Asm. Joe DeStefano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses in New York to disclose when prices are set using algorithms that rely on personal data, mandating the clear statement "THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA" alongside any personalized pricing offer. It directly affects businesses selling goods or services to consumers (excluding insurers and financial institutions like banks or credit card companies). Key provisions ban the use of protected class data - such as race, gender, or age - to set different prices, preventing discriminatory pricing practices. The law empowers the state attorney general to enforce compliance through injunctions and impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.

Requires the office for people with developmental disabilities to produce and publish a report to assess the staffing and other issues causing the continued displacement of individuals with developmental disabilities from various state-operated institutions under the jurisdiction of the office for people with developmental disabilities.

Requires all contracts over fifty thousand dollars in value made and awarded by any department, agency or authority of the state for the purchase of personal protective equipment or medical supplies shall require that the personal protective equipment or medical supply items be produced or made in whole or substantial part in the state of New York during the existence of a disaster emergency involving an epidemic, pandemic or similar disease outbreak.

Excuses prospective jurors from jury service if they are a full-time caregiver responsible for the care of a person with a mental or physical condition that causes such person to be incapable of caring for themself.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities in New York to purchase materials, equipment, supplies, or certain services (excluding those covered under specific labor laws) through contracts established by other counties or municipalities, rather than only using their own local contracts. Municipalities must first verify that such purchases would result in cost savings after considering all factors like delivery and materials. The purchasing municipality remains solely responsible for payments and must subject all such purchases to its own audit and inspection. This change aims to increase cost efficiency through broader procurement options while maintaining accountability.

Establishes the office of organized retail theft within the department of law to receive and investigate complaints from any source, or upon its own initiative, of allegations involving the use and role of organized retail theft.

Directs local law enforcement agencies in municipalities authorizing an auxiliary police force by local law to provide retirement service identification cards to auxiliary police officers who retire with 10 or more years of service or who are injured in the course of duty and unable to continue duty due to such injury.

Establishes distinctive "POW-MIA" license plates; establishes the "POW-MIA awareness fund" to fund POW-MIA public education and awareness campaigns and veteran services by Rolling Thunder New York chapters and upon approval by the state director of veterans' services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4154) requires New York State schools to include the Sandy Ground community - the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the U.S. - in the mandated curriculum on diversity, history, and human rights. It directs all public and private schools to teach students over age eight about Sandy Ground alongside topics like slavery, the Holocaust, and the Irish Famine. The law specifies that this content must be integrated into courses on citizenship, shared history, and human rights issues. The requirement applies to all schools statewide, with enforcement overseen by the education commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill places a permanent ban on state laws that require local governments (such as counties, cities, school districts, and towns) to implement new programs or services without providing funding, if the cost exceeds $10,000 annually for a single local government or $1 million statewide. It defines "unfunded mandates" to include new requirements that raise costs for local governments beyond these thresholds, regardless of whether the mandate is for new services, higher service levels, or property tax exemptions. The ban includes exceptions for court orders, federal mandates, or situations involving immediate public safety threats. The law takes effect immediately for new legislation, though it does not affect existing mandates.