Asm. Ari Brown

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a real property tax exemption for the primary homes of widows and widowers whose spouses were police officers killed in the line of duty. To qualify, the surviving spouse must own the property, and the local government where the home is located must first approve the exemption after holding a public hearing. The law also clarifies how the exemption applies to properties held in trust or within cooperative apartment buildings, while excluding certain types of housing finance arrangements. Additionally, the bill requires state officials to create a list of documents that prove eligibility, which will be shared with local tax assessors.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants peace officer status to uniformed court officers working at the town court in Montgomery. By amending the state's criminal procedure law, the legislation officially recognizes these employees as peace officers, which typically expands their legal authority and duties compared to non-sworn staff. The measure includes a specific provision stating that these officers may only carry firearms if they have obtained the required license under existing penal laws. This change affects only the specific employees of the Montgomery town court and does not alter the status of court officers in other locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Civil Service Law to remove the maximum age limit of 35 for hiring municipal police officers. It allows individuals older than 35 to apply for police positions, provided they meet other merit and fitness requirements. The change also extends the maximum hiring age to 39 for certain situations where eligible lists are exhausted and no other candidates are available. Additionally, the legislation includes specific exceptions for applicants with up to six years of military service and those with prior employment at the Buffalo municipal housing authority. The new rules would take effect approximately 180 days after the bill becomes law.

Relates to requiring telephones capable of making local and long-distance telephone calls be in every nursing home patient's room, either at such patient's bedside or in the patient's room depending on the patient's mobility.

Relates to the classification of the drug xylazine as a schedule I controlled substance, and to the criminal sale and possession of xylazine or preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing xylazine.

Permits those licensed to carry or possess a pistol or revolver or to purchase or take possession of a semi-automatic rifle or licensed to hunt wildlife to purchase or take possession of ammunition without requiring contacting the statewide license and record database.

Repeals certain provisions establishing a fee for background checks on certain firearm and ammunition purchases; removes such fees as a source of funds for the background check fund.

Directs the division of criminal justice services to include in the crimes against revenue program each county within the state and provide funding to each such county.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when prosecutors must share evidence with defendants in criminal cases, moving the deadline to sixty days before the trial starts. It applies to both defendants who are in jail and those who are not, requiring the prosecution to provide initial discovery materials by this new date instead of the previous timeline based on arraignment. The change aims to standardize the timing for evidence exchange regardless of whether the defendant is held in custody.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents towns and villages from enforcing zoning rules that limit the size of farmhouses more strictly than state laws allow. It directly affects active farms by ensuring that local land-use regulations do not impose tighter floor area ratio restrictions than those already set by the state. If a local zoning ordinance violates this rule, the law declares that specific restriction unenforceable and effectively repeals it. The changes will take effect on April 1st of the year following the bill's passage.