Asm. Alicia Hyndman

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments to offer a full real property tax exemption for the primary homes of veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability. To qualify, the veteran must have been honorably discharged, be rated as permanently and totally disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and be considered individually unemployable. The exemption also extends to LGBT veterans who meet the same disability and discharge criteria. If passed, the law would apply to property tax assessments starting on or after January 2, 2024.

Includes entities that provide employment or services to formerly incarcerated persons in the preferred source exemption for purposes of state purchasing.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns and villages to set a new rule requiring their local justices to be licensed attorneys. Under the proposed change, a local government would need to vote by a majority to adopt this requirement, which would apply to anyone serving as a justice after the next election following the law's passage. The bill does not force every community to adopt this rule but gives them the option to raise the educational and professional standards for their judicial officers. It takes effect on January 1st of the year after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies to cover transvaginal ultrasounds when they are medically necessary and recommended by established clinical guidelines. The law defines these guidelines as evidence-based recommendations created by independent medical organizations using transparent methods and conflict-of-interest policies. It applies to pregnancy care provided under insurance plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The changes directly affect pregnant individuals seeking this specific type of ultrasound and the insurance companies that must provide coverage for it.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for handling abandoned vehicles by raising the monetary threshold for immediate seizure and ownership transfer to local authorities from one thousand dollars to three thousand dollars. The change applies specifically to vehicles without license plates that are valued at three thousand dollars or less based on their wholesale worth and current condition. Under the new provisions, local governments can immediately take title to these vehicles without needing to go through a longer process, provided the cars are not being sold as junk, dismantled for parts, or destroyed. The legislation also clarifies that this immediate transfer of ownership does not apply if the vehicle is intended for salvage or other non-operational disposal.

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.

Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows employees of the New York City Board of Education represented by the United Federation of Teachers to move their retirement coverage from the current board system to the city's Teachers' Retirement System. To make this switch, an eligible employee must submit a formal application within one year of becoming qualified for the new system, after which their past contributions and benefits are transferred and credited as if they had always been part of the Teachers' Retirement System. The change applies only to those who file for membership and does not require them to be current members of the United Federation of Teachers.

Prohibits fees for any service rendered through a banking organization relating to the use of an electronic benefit transfer card issued by the state or certain departments or agencies thereof.