Asm. Joe DeStefano

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the public disclosure or publication of the home address or unpublished home telephone number of any active or retired judge or prosecutor, including their spouse or child. It creates two new criminal offenses: a misdemeanor for reckless disclosure (Section 250.61) and a felony for intentional disclosure (Section 250.62). Violators face civil penalties of at least $1,000 per violation, plus damages, attorney fees, and possible punitive damages under the new Civil Rights Law Section 50-h. The law applies to individuals, businesses, and associations sharing this information online or otherwise under circumstances likely to cause harassment or harm.

Maddy summaryBill A 2268 proposes to hold a referendum for New York state voters. The ballot question would ask whether voters support the division of New York into two separate states. This vote must occur during a general election on or before December 31, 2026, and the results would be certified to the secretary of the senate and clerk of the assembly.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3589, "Protects library access to electronic literary materials") bans restrictive clauses in contracts between publishers and libraries for electronic literary materials (e-books and digital audiobooks). It specifically prohibits terms that limit libraries' core functions, such as restricting loans, limiting preservation copies, or controlling loan periods. The law applies to licensing agreements for literary monographs (single-volume works) and declares such prohibited terms unenforceable, with libraries able to seek remedies under state law. It does not apply to contracts between libraries and aggregators (companies licensing multiple publishers' collections).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows government entities to publish required public notices online instead of in print newspapers, directly affecting local and state agencies that must legally share information like meetings or permits. It permits online publication in qualified news sites that provide daily general interest news to a specific geographic area and have operated continuously for at least one year. The law removes the requirement to publish in a newspaper while maintaining all other legal standards for the notice itself. This change simplifies notice distribution for government bodies and expands access to the public through digital platforms.

Provides that a person is guilty of harassment in the first degree, a class B misdemeanor, when such person strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects a school employee to physical contact or attempts or threatens to do the same while such school employee is engaged in the performance of such person's duties as a school employee.

Establishes the commission for the modernization and revitalization of the state university of New York downstate medical center which directs such commission to conduct a study to examine services that should be offered at SUNY downstate medical center; directs the commission to submit a report and make recommendations to the legislature.

Requires the department of health to conduct 40% of its inspections on nursing homes outside of business hours; requires department of health inspections of nursing homes to be conducted without prior notice to a nursing home; requires an annual nursing home inspection report.

Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health and the director of the state office for the aging shall establish a mental home health services program for the aging to facilitate access to mental home health services to respond to identified mental health needs, including those needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the aging or families that may not have access to mental health professionals in-person; makes related provisions.

Increases the personal needs allowance for residents of certain residential health care facilities from fifty-five dollars to one hundred dollars per month.

Requires courts to consider whether an individual poses a risk or threat of physical danger to the safety of any person or the community when imposing a securing order; makes stalking in the second and third degree a qualifying offense; makes related provisions.