Asm. Steven Raga

Maddy summaryThis resolution memorializes Governor Hochul to proclaim March 2025 as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month in New York State. It does not create new laws or programs but requests the governor issue a formal proclamation to raise public awareness about MS, a neurological condition affecting approximately 1 million Americans, including many New Yorkers. The resolution highlights MS symptoms, prevalence (especially among women), and the National MS Society's role in supporting over 34,000 New Yorkers with the disease. It was adopted by the Assembly on March 3, 2025, and transmits the resolution to the governor and MS Society chapters. This is a ceremonial measure focused on public education, not policy change.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes the Losar celebration - a Himalayan New Year observed by Nepali, Tibetan, Bhutanese, and other Himalayan communities - as an important cultural event in New York State. It specifically commemorates the community's celebration period of February 28-March 2, 2025, highlighting its significance to these groups, particularly in neighborhoods like Queens and Brooklyn. As a symbolic resolution, it has no binding policy effect but serves to acknowledge and honor the cultural heritage of these communities within New York. The resolution was introduced and adopted on February 26, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill), asking Governor Hochul to issue a proclamation designating February 20, 2025, as "Day of Social Justice" in New York State. It aligns with the international "World Day of Social Justice" and cites principles like poverty reduction and equality. The resolution has no legal effect - it only requests the Governor make a symbolic recognition. It was adopted by the Assembly on February 12, 2025, but requires the Governor's action to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts certain harmful chemicals in menstrual products sold in New York State. It prohibits manufacturers from intentionally adding specific substances like lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates, and PFAS (a class of chemicals including Teflon-like compounds) to products such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. Starting immediately upon the bill's effective date (12 months after enactment), these chemicals cannot be added as intentional ingredients, with future safety thresholds for remaining traces to be set by health and environmental agencies by 2029. The law applies to all distributors and sellers of menstrual products within New York.

Requires a report on individuals who are the primary caregiver for an older adult, including the number of individuals who are primary caregivers for an older adult, the average age of a primary caregiver, the cost to an individual to provide care to an older adult, and the economic value and savings to the state of such individual's services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York state-owned parking facilities with at least 50 spaces to install electric vehicle charging stations in a percentage of spots ranging from 10% to 20%, depending on the facility's total size. The Office of General Services is tasked with installing and maintaining these stations, which must meet specific electrical capacity standards, and is authorized to hire licensed electricians if upgrades to the power system are needed. The law applies to public, employee, and pay-per-use parking areas and would have taken effect on April 1 of the following year. However, the bill was vetoed by the Governor in December 2024 and subsequently tabled, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the laws governing wrongful death lawsuits to clarify exactly what types of money can be awarded to the surviving family members of a deceased person. It explicitly allows juries or courts to grant compensation for funeral costs, medical bills incurred before death, grief, and the loss of financial support, guidance, and companionship. The legislation also defines who is eligible to receive these damages, including spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and individuals who stood in a parent-like role to the deceased. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for how the awarded money must be shared among eligible survivors based on their individual losses and outlines how legal fees and other expenses are handled.

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates East Harlem, also known as "El Barrio," as a cultural district by amending the state's arts and cultural affairs law. The legislation defines the district's boundaries as the area between East 96th and 125th Streets, bounded by Fifth Avenue and the East River. Once designated, the Council on the Arts is authorized to provide grants, technical assistance, and other support to cultural institutions within this specific region to promote its cultural significance. The law also allows the council to designate additional cultural districts in the future, provided they are compact, contiguous areas with a shared cultural heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to include a representative for agricultural producers. It changes the council's composition from fifteen to sixteen members and adjusts the number of seats for fire service officials, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to eight. The amendment ensures that one appointed member specifically represents agricultural interests, giving farmers a formal voice in state fire and building code decisions.