Requires each public body to live stream and post video recordings of all open meetings and public hearings; requires each public body to post such recordings for a period of not less than five years.
Requires documents utilized by state agencies, public authorities and municipalities to replace the term "emotionally disturbed person" with the term "person experiencing an emotional crisis".
Requires the appointment of a Title VI coordinator at every college and university in the state to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal civil rights act of 1964; requires the division of human rights to develop training for students and employees; requires the Title VI coordinator to notify annually all students and employees of the institution's policies and procedures for reporting discrimination and harassment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for the primary residence of New York veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. To qualify, veterans must have an honorable discharge, a VA/DoD rating of 100% disability due to military service, or be rated individually unemployable due to service-related conditions. The exemption covers all real property taxes, special district charges, and assessments on their primary home. The law takes effect for tax assessments starting January 2, 2026.
Ensures that construction and fabrication done off of a public work site for specific use only in a public work project be compensated at the prevailing wage rate.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands who can serve as judges in specialized youth courts. It allows superior court judges (who have specific training in juvenile justice) to preside over "youth parts" in each county, in addition to current family court judges. All judges in these youth parts must receive specialized training on juvenile justice, adolescent development, and treatment methods. The youth parts will handle all cases involving juvenile and adolescent offenders (ages 16-20), excluding certain cases covered elsewhere in the law.
Enacts the "fostering affordability and integrity through reasonable (FAIR) business practices act", to expand the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices.
Provides that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, certain graduate students shall be required to pay 25% of all current and future mandatory university fees; provides that in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory university fees shall be charged, with the exclusion of the graduate student association student activity fee.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes New York's Freedom of Information Law to set stricter deadlines for government agencies to respond to public record requests. Agencies must acknowledge requests within 5 business days and provide records within: 180 days for pre-2026 requests, 90 days for 2027 requests, and 60 days for 2028 or later requests. Agencies may only extend these deadlines if federal law blocks them, staff can't safely access records, or requests are extremely voluminous - requiring detailed written explanations to requesters and the Open Government Committee. It directly affects citizens, journalists, and researchers seeking government records by ensuring faster, more predictable responses.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans (issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020) to cover specific contraceptive services provided by pharmacists without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptives (including over-the-counter options), emergency contraception, patient education, follow-up care, and up to a 12-month supply at once. Pharmacists dispensing self-administered hormonal contraceptives must receive reimbursement equivalent to other healthcare providers. The law directly affects insurance companies, pharmacists, and individuals seeking contraceptive care through insurance.
