be increased if a district's population grows, with a limit of one justice for every fifty thousand people, or decreased if the population shrinks, provided the total does not fall below the current authorized number. The amendment also clarifies that judges from specific county courts in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island would serve as Supreme Court justices within their respective districts. Because this change requires a constitutional amendment, the bill must be published for three months before the next general election and approved by voters.
