Asm. Joe DeStefano

Creates a tax credit for small businesses that sell a certain percentage of products produced in New York state; provides such small businesses include independently or privately-owned cafes, restaurants, eateries, bars, pubs, breweries, distilleries, orchards, food trucks, retail stores, farm stands, hotels, or motels.

Prohibits a mandatory immunization against the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 for children, incapacitated persons, or students or staff of employment institutions or day care facilities; prohibits requiring people to carry or present evidence of having received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Enacts the senior environmental corps act; establishes the senior environmental corps within the department of environmental conservation; establishes a mechanism for seniors to volunteer their services for environmental purposes; creates senior environmental corps coordinating council; makes provisions for volunteer agreements.

Directs the division of homeland security and emergency services to conduct a study on the public safety implications of the electrification of buildings and transportation in the context of emergency response and to issue a report on the findings and recommendations as a result of such study; exempts emergency services vehicles and heavy equipment from the requirements of the climate leadership and community protection act of 2019; prohibits the use of battery packs which contain cobalt mined components for primary propulsion of emergency services vehicles.

Provides for insurance coverage of comprehensive annual medical examinations for firefighters due to their increased risk for cancer and cancer-related diseases.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New York's process for certifying voting machines and the terms of their purchase contracts. Vendors must pay a fee for the state board of elections to examine machines, which must meet safety and technical standards - including thorough testing of electronic features - before approval. Contracts for approved machines now require vendors to guarantee at least ten years of free maintenance, service, and training for election officials, replacing a previous five-year requirement. These changes directly affect voting machine companies, the state election board, and local election jurisdictions that must use certified equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases minimum daily pay for New York City election workers. Election inspectors will receive at least $300 per day, and coordinators at least $350 per day. These rates apply specifically to NYC elections and replace prior minimums, with the city, not counties, responsible for funding. The change directly affects election inspectors and coordinators who serve during registration and election days in New York City.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires legal professionals and self-represented individuals to disclose when they use generative AI for legal research, document review, or drafting court filings. It directly affects all lawyers, defendants, and pro se litigants who prepare court documents. Key provisions mandate: obtaining client or defendant consent after warning about AI risks, attaching a written statement disclosing AI use, and certifying that a human verified all content (including case citations). The bill applies to both civil and criminal cases, with separate affidavits required for AI-assisted or AI-free filings. It does not restrict AI use but mandates transparency and human oversight in legal work.

Establishes the nurse loan repayment program; authorizes the commissioner to award loan repayment awards to nurses serving in underserved areas or nursing homes.

Eliminates state sales and compensating use taxes on motor fuels and diesel motor fuels; authorizes localities to eliminate such taxes at the local level; establishes various exemptions from New York's sales and use tax; provides for a sales tax exemption for housekeeping supplies and for ready-to-eat foods.