Asm. David Weprin

Eliminates provisions exempting employees with disabilities from the minimum wage law; provides that laws or minimum wage orders that authorize an employer to pay a wage that is less than the minimum wage are valid provided that under such laws or orders an employee with a disability is paid the same wage as an employee in a comparable position that does not have a disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1724, "Hunger-Free Campus Act") creates a grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities. It requires qualifying campuses to meet specific standards - including establishing student-inclusive task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating food pantries, and hosting awareness events - to earn "hunger-free campus" designation. Public institutions meeting these criteria receive competitive grants to fund food security initiatives like meal vouchers, pantry access, and SNAP outreach. The program mandates annual student hunger surveys and requires a two-year report to state leaders detailing grant usage, student impacts, and recommendations for future funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $10 one-time service charge for veterans applying for special license plates in New York. It directly affects veterans of the U.S. armed forces who currently pay this additional fee when requesting veterans-themed license plates. The bill removes the $10 charge from multiple sections of the vehicle and traffic law, while maintaining the standard registration fee. Veterans will no longer pay this extra fee for these plates, though regular registration costs remain unchanged. The change applies to all existing veterans' plate programs covered by the amended law.

Provides that restaurants may provide single-use plastic straws to customers when explicitly requested by the customer; prohibits single-use plastic stirrers.

Defines the term "construction projects" to mean the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of any school building where a district receives any apportionment for debt service or building aid and the school building is sited within the Long Island region; provides that each contract involving the award of a construction project shall require the use of a project labor agreement for all contractors and subcontractors on such project.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5158) requires for-hire vehicles carrying nine or more passengers (like taxis and ride-share vans) to have New York state-issued license plates to receive mandatory safety inspections. Vehicles with out-of-state plates would be denied safety inspections under this rule. The law specifically applies to vehicles with nine or more passenger seats (excluding the driver), as defined in the bill. It changes inspection eligibility based solely on license plate origin, ensuring these vehicles meet New York's safety standards through state registration.

Directs the department of health to develop state food guidelines for foods purchased, served, and sold by state agencies, programs, and institutions and on state property.

Includes correctional facilities and local correctional facilities as publicly-assisted housing accommodations for purposes of the division of human rights; defines correctional facilities and local correctional facilities.

Restricts the disclosure of personal information by businesses; provides that a business that retains a customer's personal information shall make available to the customer free of charge access to, or copies of, all of the customer's personal information retained by the business.

Relates to certain prostitution offenses and fines relating thereto; relates to motions to vacate judgment and motions for new sentencing; relates to investigation into acts alleged to be the unauthorized practice of massage therapy by potential victims of human trafficking; prohibits the possession of reproductive or sexual health devices from being permitted in specified criminal or civil proceedings as evidence of prostitution; relates to services for exploited individuals, services for victims of human trafficking and the interagency task force on human trafficking; establishes the victims of sexual exploitation fund; makes conforming changes; repeals provisions relating to prostitution, prostitution in a school zone, defense against patronizing a person for prostitution and a motion to dismiss information, simplified information, prosecutor's information or misdemeanor complaint.