Asm. Steven Raga

Adds hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster; requires explicit inclusion of air quality emergency preparedness in local comprehensive emergency management plans with an action plan and annual inventory of air quality emergency resources.

Extends the statute of limitations of actions related to certain sex trafficking offenses, reviving such actions otherwise barred by the existing statute of limitations; grants trial preference to such actions; exempts such actions from certain provisions requiring notice of claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2444) exempts toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss from state sales tax. It directly affects consumers who purchase these specific oral hygiene products, as they would no longer pay sales tax on them. The law adds these items to the existing list of tax-exempt products under the tax code. The exemption would take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law.

Relates to the right to unemployment benefits based on employment with certain educational institutions, including the state university of New York, the city university of New York and public community colleges; clarifies the meaning of certain terms relating to such rights to unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryThis New York state bill creates a work opportunity tax credit for employers hiring New York residents in targeted groups (such as veterans or long-term unemployed individuals, as defined by federal law). Employers can claim a 100% credit against state tax for qualified wages paid to these employees, capped at $500 per employee annually. The total credit is limited to $90 million across all taxpayers, with the program expiring December 31, 2028. It applies to wages paid after April 1, 2026, and cannot overlap with other state tax credits for the same wages.

Maddy summaryBill A 8058 aims to expand access to paid sick leave for workers. It amends the state labor law by redefining who qualifies as an "employee" for paid sick leave purposes. Under this bill, a person providing labor or services to an employer is considered an employee unless the employer can demonstrate three specific conditions are met, indicating an independent contractor relationship. Minor league baseball players compensated under certain collective bargaining agreements are specifically excluded from this expanded definition.

Designates rescue cats as the official state cat; establishes that a rescue cat is a cat of any breed or mixture of breeds rescued and adopted from an animal shelter or rescue group located in the state.

Maddy summaryThis New York bill prohibits law enforcement officers and agencies from using cell-site simulators - devices that mimic cell towers to track phones without consent. It directly affects law enforcement (including police officers and agencies) and individuals whose phone data might be collected through these devices. Key provisions ban the use, acquisition, or third-party agreements involving such technology, require illegally obtained evidence to be suppressed in court, and allow affected individuals to sue for up to $5,000 per violation or actual damages. The law also permits class-action lawsuits and awards legal fees to successful plaintiffs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits lenders from cutting off access to funds in home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) when borrowers are making timely payments. It directly affects homeowners who use HELOCs for residential financing by ensuring lenders cannot arbitrarily block their access to available credit. The law amends two state laws to explicitly state that lenders must maintain borrower access to these credit lines as long as payments are current. This creates a clear, enforceable requirement for lenders regarding a common type of residential mortgage product.

Requires genetic testing results only be received by patients and health care providers providing direct care while health insurance companies only receive a record that the genetic testing was performed; provides insurers cannot require access to genetic testing results and cannot take adverse action against someone for not providing genetic testing results.